Essential Prescreening Questions to Ask Corrosion Control Engineer

What is your experience with corrosion control engineering?

Every engineer comes with a unique blend of experience. By exploring the length and nature of their experience, you can get an idea of their maturity in handling corrosion control projects, and how ready they are to handle the responsibilities that come with your specific role.

Do you have any certifications relevant to corrosion control engineering?

Certifications are not merely paper certifications but validations of an engineer’s knowledge and skills. This will tell you how invested someone is in their specialization and how keen they are on updating their skills and knowledge.

What methods of corrosion control are you most familiar with?

The answer to this question will help you assess the engineer's technical competence. Corrosion control involves different methods such as corrosion inhibitors, cathodic protection, and protective coatings. A well-rounded engineer should be familiar with multiple methods and be able to discuss the merits of each.

Can you discuss the most challenging corrosion problem you have addressed in a previous role?

Asking about the most challenging corrosion problem they have dealt with gives you a chance to evaluate the candidate's problem-solving skills. It goes without saying that an excellent engineer isn’t one who hasn’t faced problems, but one who faced them and came out triumphant.

How knowledgeable are you about the latest technologies and materials used in corrosion control?

Corrosion control engineering is a constantly evolving field. It’s important that the candidate you're considering is up-to-date with the newest technologies, materials, and trends in the field.

Have you managed a team of engineers before?

Management skills may not seem as important as technical skills in a corrosion control engineer, but they can be vital if the role involves the supervision of a team or collaboration with other departments.

What type of corrosion studies have you been involved in?

The answer will provide insight into the engineer's investigative and research abilities, both of which are important for understanding corrosion phenomena and coming up with adequate control measures

What kind of structures or materials have you worked on that needed corrosion control?

Asking about the structures or materials worked on will give a glimpse of the candidate’s experience and exposure to various kinds of corrosion challenges.

Describe your experience with corrosion damage assessment and remedial actions.

Corrosion damage assessment and remediating actions form the crux of a corrosion control engineer's work. A candidate's answer to this question will give you an idea of their technical know-how, analytical skills, and practical exposure to corrosion control.

How many years of experience do you have in designing corrosion control systems for industrial structures?

This question helps to determine the level of experience the candidate has with planning and implementing strategies to control corrosion in an industrial setting.

Can you explain your experience with Cathodic protection systems?

Cathodic protection is one of the most effective ways to prevent corrosion in metal structures. One who has valuable experience in it definitely brings a lot to the table.

How familiar are you with national and international corrosion control standards?

Badly controlled corrosion can be dangerous and costly. Therefore, adherence to national and international standards is absolutely vital. Your candidate’s familiarity with these standards can tell how well they can ensure the safety, cost-efficiency, and effectiveness of their corrosion control plans.

Have you ever been involved in failure investigation related to corrosion?

The ability to learn from mistakes is essential. An engineer who has been involved in a failure investigation related to corrosion is likely to be one who will avoid the same pitfalls in future.

Describe a time when you developed a successful corrosion mitigation strategy.

Nothing proves competence like success. If a candidate has created a successful corrosion mitigation strategy before, they can do it again.

Are you experienced with electrochemical testing and analysis?

This helps measure the candidate’s experience with identifying and interpreting the causes, effects, and solutions of corrosion from an electrochemical standpoint.

Tell me about your experience with material selection to avoid corrosion.

Material selection to resist corrosion is an integral part of corrosion control engineering. It’s important to know whether your candidate has the necessary experience in this area.

How do you ensure the quality of your work and adherence to safety standards?

Focusing on quality and safety is integral to a successful engineering position. You’d want someone who puts in self-checks, peer reviews, and standard procedures throughout their work to ensure the highest quality and safety standards.

How much experience do you have with coating inspections?

Coating systems are crucial in corrosion control. It’s valuable to find engineers who are experienced in inspecting these systems to make sure they comply with the required specifications.

Do you have experience with software used for corrosion modelling and simulation?

Modern corrosion control is increasingly reliant on modelling and simulation software. Your candidate’s knowledge about these tools could be a deciding factor, especially for roles that prioritize innovative approaches.

Can you tell me about your experience with risk-based inspection (RBI) methodologies?

A deep understanding of RBI methodologies can be vital in prioritizing inspections based on the chance of failure due to corrosion and the associated risks. It will be beneficial to have candidates who have practical exposure to this risk management strategy.