Element Huntington Beach has an opportunity for an experienced Failure Analyst whose primary responsibilities are conducting, coordinating and interpreting all required lab tests involved with performing failure analysis investigations as well as reverse engineering projects. This position will require you to work both with our internal team and directly with clients to provide technical guidance and budgetary quotes for projects and provide investigation results to clients in an expeditious manner.
Salary: $120,000 – $140,000 / year DOE (Depending on Experience)
Responsibilities
• Coordinating/conducting and interpreting all lab tests involved in performing failure analysis and/or reverse engineering projects.• Review technical documents and recommend scopes of work, including quotations for failure analysis and/or reverse engineering projects.• Independently operate metallurgical equipment involving sample preparation and examination.• Independently operate an SEM/EDS system, interpret fractography results, and interpret EDS results.• Recommend material specifications as applicable to industry standards for reverse engineering projects.• Project management including internal team communication, client communication, testing, reporting, and accountability for monthly productivity.• Prepare comprehensive written technical reports and effectively articulate investigation results verbally to clients.• Work will be performed mainly in the metallurgical laboratory or failure analysis area; however, may require lifting <20 lbs often.
Skills / Qualifications• BS in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, or Metallurgical Engineering preferred; however, equivalent degree/educational background may be considered.• 5 – 10 years of experience in analyzing metallic fractures using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and metallurgical techniques is required.• 5+ years of experience/working knowledge of metallurgical laboratory equipment and practices. Hands-on experience in preparation and interpretation of metallurgical specimens is required.• Strong written and verbal communication/presentation skills.• Familiarity with aerospace materials specifications, and ability to read and interpret materials specifications is required.• Ability to interpret a variety of testing procedures, requirements, client instructions, data, and component/assembly drawings/prints.• Ability to assess and respond to client requirements in an efficient and professional manner.• Ability to operate and function within a team, drawing on other expertise where required.• Flexibility and adaptability to handle different/shifting workloads, multiple priorities, and client deadlines.
Diversity StatementAt Element, we always take pride in putting our people first. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognizes diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our Vision of becoming “the world’s most trusted testing partner”.
All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work related criteria and without regard for the following: age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, race, religion, responsibility of dependents, sexual orientation, or gender identity or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.
Skills Required
- 5–10 years of experience analyzing metallic fractures using scanning electron microscopy and metallurgical techniques
- 5+ years of experience with metallurgical laboratory equipment and practices
- Hands-on experience preparing and interpreting metallurgical specimens
- Familiarity with aerospace materials specifications and ability to interpret material specifications
- Ability to interpret testing procedures, requirements, client instructions, data, and component or assembly drawings
- Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills
- Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, or Metallurgical Engineering, or equivalent educational background
Element Materials Technology Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Element Materials Technology and has not been reviewed or approved by Element Materials Technology.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — PTO, floating holidays, and paid volunteer time are highlighted, with flexibility to use time off in many teams. This breadth of options adds practical value beyond base pay.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Employee Assistance Program support, recognition programs, and “Smarter Working” flexibility are featured as part of the package. These offerings support day-to-day wellbeing and work–life fit.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Compensation is considered competitive in certain roles and markets, with location-based variation enabling stronger packages for some. This creates opportunities to land better-aligned offers when role and site match well.
Element Materials Technology Insights
What We Do
The Element Materials Technology Group is one of the world’s leading global providers of testing, inspection, and certification services for a diverse range of products, materials, and technologies in advanced industrial supply chains where failure in use is not an option. Headquartered in London, UK, Element’s c.9,000 scientists, engineers, and technologists, work across a global network of over 270+ locations, support customers from early R&D, through complex regulatory approvals, and into production ensuring their products are safe and sustainable, and achieve market access. In 2021, Element set out its new, industry leading environmental commitments, adopting science-based targets and committing to net zero emissions across its entire global business by 2035. These environmental commitments follow Element’s achievement of the highest ESG ranking in the testing, inspection and certification industry from Sustainalytics, a global leader in ESG research and data.







