Materials Testing Engineer
Also known as: NDT Engineer · Lab Metallurgist · Testing Engineer
Tests metals and other materials in labs for strength, composition and defects, including NDT.
What you’d do
A materials testing engineer checks whether materials and parts meet their specifications — how strong they are, what they are made of, and whether they hide cracks or other defects. Testing laboratories, inspection agencies, steel and component makers, and aerospace and defence suppliers hire them. A day involves preparing samples, running tests on lab instruments or on site, and writing test reports.
- Run mechanical and chemical tests
- Prepare samples and examine microstructures
- Carry out NDT such as ultrasonic or radiography
- Write test reports to standards
How you get in
Freshers join testing labs, inspection agencies or plant labs as trainee engineers through campus placement or direct application. Short NDT courses leading to Level II certification are a common add-on for site inspection work.
Salary in India
Fresher salary over the years
middle of the 0–1 yr range, ₹ lakh a year
Fewer than two years of fresher data so far — the trend shows once there are two.
Skills you’ll use
From our guide · a curated list is coming
- Mechanical testing (tensile, hardness, impact)
- Metallography and microscopy
- Non-destructive testing methods
- Following test standards and procedures
- Writing clear test reports
About this field · for freshers
Job openings by year
Is demand growing?
Not added yet.
Competition4
How many graduates enter each year?
B.Tech / B.E. (all branches) graduates in 2023-24 at institutions that reported to AISHE — everyone finishing that degree, not only those entering this role.
Who hires
IT firms, banks, government, startups?
Not added yet.
Where the jobs are
Which cities?
Not added yet.
Women in the field4
Is it diverse?
Share of women among B.Tech / B.E. (all branches) graduates in 2023-24 — the entry degree, not people already working in this role.
At a glance
- Lab roles are steady; site NDT roles involve travel and shifts.
- Common next roles: senior testing engineer, lab in-charge, failure-analysis or quality roles.
- Accredited labs follow strict documentation, so attention to detail matters.
Stay safe
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