A specialist who develops methods to process and convert metals and other materials into usable forms: These metallurgical engineers develop new materials for applications that require exceptionally high strength and heat resistance and they also determine how materials fail, using instruments; such as, microprobes, scanning electron microscopes, and X-ray diffraction and examine failed, broken, or contaminated materials.

Technology is developed to produce ceramic substances, new compounds, and metal alloys for use in computers, spacecraft, and industrial equipment.