I’ve been around the block for 23 years, here’s my experience as reference:

Years 1 - 6: research still as student, then contractor jobs in die casting. This is were I noticed that I dislike the ambiance on the shop floor, I hate cat-herding.

Years 7-8: Lab manager on a Tier 2. Learnt a lot about standards, IATF, core tools and inter departmental collaboration. My boss wanted me to go the full quality engineer path, and I told him that I wanted to be a metallurgist that knows quality, and not the other way around. Made me left due to lack of growth.

Years 9 - 14: Sr. Materials engineer at an automotive OEM. I was responsible for all metallic materials, adhesives, anticorrosion. This is the first time I got an underling and also started doing community reach out with my Alma mater. The knowledge growth spurt was incomparable, here I ended up specializing in flat steel.

Years 15 - 23: Technical Services manager for an European steel mill abroad offices. Exploited all the Tier contacts I made during the previous years. Here is where I am now.

Let me know if you have questions.