Ceramics Engineer: Job Description, Education, Skills and Duties, Earnings and Outlook
Submitted by: paula
Job Overview Whenever we think of ceramics, one thing that immediately comes into my mind are the objects such as vases, cups, saucers and bowls as well as things that are made of clay. Today, ceramics are highly refined by the new technologies in materials engineering. The professionals responsible in the advancement in the ceramics technology are called the ceramics engineers. Ceramics engineers work with non metallic elements such as clay, and some inorganic ones like zirconia. Their job is to perform researches in, and design machines and new methods to develop newer and more improved ceramic materials and products from table and kitchenwares to small tiles used in space shuttles.
Education, Knowledge and Trainings Required
As early as high school, an aspiring ceramics engineer can prepare in this career by taking subjects in mathematics, physics, chemistry, computers and research. A minimum of Bachelor's degree is required to become a ceramics engineer. A Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering with a Masteral degree in Materials Engineering may be a good track to be successful in this field. Licenses coming from the NICE or the National Institute of Ceramic Engineers is recommended to enhance one's credentials and create more opportunities for the professional in this industry.
Skills and Abilities
The skills needed in becoming a successful ceramics engineer are combinations of mechanical, technical, manipulative and scientifics skills. As engineers they must be adept with the different laboratory equipment and device used in materials study and testing.
As researchers, they should have a sold background in their field, the insatiable thirst for seeking for answers and good data gathering techniques more expecially in experimentations. Written and oral communications are needed in presenting outcomes through research papers and oral defense and presentations.
Duties
Most of the ceramics enginners work at engineering consulting firms, manufacturing plants, materials research institution as well as on commercial support facilities. The main goal of any engineer is to use the scientific knowledge to develop either a new product or a process, as well as discover new applications of the ceramic material. Aligned to this goal, they conduct researches and investigative projects and perform experiments. They study the chemical and physical properties of these materials and subject them to different tests so as to determine the measure of the other properties such as hardness, strength as well as boiling points. They also provide recommendations for the usage of these in the many manufacturing firms and research institutions.
Earnings and Job Outlook
The range of salary for a ceramic engineer starts off from 44,090 U.S dollars to around 69,660 U.S. dollars per annum. Among the factors that affect the income of a ceramics engineer are the state of practice, the location, size of firm or the employer, as well as the proven years of professional experience in the field of materials engineering.
Paula Hiz is a researcher and a human resource specialist who helps newly graduates, job applicants and post graduate professionals be aware of their job opportunities and available trainings for skills and practice upgrading.
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Word Count: 522 Date: Thu, 25 Nov 2010 Time: 6:43 PM
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