Materials technicians test materials under different conditions to help develop and improve them.
What does a materials technician do?
Materials technicians’ duties include testing a material's strength and flexibility under stress; testing materials' characteristics, such as chemical composition or electromagnetic properties; assessing the cost, reliability, safety and environmental impact of materials; researching new ways to use materials for the development of products, as well as analysing test results and writing reports for project engineers and managers.
What do I need to do to become a materials technician?
You’ll need to be good at science and solving problems. If you want to be part of a team working with cutting-edge technology, this could be a great career for you.
Academic route
- Five GCSEs (A-C), including maths, English and a science subject
- A levels
Vocational route
- Level 3 diploma in applied science
- Level 3 diploma in engineering
Where to find out more
Where could I be working?
You could find opportunities in construction, engineering, aerospace, manufacturing and medical instrument production.