Senior Metallurgist

Mettis Aerospace Ltd; Redditch; On-site; GBP 40,000 - GBP 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace manufacturing company in Redditch is seeking a Senior Metallurgist to lead a laboratory team. Responsibilities include managing quality compliance, improving laboratory processes, and providing technical expertise. The ideal candidate will have a degree in Materials Science or Metallurgy, knowledge of alloy forging, and excellent communication skills. This full-time position offers a chance to develop your career in a dynamic environment, contributing to aerospace manufacturing excellence.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent experience in Materials Science or Metallurgy.
• Knowledge of aerospace quality requirements and compliance.
• Experience with hardness, conductivity, and/or NDT.

Responsibilities

• Manage the laboratory team and operating budget.
• Update and control the Laboratory Manual and Instructions.
• Present technical information to senior colleagues.

Skills

Knowledge of aluminium alloy forging/heat treatment

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Health and safety awareness within a manufacturing environment

Education

Degree or equivalent experience within Materials Science or Metallurgy

Tools

Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

This leadership Senior Metallurgist role within our ISO 17025 and Nadcap‑accredited laboratory team will require daily support and interaction with wider Mettis operations, engineering, quality, and planning teams. It requires a determined attitude and the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.

Scope

The Senior Metallurgist / Materials Engineer will be furnished with the authority and resources to perform all duties within the scope of their responsibilities within the laboratory structure. This includes implementing, maintaining, and improving the management system. Any departures from this system or the testing and calibration procedures will be identified, and actions to prevent or minimise these occurrences will be initiated, managed, and resolved.

The candidate will be accountable for the flow‑down of internal and external material and material‑process‑related requirements and will contribute to Methods of Manufacture for products processed at Mettis with respect to metallurgical and other designated “special process” aspects. They will ensure that the company\'s quality management and production systems are implemented, maintained and will provide technical knowledge to develop Mettis\' materials engineering capabilities. This role is free from any undue internal and external commercial, financial, production, and other pressures and influences that may adversely affect the decision‑making process.

Main Responsibilities

• Manage a laboratory team of 20 and an operating budget of £500k.
• Update and control the Laboratory Manual and Laboratory Instructions aligned to the respective areas of delegated responsibility.
• Promote improvements to existing laboratory processes and facilities.
• Uphold the responsibilities of, and ensure conformance by, all Metallurgists and Technicians to all specifications, manuals, procedures, and instructions related to the laboratory function.
• Control test non‑conformances and carry out investigations into test failures.
• Co‑ordinate with other departments to ensure that the best quality of service is maintained for our customers and the rest of Mettis.
• Provide technical input to forging design and heat treatment of new and repeat product introductions.
• Present technical information to senior technical and senior executive colleagues.
• Act as a source of advice and training for technicians, junior members of the laboratory, and engineering staff to grow and develop technical talent.
• Liaise with Mettis customers on technical and production matters.
• Assist with specification review and implementation in the laboratory and the wider Mettis business.
• Support laboratory and site audit schedules (including ISO 17025, Nadcap MTL, Nadcap HT).
• Creation of heat treatment data cards and loading plans.
• Participate in and progress personal objectives to aid continuous improvement throughout the business.
• Ensure personnel continue to meet the company\'s health, safety, and environmental requirements.

Required Qualifications, Experience, and Skills

• Degree or equivalent experience within Materials Science or Metallurgy.
• Sound knowledge of aluminium alloy forging/heat treatment.
• Knowledge of steel and/or titanium alloy forging/heat treatment.
• Good general IT skills and working knowledge of Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Health and safety awareness within a manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of aerospace quality requirements.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Quality compliance and Nadcap expertise.
• Knowledge of aerospace manufacturing.
• Hardness, conductivity, and/or NDT experience.
• Chemical processing for aerospace applications requires knowledge or experience.
• Knowledge of tooling material selection for forging applications.
• Working towards or achieved Chartered Engineer status.

Accountabilities

Safety

Compliance with EHS and legislative standards.

Quality

Drive improvement in RFT in the laboratory.

Improve forging and heat treatment RFT through materials knowledge input.

Ensure testing and calibrations are carried out in accordance with manuals, instructions, and procedures, with results reported as required.

Maintain ISO/IEC 17025 and Nadcap MTL accreditation.

Manage periodic over‑checks of operators to confirm compliance with laboratory procedures.

Approve laboratory and quality instructions and procedures associated with technical and metallurgical control of the company\'s activities.

Initiate actions to prevent or minimise departures from internal and external quality systems and testing procedures.

Issue stop‑work instructions to suspend production and testing when requirements are not being met.

Lead material and testing‑related development programmes.

Delivery

Measure and reduce test turnaround time.

Co‑ordinate with manufacturing areas for any process‑related investigation.

Liaise with internal and external parties regarding metallurgical development activities.

Approve and sign reports required by company approvals.

Manage and prioritise platform production release testing in conjunction with test and release.

Manage the Metallurgical First Article Inspection, periodic testing and reporting process.

Cost

Achieve the budget.

Exploit opportunities to reduce external testing costs through cost‑competitive internal processes.

People

Manage laboratory team engagement in Nadcap special process audit and compliance activity.

Maintain the Operator Skill Matrix for the laboratory function.

Ensure personnel are trained and capable of carrying out tasks as stated in job descriptions and skills matrices.

Performance‑manage laboratory personnel.

Develop skill base and flexibility of laboratory personnel.

Maintain KPIs/PIs in line with annual Performance and Development Review accountabilities.

Business

Deliver strategic future projects.

Act as a role model for the company\u2019s Vision, Mission, and Values.

Serve as an ambassador for Mettis Aerospace.

Vision – We shape the metal that shapes the future.

Mission – To be at the forefront of aerospace manufacturing, providing solutions for our global customers.

Values and Behaviours – Empowerment, Teamwork, Trust, Initiative, Serving our customers.

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Work Location: Redditch

All applicants must have the legal Right to Work in the UK. Successful candidates will undergo Drugs & Alcohol screening at the start of their Mettis employment and can be subject to random testing throughout their employment.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties but aims to highlight the main responsibilities of the role. It may be reviewed from time to time in agreement with the job holder. The job holder will be required to comply with all policies and procedures issued by and on behalf of Mettis Aerospace.