STEM OPT Metallurgist Jobs
Metallurgist roles in materials testing, alloy development, and failure analysis qualify for STEM OPT's 24-month extension, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your degree in metallurgical, materials, or chemical engineering must align with an approved STEM CIP code.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Title: Metallurgist
Department: Quality
Effective Date: 9/14/2026
Reports To: Process Engineer
Chance Aluminum, based in Williamsport, PA, focuses on aluminum production as the domestic supplier for AA Metals, a Florida-based master distributor with global operations in the United States, Colombia, Turkey, and China. We are a safety-focused, industrial manufacturing facility looking to expand our team of dedicated, goal-driven individuals.
Metallurgist Position Overview:
The Metallurgist is responsible for supporting the quality, performance, and consistency of aluminum products in a manufacturing environment. This role focuses on alloy evaluation, process support, and troubleshooting across rolling, packing, and finishing operations. The Metallurgist works closely with production and quality teams to ensure products meet customer specifications and industry standards while driving continuous improvement. The position requires strong attention to detail and a working knowledge of quality systems, including a basic understanding of ISO 9001 standards.
Metallurgist Benefits:
- Competitive compensation
- Medical, dental and vision insurance (free medical insurance to employees)
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Employer paid short- and long-term disability as well as term life insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Paid Time Off program
- Paid Holidays
- Uniform and safety shoe program
Metallurgist Essential Responsibilities:
- Analyze aluminum alloys to evaluate properties, performance, and suitability for application
- Support rolling, packing, and finishing processes to improve product quality and operational efficiency
- Investigate material defects, failures, and non-conformities; identify root causes and implement corrective actions
- Work with production teams to resolve day-to-day metallurgical and process-related issues
- Assist in developing and maintaining process controls to ensure consistent product quality
- Perform and interpret materials testing, including mechanical and chemical testing
- Maintain accurate records of testing results, process data, and metallurgical analysis
- Support quality initiatives, including scrap reduction and process improvement efforts
- Ensure compliance with customer specifications and applicable industry standards
- Assist with internal audits and quality system requirements, including ISO 9001
- Prepare technical reports and communicate findings to production, quality, and management teams
- Create and optimize oven/annealing cycles based on alloy, temper, and product requirements
- Provide technical support for alloy, temper, and processing decisions
- Assist with continuous improvement projects related to product quality, yield, and process consistency
Metallurgist Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering, Materials Science, or a related field
- 3–5 years of experience in a manufacturing or metals-processing environment
- Extensive knowledge of aluminum alloys, annealing, and metallurgical principles
- Familiarity with material testing methods and laboratory equipment
- Experience interpreting mechanical and chemical test results
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment
- Strong communication and technical documentation skills
- Ability to troubleshoot metallurgical and process-related issues in a manufacturing environment
Preferred:
- Experience with aluminum manufacturing or metal-processing operations
- Experience with casting, rolling, annealing, or metal finishing processes
- Experience developing or optimizing furnace/oven cycles
- Exposure to statistical analysis tools and data-driven process improvement
- Knowledge of Aluminum Association standards, alloys, and tempers
- Familiarity with continuous improvement methodologies
- Experience with ISO 9001 or other quality management systems
- Experience working directly with production and quality teams in an industrial setting
Metallurgist Work Environment:
- Manufacturing facility with frequent movement between production areas and lab
- Exposure to industrial equipment, machinery, and varying temperatures
- Required use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Regular interaction with production and quality teams
Job Type: Full-time
Job Location: On-site, Williamsport, PA
Job Title: Metallurgist
Department: Quality
Effective Date: 9/14/2026
Reports To: Process Engineer
Chance Aluminum, based in Williamsport, PA, focuses on aluminum production as the domestic supplier for AA Metals, a Florida-based master distributor with global operations in the United States, Colombia, Turkey, and China. We are a safety-focused, industrial manufacturing facility looking to expand our team of dedicated, goal-driven individuals.
Metallurgist Position Overview:
The Metallurgist is responsible for supporting the quality, performance, and consistency of aluminum products in a manufacturing environment. This role focuses on alloy evaluation, process support, and troubleshooting across rolling, packing, and finishing operations. The Metallurgist works closely with production and quality teams to ensure products meet customer specifications and industry standards while driving continuous improvement. The position requires strong attention to detail and a working knowledge of quality systems, including a basic understanding of ISO 9001 standards.
