Polymer Materials Engineer Overview

Required Education and Training To Become a Polymer Materials Engineer

Best Schools to become a Polymer Materials Engineer in U.S. 2024

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL

In-State Tuition:$4,477
Out-of-State Tuition:$25,694
Admission Rate:23%
Graduation Rate:90%
Total Enrollment:55,211

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL

In-State Tuition:$14,542
Out-of-State Tuition:$35,122
Admission Rate:45%
Graduation Rate:85%
Total Enrollment:56,916

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA

In-State Tuition:$11,189
Out-of-State Tuition:$39,687
Admission Rate:48%
Graduation Rate:84%
Total Enrollment:52,319

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Atlanta, GA

In-State Tuition:$10,258
Out-of-State Tuition:$31,370
Admission Rate:17%
Graduation Rate:93%
Total Enrollment:45,296

Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN

In-State Tuition:$9,718
Out-of-State Tuition:$28,520
Admission Rate:53%
Graduation Rate:83%
Total Enrollment:51,528

Texas A & M University-College Station

College Station, TX

In-State Tuition:$8,815
Out-of-State Tuition:$36,239
Admission Rate:63%
Graduation Rate:84%
Total Enrollment:74,014
Polymer Materials Engineer Job Description:
  • Evaluate materials and develop machinery and processes to manufacture materials for use in products that must meet specialized design and performance specifications.
  • Develop new uses for known materials.
  • Includes those engineers working with composite materials or specializing in one type of material, such as graphite, metal and metal alloys, ceramics and glass, plastics and polymers, and naturally occurring materials.
  • Includes metallurgists and metallurgical engineers, ceramic engineers, and welding engineers.

Required Skills and Competencies To Become a Polymer Materials Engineer

Job Duties for Polymer Materials Engineers

  • Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.

  • Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.

  • Monitor material performance, and evaluate its deterioration.

Technologies and Skills Used by Polymer Materials Engineers

Analytical or scientific software

  • Minitab
  • The MathWorks MATLAB

Computer aided design CAD software

  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Dassault Systemes SolidWorks

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Basic Skills

  • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • Reading work related information

People and Technology Systems

  • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one

Problem Solving

  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Current Job Market and Opportunites for a Polymer Materials Engineer

Additional Resources To Help You Become a Polymer Materials Engineer

FAQs About Becoming a Polymer Materials Engineer