Process Metallurgist

Position Summary

BG Workforce Solutions is seeking a Process Metallurgist to own material processing and heat-treatment operations in an advanced manufacturing environment in Honolulu. The role selects, develops, validates, and troubleshoots thermal processes across alloys, product forms, starting conditions, and final-property requirements. The work sits between engineering analysis and the shop floor: apply structure–process–performance to set the method, verify final material condition, and stand behind the result with limited supervision.

Key Responsibilities

• Select and develop heat-treatment and related thermal processes from alloy, starting condition, product form, section thickness, prior processing, and required final properties.
• Set and verify furnace parameters: temperature profiles, soak times, atmospheres, load configuration, and cooling or quench method (furnace, air, polymer, oil, water, or other applicable media).
• Account for manufacturing history—cast, billet-derived, wrought, powder/AM, and prior thermal or mechanical work—and how that history changes microstructure, process response, distortion, and residual stress.
• Verify results through property testing and metallography (hardness, conductivity where applicable, mechanical tests as required, case depth, decarb, contamination, IGO/IGA). Establish acceptance criteria and document incoming condition, process execution, and final characterization.
• Own furnace capability and process control: temperature uniformity, atmosphere integrity, quench-media condition, instrumentation, and records consistent with AMS 2750 pyrometry practice.
• Investigate process failures and nonconforming material, identify root cause, and issue technically supported corrective action.
• Write procedures, work instructions, and training materials; qualify operators; support internal and external audits, equipment maintenance, process validation, and continuous improvement.
• Maintain complete processing records and traceability (travelers, load maps, thermocouple placement, heat/lot pedigree, and mill or incoming certifications).

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a closely related discipline with substantial metallurgy coursework.
• Five or more years of professional experience in metallurgy, heat treatment, or production thermal processing, including ownership of process selection—not observation only.
• Working knowledge of heat-treatment principles across multiple metallic alloys and material conditions, and of industrial furnaces, atmosphere control, temperature-control systems, and quenching.
• Ability to interpret specifications, material certifications, test results, and manufacturing documentation, and to evaluate microstructure and properties against required final condition.
• Experience investigating nonconforming material and writing technically supported corrective action. Strong technical writing.
• Comfortable on the manufacturing floor providing guidance to operators, quality, and process engineering.
• U.S. citizenship required. Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance; existing clearance preferred. Must satisfy applicable DoD background requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Aerospace, defense, or other highly controlled manufacturing. Familiarity with AMS/SAE heat-treat specifications, AMS 2750, and NADCAP heat treat or a documented path to process approval.
• Broad alloy experience (carbon/alloy and tool steels, stainless and PH grades, aluminum, copper alloys/bronze, titanium, and nickel alloys) and more than one product form, including AM thermal processing where applicable.
• Hands-on metallography, hardness, conductivity, and related characterization. Experience qualifying thermal-processing procedures and supporting audits or material acceptance.
• Advanced degree in metallurgy or materials. Military or veteran experience.

Work Environment

In-person role in an operating advanced-manufacturing shop. Time is split between analysis and the floor: industrial furnaces, quench systems, test equipment, heat, PPE, and occasional off-shift support during production runs or failures. Reports into engineering leadership and works daily with operations, quality, maintenance, and training.