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Engineering & Architecture · Updated Aug 2026

Materials Engineers

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.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
AI Exposure
72/100
High

How much of this occupation’s work can be materially affected by current AI systems.

Replacement Risk
61/100
High

How likely exposure is to translate into reduced human demand.

Includes provisional estimates for AI adoption pressure and labour-market resilience. How this is measured

Evidence quality
Confidence83/100
Task coverage85%

Confidence reflects task coverage, mapping and capability-evidence quality, and how much of the score rests on provisional inputs.

Task-level evidence

What is driving the score?

Occupation scores are built from the task mix—not a single prediction about a job title.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
TaskImportanceAI impactExposure
Supervise the work of technologists, technicians, and other engineers and scientists.Medium
75
Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.High
77
Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.High
76
Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.High
72
Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.High
75
Modify properties of metal alloys, using thermal and mechanical treatments.High
77
Determine appropriate methods for fabricating and joining materials.High
76
Solve problems in a number of engineering fields, such as mechanical, chemical, electrical, civil, nuclear, and aerospace.Medium
75
Plan and implement laboratory operations to develop material and fabrication procedures that meet cost, product specification, and performance standards.Medium
75
Monitor material performance, and evaluate its deterioration.High
59
Supervise production and testing processes in industrial settings, such as metal refining facilities, smelting or foundry operations, or nonmetallic materials production operations.Medium
74
Review new product plans, and make recommendations for material selection, based on design objectives such as strength, weight, heat resistance, electrical conductivity, and cost.Medium
75
Guide technical staff in developing materials for specific uses in projected products or devices.High
68
Perform managerial functions, such as preparing proposals and budgets, analyzing labor costs, and writing reports.Medium
75
Plan and evaluate new projects, consulting with other engineers and corporate executives, as necessary.Medium
46
Most exposed

Where AI can do more

Routine, digitized, and highly repeatable tasks face the greatest pressure.

  1. Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.77
  2. Modify properties of metal alloys, using thermal and mechanical treatments.77
  3. Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.76
  4. Determine appropriate methods for fabricating and joining materials.76
Hardest to automate

Where people still matter

These tasks score lowest on automation feasibility—physical presence, judgement, accountability and real-world variability all resist end-to-end automation.

  1. Plan and evaluate new projects, consulting with other engineers and corporate executives, as necessary.01
  2. Monitor material performance, and evaluate its deterioration.02
  3. Supervise the work of technologists, technicians, and other engineers and scientists.03
  4. Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.04
  5. Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.05
Where else this work leads

Related occupations

Occupations O*NET links to this one. Relatedness reflects shared work, not a claim that these roles are safer.

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Beyond AI capability

Adoption and labour-market outlook

Structural factors are kept separate from raw capability so you can see what actually resists automation. Adoption pressure and labour-market resilience are still provisional models—25% of this occupation’s replacement-risk weight rests on them.

Human dependency66
Physical dependency33
Adoption pressure59
Labour-market resilience59
Methodology & sources

O*NET 30.3 occupational data interpreted through the JobsVsAI capability, automation and structural-constraint models.

Confidence83/100
CalculatedAug 21, 2026
Read methodology →