Research Engineer

Hydro Extrusions is a world-leading aluminium extrusion business counting around 100 production sites in 40 countries and employing 20,000 people. Through our unique combination of local expertise, global network, and unmatched R&D capabilities, we can offer everything from standard profiles, to advanced development and manufacturing for most industries. 

Role Purpose

Drive the optimization of metallurgical processes across the aluminium extrusion value chain. 
Ensure consistent product quality and strengthen operational excellence through expertise in alloys, heat treatment, and process performance. Collaborate with research, operations, commercial teams, customers, institutes, and universities to solve technical challenges and develop advanced aluminium extrusion solutions.

What you will be doing

• Provide metallurgical expertise for aluminium extrusion operations, including casting, homogenization, extrusion, quenching, stretching, and aging
• Develop, evaluate, and qualify new alloys, process technologies, and extrusion products
• Develop and optimize alloy performance for mechanical and functional properties, extrusion productivity, and sustainability
• Collaborate with production teams to establish process standards and best practices
• Support customer projects with technical expertise and metallurgical guidance
• Support root cause analysis and problem-solving for quality issues related to alloy selection, mechanical properties, and geometrical stability
• Conduct metallurgical investigations, laboratory testing, and failure analyses
• Prepare technical reports, specifications, and customer documentation
• Ensure work is performed in compliance with the Hydro Quality system, HSE regulations, policies, and standardized operating procedures
• Perform other tasks assigned by the responsible manager that support the operation of the unit and comply with applicable laws and company rules
• Comply with area-specific customer requirements

What will make you successful?

• PhD or Master’s degree in Physical Metallurgy, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline
• Strong knowledge of aluminium alloys
• Knowledge of heat treatment, precipitation hardening, recrystallization, grain structure control, and mechanical property development
• Familiarity with metallography, microscopy, hardness testing, tensile testing, quality systems, ISO standards, and customer qualification requirements is preferred
• Experience in aluminium extrusion, aluminium processing, or a metallurgical manufacturing environment
• Practical experience with metallurgical testing and analysis techniques
• Experience with automotive, building systems, industrial, electrical, or renewable energy applications is preferred
• Knowledge of adjacent fields such as corrosion, extrusion simulation, or process modelling is an advantage
• Familiarity with data analytics tools, including Power BI and Python, is an asset
• Fluent English, both written and spoken
• Curious, data-driven, and motivated to solve complex technical challenges
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Ability to combine deep metallurgical knowledge with practical manufacturing understanding
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills
• Able to work effectively with research, operational, commercial, customer, and academic partners
• Focused on measurable improvements in product performance, quality, operational efficiency, and customer success

What we offer you

• A high-impact role in advanced manufacturing projects
• Opportunities to work with cutting-edge technologies
• International collaboration and exposure across sites
• A dynamic and hands-on technical environment
• Autonomy and responsibility in driving process improvements
• Travel opportunities and involvement in on-site operations
• A strong culture of quality, safety, and continuous learning

Equal opportunities

At Hydro, we believe diversity makes us stronger. We welcome diverse experiences and perspectives, and invite all qualified candidates to apply. We review every application fairly and strive to provide equal opportunities for everyone to grow and succeed.

Apply before: 12/31/2026

If you have any questions, please contact: 

Recruiter

Mónika Csorba
Monika.Csorba@hydro.com