Senior Materials Engineer – Coatings, Metals & Inorganic Materials

TMC is a global high-tech consultancy company with a team of entrepreneurial engineers, scientists, and digital experts from around the world, offering consultancy services to high-profile clients globally in service areas such as Technology & Engineering, Energy & Renewables, Life sciences & Pharma, and Digital & IT. For this vacancy, they are looking for a Senior Materials Engineer with a passion for coatings, metals, and inorganic materials, who can take ownership of material-related investigations, drive innovation projects, and act as a trusted technical expert for both internal and external stakeholders.

In this role, you will combine deep technical expertise with project leadership, helping to develop and optimize advanced material solutions for demanding industrial applications. As a Senior Materials Engineer, you will be responsible for initiating, designing, and executing research and development projects related to metallic materials, coatings, corrosion protection systems, and inorganic materials. You will independently define research strategies, evaluate material performance, and translate scientific and engineering findings into practical business solutions.

Key responsibilities include: leading and executing materials engineering projects from concept to implementation; designing and managing experimental test programs related to coatings, corrosion, wear, and material performance; investigating material failures and determining root causes through technical and laboratory analyses; evaluating and selecting appropriate metals, alloys, coatings, and inorganic materials for specific applications; interpreting analytical and test data and providing clear technical recommendations; developing relationships with customers, suppliers, universities, and external laboratories; identifying opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement; supporting product development, qualification, and manufacturing activities; providing expert guidance on material selection, surface engineering, and long-term performance; and preparing technical reports and presenting findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

What they expect: an MSc or PhD in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field; at least 8-10 years of experience in materials engineering, coatings technology, metallurgy, or surface engineering; strong knowledge of metallic materials and alloys, corrosion mechanisms and prevention, coating technologies and surface treatments, inorganic materials, and material characterization and failure analysis; demonstrated experience in independently developing and managing research programs; strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to translate technical findings into practical recommendations and business value; experience working directly with customers, suppliers, and multidisciplinary teams; excellent communication and stakeholder management skills; and fluency in English (additional languages are an advantage).

Preferred experience includes SEM, EDS, XRD, XRF, FTIR, ICP or comparable analytical techniques, corrosion testing and lifetime prediction, protective and functional coatings, materials qualification and certification, industrial R&D environments, and aerospace, energy, automotive, semiconductor, or high-tech industries. The ideal candidate is a technically driven professional who enjoys taking ownership of challenges, can operate independently, build strong relationships, and confidently lead technical discussions at all organizational levels.

They are naturally curious, proactive, and motivated to turn scientific insights into practical solutions. TMC offers a highly visible and technically challenging senior role, the opportunity to lead innovative materials research programs, direct interaction with customers, suppliers, and leading research institutes, freedom to shape technical solutions and influence strategic decisions, and a collaborative environment where expertise, innovation, and entrepreneurship are valued.