Vulcan Elements · 1 day ago
Materials Analysis Engineer – Microscopy and Characterization
Durham, NC
Full-time
Onsite
Mid LevelVulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. The Materials Analysis Engineer will focus on metallography and support materials development, quality control, and failure analysis while contributing to automated microstructural characterization.
AerospaceIndustrial ManufacturingManufacturing
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Perform SEM-based microstructural analysis, using various imaging modes, EDS, and EBSD
Prepare metallurgical specimens, including sectioning, mounting, grinding, polishing, etching
Capture high-quality optical, SEM, and EBSD datasets suitable for reporting and computational analysis
Interpret microstructural features such as grain structure, phases, precipitates, porosity, inclusions, deformation, and fracture morphology
Support production, quality, and failure analysis investigations using microscopy and metallurgical evidence
Correlate microstructural observations with processing history, bulk chemistry, and measured properties
Maintain, troubleshoot, and perform basic repairs on laboratory equipment and supporting infrastructure
Maintain clear documentation of analysis methods, EBSD workflows, maintenance actions, and results
Collaborate with materials process and data engineers to transition microscopy from manual interpretation toward scalable, automated analysis
Qualification
Required
B.S. or higher in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science, or a closely related field
Significant experience in a production, industrial, or commercial materials laboratory
Strong hands-on experience operating SEM systems, with practical EBSD acquisition and analysis experience
Demonstrated expertise in metallographic and EBSD-specific sample preparation
Mechanically minded, with proven ability to diagnose, maintain, and repair laboratory equipment
Familiarity with chemical analysis techniques such as XRF and ICP-OES, including how bulk chemistry data is generated and interpreted (hands-on operation not required)
Experience working with engineering and manufacturing materials, not exclusively academic samples
Ability to work independently and take ownership of laboratory systems and workflows
Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities
Preferred
Advanced EBSD analysis (texture analysis, misorientation, recrystallization metrics)
Experience with image analysis, computer vision, or ML-based microscopy workflows (Python-based preferred)
Experience supporting manufacturing QC, process control, or failure analysis
Exposure to XRD, hardness testing, or complementary characterization methods
Comfort operating in environments where uptime, repeatability, and throughput matter
Company
Vulcan Elements
Vulcan Elements is a manufacturer of rare-earth magnets used in critical defense and commercial applications.
Founded in 2023
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$690.2MKey Investors
Department of Defense’s Office of Strategic Capital (OSC)Altimeter
2025-11-21Debt Financing· $620M
2025-08-11Series A· $65M
2023-12-26Seed· $5.2M
Leadership Team
John Maslin
CEO & Co-Founder
Recent News
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