Senior R&D Engineer – Alloy Design and Materials Performance

Advancing specialty steel through research and innovation ”Curiosity and innovation are at the heart of how we develop at Ovako.

We are looking for a driven and curious researcher who enjoys going beyond the expected, exploring new ideas and challenging

established thinking. We believe the best results come from working together, sharing knowledge and learning from each other, so

the ability to collaborate and contribute to a team is an important part of this role.” – Hiring manager From metallurgical

research to real-world applications Developing specialty steel for demanding applications requires a deep understanding of

materials, a curiosity to investigate complex problems and the ability to turn scientific findings into practical solutions. At

Ovako, this also means working with customers to understand their challenges and exploring how steel can help them develop new

products, improve performance and bring new ideas to life. As a leading European producer of specialty steel, Ovako combines more

than 300 years of industrial expertise with modern technology and a strong commitment to sustainability. As part of Nippon Steel,

the company also benefits from an international network of metallurgical knowledge. Ovako is looking for a Senior R&D

Engineer with expertise in alloy design and materials performance to strengthen its R&D organisation in Hofors, Sweden. This

role offers the opportunity to combine advanced metallurgical research with customer-driven industrial development. You will

investigate how steel composition and processing influence material properties, develop new alloy concepts and tackle complex

challenges arising from real applications. Working closely with customers and sales, you will help translate specific performance

requirements into material solutions, gaining insight into a range of industries and seeing how your research contributes to

customers’ development journeys.

About the role

As a Senior R&D Engineer, you will drive research activities in alloy design,

steel development and materials performance, combining computational modelling, experimental investigations and collaboration with

external research partners. Approximately 60% of your time will be dedicated to customer projects. You will investigate material

behaviour, assess application requirements and develop steel solutions to meet demanding performance needs. The challenges will

vary across applications and industries, giving you the opportunity to apply your scientific expertise to a broad range of

practical problems. You will also support product development at Ovako’s production mills, helping connect customer requirements,

material performance and industrial processes. Collaboration with universities and research institutes is an important part of

the role, alongside participation in nationally and internationally funded research projects. You will have opportunities to

expand your technical network through research partnerships, conferences and occasional travel to research institutes and other

Ovako sites in Europe. Your responsibilities - Developing new steel grades and alloy concepts, from composition to processing

route - Computational alloy design using Thermo-Calc and related tools - Planning and evaluating corrosion testing data and

hydrogen embrittlement investigations - Driving nationally and internationally funded research projects and consortia -

Collaborating with universities and institutes, including supervision of students - Supporting sales and customers with qualified

answers on material behaviour and selection - Identifying new research directions that strengthen Ovako’s product portfolio and

long-term competitiveness The position is placed in Hofors, Sweden, with possibilities to work 2 days a week from home. Your

profile You are a scientifically driven metallurgist or materials scientist who enjoys exploring the mechanisms behind material

behaviour and applying research to complex industrial challenges. You are motivated by understanding why materials behave the way

they do and using that knowledge to develop solutions to problems without obvious answers. We are looking for someone with:

• A

PhD in metallurgy or materials science, with a strong focus on steels and metallic materials. - At least three years of research

experience after your PhD, gained at a university, company R&D centre or research institute. - Documented expertise in steel

alloy design, including hands-on experience with Thermo-Calc. - Excellent communication skills in English and the ability to

explain complex technical findings to different audiences, including customers. You should also have experience in nationally or

internationally funded research collaborations. Meritorious experience: Experience from research or development projects related

to corrosion of metallic materials and hydrogen embrittlement of steels is considered an advantage, as these topics represent

important current and future challenges within several of Ovako’s research collaborations and customer-driven development

projects. Experience or interest in non-metallic inclusion analysis and steel cleanliness assessment, fatigue testing such as

rotating bending fatigue and rolling contact fatigue, or advanced characterisation techniques such as SEM, EBSD, TEM, APT or

synchrotron methods in steels is also considered beneficial. Experience in patent work and supervision of doctoral students is an

additional advantage. Who are you? You are curious, analytical and persistent in your approach to research. You enjoy

challenging established assumptions, investigating mechanisms and building the evidence needed to understand complex materials

problems. You combine scientific rigour with a collaborative mindset. You communicate clearly, share knowledge and work

effectively with colleagues, customers, production teams and external research partners. Ovako’s core values are Innovative,

Skilled and Responsible. The company looks for people who demonstrate these values through their expertise, curiosity and

commitment to continuous improvement. Why Ovako? At Ovako, you will work with advanced specialty steel in an environment where

scientific research meets real industrial challenges. You will collaborate with experienced specialists, customers, universities

and research institutes, with opportunities to deepen your expertise and contribute to the development of future steel solutions.

As part of Nippon Steel, you will also benefit from an international network of metallurgical knowledge and research

collaboration. Application and information This recruitment is managed by AxÖ Consulting on behalf of Ovako. For questions

regarding the position or the recruitment process, please contact: - Fiddelie Nyvall: fiddelie.nyvall@axoconsulting.se - Emma

Domare: emma.domare@axoconsulting.se Background checks may be conducted as part of the recruitment process. We look forward to

receiving your application. Apply here;