Metallurgist Benefits:
- Competitive compensation
- Medical, dental and vision insurance (free medical insurance to employees)
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Employer paid short- and long-term disability as well as term life insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Paid Time Off program
- Paid Holidays
- Uniform and safety shoe program
Metallurgist Essential Responsibilities:
- Analyze aluminum alloys to evaluate properties, performance, and suitability for application
- Support rolling, packing, and finishing processes to improve product quality and operational efficiency
- Investigate material defects, failures, and non-conformities; identify root causes and implement corrective actions
- Work with production teams to resolve day-to-day metallurgical and process-related issues
- Assist in developing and maintaining process controls to ensure consistent product quality
- Perform and interpret materials testing, including mechanical and chemical testing
- Maintain accurate records of testing results, process data, and metallurgical analysis
- Support quality initiatives, including scrap reduction and process improvement efforts
- Ensure compliance with customer specifications and applicable industry standards
- Assist with internal audits and quality system requirements, including ISO 9001
- Prepare technical reports and communicate findings to production, quality, and management teams
- Create and optimize oven/annealing cycles based on alloy, temper, and product requirements
- Provide technical support for alloy, temper, and processing decisions
- Assist with continuous improvement projects related to product quality, yield, and process consistency
Metallurgist Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering, Materials Science, or a related field
- 3–5 years of experience in a manufacturing or metals-processing environment
- Extensive knowledge of aluminum alloys, annealing, and metallurgical principles
- Familiarity with material testing methods and laboratory equipment
- Experience interpreting mechanical and chemical test results
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment
- Strong communication and technical documentation skills
- Ability to troubleshoot metallurgical and process-related issues in a manufacturing environment
Preferred:
- Experience with aluminum manufacturing or metal-processing operations
- Experience with casting, rolling, annealing, or metal finishing processes
- Experience developing or optimizing furnace/oven cycles
- Exposure to statistical analysis tools and data-driven process improvement
- Knowledge of Aluminum Association standards, alloys, and tempers
- Familiarity with continuous improvement methodologies
- Experience with ISO 9001 or other quality management systems
- Experience working directly with production and quality teams in an industrial setting
Metallurgist Work Environment:
- Manufacturing facility with frequent movement between production areas and lab
- Exposure to industrial equipment, machinery, and varying temperatures
- Required use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Regular interaction with production and quality teams
Job Type: Full-time
Job Location: On-site, Williamsport, PA
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Metallurgist
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's CIP code appears on the official STEM Designated Degree Program List maintained by USCIS. Metallurgical engineering (14.2101) and materials science (14.1801) both qualify, but your transcript must match the listed field exactly.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Before signing an offer, search the E-Verify employer database to confirm active enrollment. Metallurgy roles are concentrated in defense contractors and mining firms, many of which are enrolled, but smaller materials labs often are not.
Target employers with active LCA filings for materials roles
Use Migrate Mate to filter employers by DOL Labor Condition Application filing history for metallurgist and materials engineer roles, so you're applying only to companies that have already sponsored STEM workers in comparable positions.
Build your I-983 training plan around specific metallurgical tasks
Your I-983 must map training objectives to concrete role activities like phase diagram analysis, SEM-EDS characterization, or weld qualification testing. Generic descriptions of 'materials work' will not satisfy DSO review or an ICE audit.
Look up prevailing wage before negotiating your offer
Use the OFLC Wage Search to find the Level I through Level IV prevailing wage for your SOC code (17-2131, Materials Engineers) in the employer's metro area. Your offered salary must meet or exceed the certified LCA wage for your STEM OPT to remain valid.
Plan your H-1B transition timeline around OPT end dates
If your employer files an H-1B visa petition before your OPT expires, cap-gap protection extends your authorization through September 30. Coordinate your 36-month OPT end date with your employer's HR team early so the petition is submitted in the March registration window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a materials science or metallurgical engineering degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, provided your degree's CIP code appears on the STEM Designated Degree Program List. Metallurgical engineering (CIP 14.2101), materials science and engineering (CIP 14.1801), and related fields like ceramic sciences (CIP 14.0401) all qualify. Your DSO verifies the match in SEVIS before recommending the extension, so confirm the CIP code on your transcript before starting the application.
What E-Verify requirement applies to employers hiring STEM OPT metallurgists?
Any employer hiring you on STEM OPT must be actively enrolled in E-Verify and must remain enrolled for the full duration of your extension. This applies even if the company already employs U.S. workers without E-Verify in other departments. You can verify an employer's enrollment status through the E-Verify employer search tool before accepting an offer.
What should the I-983 training plan include for a metallurgist role?
Your I-983 must describe how the position provides practical training directly related to your STEM degree. For metallurgist roles, that means specifying tasks like corrosion analysis, mechanical testing, microstructure characterization, or failure investigation, along with learning objectives tied to each. Both you and your employer supervisor must sign the form, and your DSO must receive a copy before the extension is approved.
How does cap-gap protection work if my STEM OPT expires before October 1?
If your employer files a timely H-1B cap-subject petition before your STEM OPT authorization expires, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization and status through September 30 of that year. You can continue working as a metallurgist without interruption during that period. USCIS issues an updated I-20 reflecting the cap-gap extension, which serves as your work authorization documentation alongside your EAD.
Where can I find metallurgist jobs with employers verified for STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate filters job listings by employers with confirmed E-Verify enrollment and DOL LCA filing history for materials and metallurgical engineering roles, so you're not wasting applications on companies that can't legally employ STEM OPT students. You can search by role type, location, and industry sector to target defense, aerospace, mining, or manufacturing employers that regularly hire in this field.