Metrologist

An inch, a degree, a kilometer, an hour—we measure time, distance, weight, and temperature in a variety of ways. Every person who wants to know the temperature outside or the weight of a bag of oranges unknowingly relies on the expertise of Metrologists. That’s because Metrologists are experts in creating, designing, and calibrating equipment that takes measurements.

As a Metrologist, you work with Scientists and Engineers. This is a team effort, so communication makes the job go smoothly. In addition to working with teammates, you might also take on a Manager role, hiring, evaluating, and supervising laboratory staff. The process is much smoother when everyone is in the loop, so your written and oral communication skills are put to good use.

Your duties as a Metrologist make it possible for the rest of us to trust that bathroom scale (even if we don’t want to believe it), or the thermometer on the rearview mirror. That’s because you and your team check and double-check their accuracy using technical analysis and measuring devices of your own. You also research possible error rates, potential for interference from other devices, and the human error factor.

Creating standardized calibration equipment is a deeply technical and detail-oriented job. You can choose to focus on one area, such as research and development, or supervise the project from start to finish. The latter involves overseeing design, engineering, manufacturing, quality, and testing.