Engineer Materials Science - Product Development

About Kennametal

With over 85 years as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal Inc. delivers productivity to customers through materials science, tooling and wear-resistant solutions. Customers across aerospace and defense, earthworks, energy, general engineering and transportation turn to Kennametal to help them manufacture with precision and efficiency. Learn more at kennametal.com . Follow @Kennametal: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Job Title: Engineer Materials Science - Product Development

Location: Latrobe, PA

Job Summary:

This position is responsible for supporting and leading grade development initiatives for metal cutting applications through Kennametal's stage gate process. The role partners closely with Global R&D, Manufacturing, Marketing, Sales, and Customers to develop, test, scale, and commercialize new cutting tool materials and technologies. The Engineer Grade Development will contribute to material innovation, product lifecycle management, and customer-focused solutions that drive business growth.

Key Job Responsibilities:

- Lead Grade Development projects under supervision utilizing Kennametal's stage gate process.

- Plan and execute global R&D projects as a Project Leader or contributing team member.

- Collaborate with Marketing, Sales, Manufacturing, and Customers to support growth initiatives and increase market share.

- Prepare and evaluate experimental materials through metal cutting tests and analytical materials characterization techniques.

- Analyze and summarize test results and communicate findings to cross-functional project teams.

- Support product scale-up activities and transition new products into manufacturing.

- Assist with commercial launch activities in partnership with manufacturing and marketing teams.

- Develop expertise in material properties and performance characteristics related to metal cutting applications.

- Conduct customer visits to evaluate machining requirements and support field testing of newly developed products.

- Review cutting tool material portfolios and contribute recommendations for product lifecycle management.

- Participate in technical discussions and provide recommendations based on analytical findings.

- Support continuous improvement initiatives related to product performance, material development, and manufacturing processes.

- Demonstrate strong project management, technical communication, and collaboration skills while working within cross-functional and global teams.

Education, Work Experience, Skills & Qualifications

- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Materials Science, Engineering, or a related technical field required.

- GPA of 3.5 or higher preferred.

- Experience with cemented carbides, ceramics, and/or PVD/CVD coating processes preferred.

- Understanding of metal cutting applications including turning, milling, and drilling preferred.

- Familiarity with tool wear mechanisms and machining performance evaluation is a plus.

- Experience with cutting tool design, cutting tool manufacturing processes, or materials analysis techniques preferred.

- Strong project leadership and project management skills.

- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and other PC software applications.

- Excellent verbal and written technical communication skills.

- Ability to work effectively within cross-functional and global teams.

- Strong analytical problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.

Kennametal Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.