PHYSICAL AND ENGINEERING SCIENCE TECHNICIANS II (Cont’d)

How to become a metallurgical technician

Official title: Metallurgical technician

Also called: Coal mining technician, Extractive metallurgy technician, Foundry technician, Gas engineering technician (well drilling), Gas production and distribution technician, Metal mining technician, Metallurgical laboratory technician, Metallurgical quality technician, Metallurgical test technician, Mine survey technician, Mineral technician, Mines inspector

Metallurgical technician performs technical tasks, normally under the direction of metallurgists or petroleum and natural gas engineers, contributory to the extraction, storage, development and transportation of metals, metal alloys, petroleum and natural gas. He/she sets up and carries out tests and analyses, takes readings, performs calculations, adjusts instruments, records observations and otherwise assists in research to develop new or improved extractive and processing methods for metals, metal alloys, petroleum and natural gas deposits. He/she assists in technical supervision of extractive and metal-making and treatment processes to ensure compliance with specifications.

Main tasks

Providing technical assistance to aid in research on and developing processes to determine the properties of metals and new alloys
Monitoring technical, regulatory and safety aspects of the construction, installation, operation, maintenance and repair of mineral ore, oil and natural gas exploration, extraction, transport and storage installations and mineral processing plants
Providing technical assistance in geological and topographical surveys, and in the design and layout of oil, natural gas and mineral ore extraction and transportation systems, and processing and refining plants for minerals and metals
Assisting scientists in the use of electrical, sonic, or nuclear measuring instruments in both laboratory and production activities to obtain data indicating potential sources of metallic ore, gas or petroleum

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Questions people ask

Will AI change the work of a metallurgical technician?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026