Research Engineer

Location: Montpelier

Job Description

SSAB is one of the largest North American producers of steel plate and coil, serving many industrial markets including energy, construction, agriculture and transportation. SSAB operates five state of the art facilities strategically located in key regions across the U.S.
SSAB has nearly 1,200 highly skilled employees in the U.S. Jobs at SSAB range from machine operators and sales people to advanced engineers and corporate professionals in HR, finance and more. SSAB offers challenging careers and comprehensive benefit program designed to keep employees and their families healthy and secure.

POSITION DESCRIPTON:

The incumbent serves as an expert for SSAB in North America for the scientific understanding of the fundamentals underpinning primary steelmaking processes, specifically scrap melting in the electric arc furnace and secondary steel refining in the ladle. He or she must have a strong knowledge of physical, thermal, and chemical transformation processes during steel melting and refining processes with a deep understanding of the principles of reaction kinetics and thermodynamics and their use for process optimization.

He or she will be involved in activities related to production trials and development of production practices. The incumbent will work in the SSAB state-of-the-art Research and Development Facility located in Muscatine, Iowa. The position reports to the Director, Research and Development and has a close working relationship with Primary Operations and Technical Services groups at both the Iowa and Alabama steel mills.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / FUNCTIONS:

• Develop scrap recipes based on different feed stocks for production trials with the purpose of optimizing the electric arc furnace scrap melting process.
• Develop an understanding of the relationship between scrap recipe, flux addition, and slag chemistry with the purpose of optimizing the process to consistently achieve optimal slag chemistry and foaming and for efficient dephosphorization during scrap melting in the electric arc furnace.
• Develop a flux practice for efficient desulphurization of steel and absorption of non-metallic inclusions from the steel during ladle refining process.
• Develop practices for optimization of different calcium-bearing alloys for efficient modifications of oxides and sulfides.
• Contribute to the development of numerical models specific to steelmaking processes at SSAB mills and work with Operations and others to advance implementation of numerical models to assist in controlling key processes.
• Perform inclusion analyses using optical microscope and SEM/EDS to help develop optimal practices for ladle refining process.
• Perform raw material testing to ensure conformity of vendor materials to specifications.
• Write technical reports to document research work and findings of trials and investigations.
• Read published papers and communicate with colleagues to keep current with developments within the steel industry and academia regarding primary steelmaking process for potential process optimization.

QUALIFICATIONS - Education, Experience and Competencies:
Required:

• MSc. in Metallurgical Engineering or related discipline
• At least two years of experience in the steel industry or academic work focused on steelmaking, particularly in relation to scrap melting in the electric arc furnace and ladle refining technology.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience in using lab equipment such as polishing machine, optical microscope and SEM/EDS desirable
• Regular and reliable attendance

Preferred:

• PhD., ScD. or similar doctoral degree in Metallurgical Engineering or related discipline
• Educational background in material science, and a strong knowledge of principles of reaction kinetics and thermodynamics during scrap melting in electric arc furnace and ladle refining process.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The employee will frequently be required to:

• This position operates in an office environment. The role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, network tools/equipment, phones, photocopiers and scanners. This role is partially sedentary (average of 6 hours per day), however, some standing and walking is required.
• The position requires working in the plant to perform trials and collect data, using laboratory equipment such as optical microscopes, SEM/EDS, polishing machines, band saws and surface grinder, and MAY involve using hardness testing, tensile testing, CVN testing, DWTT machine, band saws, thermal cutting, waterjet cutting, heat treating furnaces, and crane.
• The position requires preparing various acid solutions for etching steel specimens such as sulfuric acid, picric acid, oxalic, natal etc.

The employee will occasionally be required to:

• This position will frequently require work in the mill and in the field environment with some exposure to heat/cold, walking, climbing stairs/ladders, noise, and wearing safety equipment/clothing for protection from…