Metallurgy Laboratory Engineer
Hagerstown, MD, US, 21742
Transport is at the core of modern society. Imagine using your expertise to shape sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions for the future. If you seek to make a difference on a global scale, working with next-gen technologies and the sharpest collaborative teams, then we could be a perfect match.
Mission / Purpose of the Job
The Metallurgy Engineer supports the durability, cleanliness, and metallurgical compliance of diesel engine and transmission components. The primary mission includes:
• Validating heat treatment outcomes (especially induction hardening and carburizing) through precise metallurgical analysis and inspection.
• Collaborating with the Heat Treatment Engineer to interpret process trends and address deviations.
• Leading failure and cleanliness investigations, applying metallurgical knowledge to identify causes of material- or contamination-related nonconformities.
• Partnering with technicians to improve preparation accuracy, documentation, and adherence to Volvo standards.
• Ensuring compliance with ISO/ASTM standards, Volvo specifications, and best practices in metallurgical testing
Scope and Influence
This non-managerial technical role is foundational to quality, production support, and lab advancement. The Metallurgy Engineer works across departments to enhance metallurgical inspection accuracy, technical cleanliness investigations, and procedural standardization
Key Responsibilities/ Accountabilies
I Do My Job
• Validate induction hardening and carburizing outcomes by inspecting microstructure, case depth, and hardness.
• Conduct failure analysis using SEM/EDS, hardness profiling, microstructure, and macro/micro etching.
• Support technical cleanliness efforts, including contamination source identification and material-type analysis.
• Collaborate with lab technicians to improve preparation methods, documentation consistency, and inspection alignment with Volvo and ISO procedures.
• Conduct particle classification and reporting using VDA 19.1 / ISO 16232 standards.
• Assist with process audits and material quality reviews for in-house and supplier operations.
• Maintain a clean and tidy work area with a 5S mindset.
• Attend trainings and meetings as per orientation.
I Improve My Job
• Lead initiatives to standardize lab processes, improve test documentation, and reduce variation in metallurgical evaluations.
• Assist in root cause investigations tied to material failures, hardness deviation, or cleanliness nonconformities.
• Identify and implement improvements in sample prep, inspection flow, or image/data storage.
I Develop Myself
• Participate in advanced metallurgy and testing certifications, including:
• ASM Mechanical Testing
• SEM Operator Training
• Metallurgy for Non-Metallurgists
• Stay up to date on cleanliness inspection techniques, Volvo STD 107-0002, and VDA 19.1, especially in relation to particle behavior and source identification.
I Develop My Team
• Mentor technicians in preparation techniques, etching protocols, and image quality expectations.
• Act as a reference for metallurgical standards and test requirements during audits or new program launches.
• Support global alignment by reviewing procedures and lab practices from benchmark Volvo sites.
Information Systems
Microscopes & Analysis Systems:
• Jomesa (cleanliness inspection and image classification)
• Leica (metallography and general microscopy)
• SEM/EBSD/EDS (Oxford or equivalent)
• Brinell Hardness Tester
• Vickers / Rockwell Testers
• Ultrasonic inspection system (for case depth validation)
• Tensile Testing Machine
• Carbon Analyzer Tester
Nondestructive Testing Tools:
• Barkhausen noise inspection (grinding burn detection)
• Acid etching
• Liquid Penetrant
• Magnaflux for surface crack detection
Cleanliness Testing & Preparation:
• Filtration systems and particle extraction stations
• ISO 16232 / VDA 19.1 compliant extraction setups
• Mechanisms for DI-water, Bonderite flush, solvents, and heated flush procedures
Digital Tools & Systems:
• Power BI (trend monitoring & dashboards)
• Power Apps (lab input interface & workflows)
• SharePoint (document control & report archiving)
• Office 365
Key targets and results
• Turnaround time for hardness and cleanliness inspections
• Accurate particle classification in cleanliness reports
• Case depth and microstructure conformance rate for heat-treated parts
Who we are and what we believe in
We are committed to shaping the future landscape of efficient, safe, and sustainable transport solutions. Fulfilling our mission creates countless career opportunities for talents across the group’s leading brands and entities.
Applying to this job offers you the opportunity to join Volvo Group. Every day, you will be working with some of the sharpest and most creative brains in our field to be able to leave our society in better shape for the next generation. We are passionate about what we do, and we thrive on teamwork. We are almost 100,000 people united around the world by a culture of care, inclusiveness, and empowerment.
Mack Trucks is part of Volvo Group. Founded in 1900, Mack Trucks is an iconic brand that embodies the American spirit: pioneering, hard-working, authentic and ambitious. Mack trucks are recognized around the world as “The American Truck You Can Count On,” thanks to our durable, reliable and application-driven vehicles that get the job done. With Mack Trucks you will be part of a global and diverse team. We work with passion, we trust each other and we embrace change to stay ahead. We make our customers win.
Nearest Major Market: Hagerstown