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Materials Technician

A materials technician tests, makes and helps improve high-tech materials used in engineering, science and manufacturing.

How a Materials Technician makes a difference

Materials technicians help create and check materials that are used in everyday products and cutting-edge technologies. They make sure materials are safe, strong, reliable and fit for purpose.

Their work supports things like cars, planes, medicines, sports gear, buildings and more. By testing and improving materials, they help companies make better products and support innovation in science and engineering.

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The type of work a Materials Technician will do

  • Prepare materials for experiments and processing
  • Use tools and machines for cutting, moulding and forming materials
  • Test how materials behave under different conditions
  • Carry out quality checks on products and components
  • Record and analyse test results for engineers
  • Help make composite parts for different industries
Useful skills
Attention to detail
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Critical thinking
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Practical application
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Precise
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Problem solving
Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the Materials Technician role

An interest in how materials behave and how they can be improved

A positive attitude to learning and solving problems

Good attention to detail for accurate testing and results

Teamwork skills to work well with others

Safety awareness to protect yourself and colleagues

What you can bring to the Materials Technician role

Curiosity about science, technology and how things are made

Willingness to learn new tools and techniques

The ability to organise your work and keep good records

Creative thinking when testing new materials

Pride in doing accurate and high-quality work

What you can bring to the Materials Technician role

This role could also be right for you if you have any of the following interests:

- Science and technology

- Chemistry and physics

- Engineering and manufacturing

- Design and making things

- Problem solving

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*according to ONS

Future career opportunities for a Materials Technician

Being a Materials Technician can lead to jobs such as Materials Engineer, Quality Technician, Laboratory Technician or a specialist technician in industries like aerospace or automotive. With more training or education, you could move into research, product development or leading technical teams.

How to become a Materials Technician

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:

Options available after GCSEs:

  • A T-level in Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control
  • An apprenticeship as a Composites Technician

More options available after that:

  • An apprenticeship as an Engineering Manufacturing Technician
  • An HTQ in Manufacturing Engineering

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

As an advanced materials technician, you get hands-on with exciting materials that make products lighter, stronger and smarter. You might work with materials used in cars, planes, renewable energy or medical equipment. The role mixes science with practical work, using specialist tools, machines and testing equipment. Every day can be different, especially when you are helping to develop new materials and technologies for the future.

Other job titles...

You might also see this role listed under different job titles, including:

Materials technician
Composites technician
Materials testing technician
Production technician
Laboratory technician

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What are your next steps?

Discover our expert advice on the different pathways available and how to get into your dream role.

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