Training to be an automotive materials engineer

[bellx1]

I've been looking for a position that would pair me with a mentor in the automotive material field but the search has been largely fruitless. Besides finding relatively little jobs for automotive materials, compared to jobs for vehicle dynamics, most I've found require 5+ years of experience.

Does anyone know of any companies that are automotive material specific that don't require advanced degrees? I'm looking to get my MS but don't have the money right now. Also I am especially interested in plastics and composites materials rather than metals.

Thanks in advance

http://www.compositescentral.net

 

[GregLocock]

I've worked in the automotive game for 30 years.

I've met um, nobody, who meets that job description in that time.

Now, they do exist, but they tend to be employed by the materials suppliers rather than the manufacturers.

Cheers

Greg Locock


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[patprimmer]

Greg

I kinda did that roll as part of my job in the late 80s. I thought I knew two such people at your place who filled that bill. One was an ex ICI engineering plastics lab technician called Rob B and one was a lady who was married to an ICI rep at the time. she was Angella W. She reported to Ross McB. The lady worked on the EA Falcon, including the @##$@# of an external sun visor which was one of a few projects on that model that I put some time toward rectification.

GM also had several. One was Peter R and his replacement was Geoff L who was ex Fibremakers.

It is probably 15 years since I spoke with any of them, so maybe they and their roles are long gone.

Hella and Bosch also had people in similar roles as at least part of their jobs.

I know in Germany, Bayer certainly had a number of specialists technicians each with an office in a major car companies design office. The role was generally described within Bayer and Akzo and DSM as "Market Development Engineer". I am sure Sabic, Ticona and DuPont still provide some service in that regard.

Regards
Pat
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[GregLocock]

Ah OK, I got the impression the first three tended to baby parts made from new materials into production (ie a mechanical engineering job) rather than working on the materials themselves. Ross and Angela still here, Rob left a while back.

Cheers

Greg Locock


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[patprimmer]

Greg

You don't know where Rob ended up do you.

I had an appointment to see him 3 or 4 years ago and he stood us up as everyone in his department where called into a big meeting. I suspected he was let go at that meeting, but never was able to contact him again.

He was an old colleague back at ICI in the late 70s so I feel a bit concerned for his welfare.

OP, sorry for the thread jack, but I think we already gave you all there is to give. ie there used to be very few people in that role at Auto companies, but they are diminishing and there where quite a few at raw materials suppliers, but they are now also diminishing

Regards
Pat
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[swall]

Bellx1--you need to look at the various suppliers that perform materials related processing. e.g. heat treaters,metal casters,powder metal producers and plastic molders. You are not necessarily going to get a materials engineering job, more likely a process engineer job or manufacturing engineer job.