Senior Research Engineer - Primary Steelmaking

Senior Research Engineer - Primary Steelmaking

Iowa, USA ? Montpelier - SS, 1770 Bill Sharp Blvd, Muscatine, Iowa, United States of America ? Req #1896

SSAB is a leading North American producer of steel plate and coil, serving various markets including energy, construction, agriculture, and transportation. The company operates five advanced facilities across the U.S. and employs nearly 1,200 skilled professionals in roles ranging from machine operators to engineers and corporate staff. SSAB offers challenging careers with comprehensive benefits to support employee and family well-being.

Job purpose :

The Senior Research Engineer serves as the primary expert in North America on the scientific fundamentals of primary steelmaking processes, particularly scrap melting in electric arc furnaces and secondary refining in ladles. The role requires deep knowledge of physical, thermal, and chemical transformation processes, reaction kinetics, and thermodynamics, aimed at process optimization. Responsibilities include conducting production trials, developing practices, and collaborating with operations at the Muscatine and Alabama mills. The position reports to the Director of R&D.

Duties and responsibilities :

• Develop scrap recipes for production trials to optimize electric arc furnace melting.
• Understand relationships between scrap recipe, flux addition, and slag chemistry to improve process efficiency and steel quality.
• Create flux practices for effective desulphurization and inclusion absorption during ladle refining.
• Optimize calcium-bearing alloys for oxide and sulphide modifications.
• Contribute to numerical modeling of steelmaking processes and support their implementation.
• Perform inclusion analysis using optical microscopy and SEM / EDS.
• Conduct raw material testing to ensure vendor compliance.
• Document research findings in technical reports.
• Stay updated with industry and academic research relevant to steelmaking processes.

Qualifications : Education and Experience :

Working conditions :

The role involves office work, plant trials, laboratory testing, and field work, with exposure to heat, noise, and physical hazards. Travel up to 25%, including international trips, is expected.

Benefits :

SSAB is committed to sustainability and values-driven culture, guiding our actions and decisions.

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