17 Corrosion Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

Corrosion engineers are responsible for developing and implementing strategies to prevent or control corrosion in metals. Corrosion is a natural process that causes metals to deteriorate when they are exposed to oxygen and moisture. Corrosion engineers work in a variety of industries, including oil and gas, chemical processing, power generation, and manufacturing.

Corrosion engineer jobs are expected to grow at a rate of 3 percent from 2019 to 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you’re looking for a job in this field, you’ll need to be prepared to answer corrosion engineer interview questions about your experience, education, and skills.

In this guide, we’ll provide sample answers to corrosion engineer interview questions that you can use to prepare for your own interview.

Are you familiar with the various types of corrosion?

The interviewer may ask you this question to see if you have the necessary knowledge and experience to perform your job duties. In your answer, try to list as many types of corrosion as possible. You can also mention how each type affects different materials.

Example: “There are three main types of corrosion: galvanic, electrochemical and stress-corrosion cracking. Galvanic corrosion occurs when two dissimilar metals come into contact with one another. For example, steel will corrode when it comes into contact with copper or aluminum. Electrochemical corrosion is a result of an imbalance in electric current between two metal surfaces. Stress-corrosion cracking happens when there’s too much stress on a material that causes it to crack.”

What are some of the most common causes of corrosion?

This question can help the interviewer determine your knowledge of corrosion and how you might apply it to a project. Use examples from your experience that show your understanding of this process and its effects on projects.

Example: “The most common causes of corrosion are oxygen, water and temperature. These elements combine with metals in different ways depending on their makeup. For example, iron corrodes when exposed to air or water, while copper corrodes only when exposed to air. The rate at which these elements react depends on the environment they’re in. In my last position, I worked on a project where we needed to prevent corrosion in order to protect pipes.”

How would you prevent corrosion in a metal structure that is exposed to high levels of salt water?

This question can help the interviewer assess your problem-solving skills and ability to apply corrosion prevention methods. In your answer, describe how you would identify the type of metal used in the structure and which materials are best suited for preventing corrosion.

Example: “Salt water is one of the most corrosive elements that a metal structure can be exposed to. To prevent corrosion in this situation, I would first determine what kind of metal was used in the structure. For example, if it’s steel, then I would use an anti-corrosion coating or paint to protect the surface from salt water damage. If the metal is aluminum, then I would use a sacrificial anode to reduce the amount of corrosion.”

What is the difference between galvanic corrosion and uniform corrosion?

This question tests your knowledge of corrosion and how it affects different materials. It also shows the interviewer that you can apply this knowledge to solve problems in a variety of situations. In your answer, define both types of corrosion and explain their differences.

Example: “Galvanic corrosion occurs when two dissimilar metals are in contact with each other. For example, if I have copper pipes and steel pipes connected together, the steel pipe will corrode because it is more reactive than copper. Uniform corrosion happens when one metal corrodes while in direct contact with another metal or an electrolyte. For example, if I have iron pipes and they are in contact with salt water, the iron pipes will corrode.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to make a decision without the support of your team.

This question can help the interviewer understand how you make decisions independently and how you handle challenges. Use your answer to highlight your problem-solving skills, communication abilities and leadership qualities.

Example: “When I first started working as a corrosion engineer, my team was on a tight deadline for a project. One of our engineers had to take an unexpected leave of absence, so I had to work with one other engineer to complete the project. We were able to communicate effectively and delegate tasks between us to ensure we met the deadline. The client was happy with the final product.”

If you had to choose one area of corrosion engineering to specialize in, what would it be?

This question is a great way to determine what the interviewer is looking for in an ideal candidate. It also allows you to show your knowledge of the field and how you can contribute to the company’s goals. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention two or three areas that interest you and why they are important.

Example: “I would specialize in preventing corrosion on metal structures. This is because I find it fascinating how different metals react with their environments and how we can use this information to create more effective solutions. Another area I would focus on is developing new ways to detect corrosion before it becomes a problem.”

What would you do if you noticed a significant increase in corrosion after implementing a new design?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you respond to challenges and make adjustments in your work. Use examples from past experiences where you overcame a challenge or failure, learned from it and implemented new strategies or processes that helped you succeed.

Example: “In my last position as a corrosion engineer, I noticed an increase in corrosion after implementing a new design for a pipeline system. After reviewing the project’s budget, I realized we didn’t have enough funds to implement a more corrosion-resistant material. Instead, I worked with the team to develop a plan to reduce the pipeline’s exposure to elements that caused corrosion. We also developed a maintenance schedule so the company could monitor the corrosion levels and replace parts before they became too damaged.”

How well do you work with others? Can you provide an example of a time when you helped resolve a conflict between two coworkers?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your interpersonal skills and how you resolve conflicts. Use examples from your previous experience that highlight your ability to work with others, communicate effectively and solve problems.

Example: “I have a lot of respect for my coworkers and try to help them whenever I can. In my last position, one of the engineers was having trouble communicating his ideas to other team members. He would often get frustrated when people didn’t understand what he was saying. I talked to him privately and helped him practice explaining his ideas in different ways until everyone understood.”

Do you have any experience with using corrosion software? Which programs have you used in the past?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with corrosion software and how you apply it in the workplace. Use your answer to highlight any specific programs you’ve used in the past, such as:

Example: “I have worked with several different types of corrosion software in my previous positions. I find that the best corrosion software is one that’s easy to use and provides a lot of information at once. In my last position, we used Corrosion Pro, which was very helpful for analyzing data and identifying areas where corrosion could occur. It also helped me create reports that were easy to understand.”

When is it appropriate to use sacrificial protection?

This question can help the interviewer determine your knowledge of corrosion protection. Use examples from your experience to show that you know when sacrificial protection is appropriate and how it works.

Example: “Sacrificial protection is a method of protecting metal surfaces by applying an active layer, or sacrificial layer, which corrodes before the main material. This process is most effective in areas where there are high levels of moisture or humidity because it prevents rusting on the surface while allowing the underlying metal to remain intact. In my last position, I used sacrificial protection for all exterior steel structures to prevent rusting.”

We want to improve our corrosion prevention methods. What are some strategies you would recommend we try?

This question can help the interviewer understand your problem-solving skills and how you apply them to a variety of situations. Use examples from previous projects or experiences that highlight your ability to analyze data, identify problems and develop solutions.

Example: “I would recommend implementing corrosion prevention methods at every stage of production. For example, I worked on a project where we had to prevent corrosion in products before they were shipped to customers. We used several strategies to reduce corrosion during shipping, including adding protective coatings to packaging materials and using containers with less oxygen exposure. Another strategy was to use more durable metals for our products so they could withstand corrosion better.”

Describe your experience with performing maintenance on existing equipment.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with corrosion prevention and how you apply it in the field. Use examples from past projects to explain how you identify corrosion, evaluate equipment and implement maintenance plans for clients.

Example: “In my last position as a corrosion engineer, I worked on several projects that involved performing preventative maintenance on existing equipment. For example, one of my clients had an oil refinery where they used large tanks to store crude oil before processing. The client wanted to know if there was a way to reduce the amount of corrosion occurring within their tanks. After inspecting the tanks, I found that the majority of the corrosion occurred at the bottom of the tank due to water seeping into the system. To solve this problem, I recommended installing a drainage system to remove excess water from the bottom of the tank.”

What makes you the best candidate for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their company. Before your interview, make a list of all the skills you have that are relevant to this position. Focus on highlighting your most impressive skills and explaining why they’re important for this role.

Example: “I am highly organized and detail-oriented, which makes me an excellent candidate for this position. I understand the importance of following safety protocols and making sure my work is accurate. My attention to detail also allows me to notice small changes in corrosion rates so I can implement solutions before there’s any damage. These skills help me ensure that projects run smoothly and efficiently.”

Which corrosion prevention methods do you prefer to use?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of experience with corrosion prevention methods. It can also show them how you apply those methods to a project and whether or not you have any preferences for certain methods over others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention two or three methods that you prefer using in your work and explain why you like them.

Example: “I find that the best method for preventing corrosion is to use materials that are more resistant to corrosion than the environment they’re exposed to. For example, I worked on a project where we needed to create a new pipeline for transporting chemicals from one facility to another. The chemicals were highly corrosive, so we had to make sure the pipeline was made out of a material that could withstand exposure to the chemicals.”

What do you think is the most important skill for a corrosion engineer to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if your skills and abilities align with those of their company. Use your answer to highlight a skill that you feel is important for corrosion engineers, but also one that you have mastered.

Example: “I think the most important skill for a corrosion engineer is problem-solving. Corrosion engineers are tasked with identifying problems in metal structures and finding solutions to fix them. I am always looking for ways to improve my problem-solving skills so that I can find the best solution for each situation. In my last role, I was able to solve a particularly challenging issue by thinking outside the box.”

How often should you perform maintenance on equipment?

Maintenance is an important part of a corrosion engineer’s job. Employers ask this question to make sure you understand the importance of regular maintenance and how often it should be performed. Use your answer to highlight your understanding of the best practices for maintaining equipment.

Example: “I recommend performing maintenance on equipment at least once every six months, but I prefer to do it more frequently. Regular maintenance can help prevent corrosion from occurring in the first place. It also allows me to identify any issues with equipment before they become major problems. This saves time and money because we don’t have to replace equipment as often.”

There is a conflict between two coworkers on how to solve a problem. How would you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer assess your conflict resolution skills. Use examples from past experiences to show how you would handle this situation and resolve the conflict between coworkers.

Example: “In my previous position, I had a coworker who was new to the company. He didn’t understand all of our processes for corrosion testing and wanted to use different methods than what we were used to. This caused some tension between us because he wasn’t following protocol. I explained why we did things in certain ways and that it’s important to follow standard procedures so we could compare results with other tests. After explaining the reasoning behind our process, he understood and followed the same procedure as me.”