Certified Welding Inspector

MSI Defense Solutions; Mooresville (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

MSI Defense Solutions seeks an AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) to support welding inspection, quality control, supplier oversight, and documentation for fabricated welds. The role focuses on visual inspections, recordkeeping, and compliance with AWS codes and customer requirements in Mooresville, NC.

The CWI will review drawings, weld symbols, WPS/PQR/WPQ records, and weld documentation, ensuring traceability and adherence to quality standards.

Qualifications

• Must have AWS CWI certification in good standing (AWS QC1).
• Minimum 5 years welding inspection experience in manufacturing/fabrication/defense/aerospace environments.
• Ability to read/interpret engineering drawings, weld symbols, and related documentation.
• Experience reviewing WPS/PQR/WPQ and welder qualification records.
• Must be U.S. citizen or eligible for security clearance where required.

Responsibilities

• Perform visual inspections of welded assemblies and components per drawings, codes, and specifications.
• Verify compliance with applicable welding standards for various materials.
• Review and interpret drawings, weld symbols, and technical data to determine inspection requirements.
• Conduct in-process and final inspections to verify conformance before movement or shipment.
• Ensure welding documentation and quality records are complete, traceable, and compliant.
• Support nonconforming weld conditions through NCR/MRB processes and corrective actions.
• Provide technical guidance on welding standards and documentation to shop staff.

Skills

AWS CWI

Welding inspection

Reading weld symbols

Documentation & records

Quality assurance

GMAW GTAW FCAW SMAW

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Fillet weld gauges

Bridge cams

Hi-lo gauges

Calipers

Micrometers

Job description

MSI Defense Solutions is seeking an AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) to support welding inspection, weld quality control, production welding compliance, supplier welding oversight, and objective evidence requirements for fabricated and welded assemblies.

This position is responsible for performing visual weld inspections, verifying welding documentation, supporting compliance with applicable AWS welding codes and customer requirements, and ensuring weld quality records are complete, accurate, and traceable. The CWI will support manufacturing operations by reviewing drawings, weld symbols, specifications, weld procedure documentation, welder qualifications, inspection results, and objective evidence to help ensure welded products conform to engineering, contractual, customer, and internal quality requirements.

The CWI will work closely with Quality, Engineering, Production, Supply Chain, Program Management, suppliers, customers, and government representatives as needed to support weld quality, resolve weld‑related issues, reduce defects, and maintain audit readiness. This position operates within MSI's Quality Management System and supports continuous improvement, nonconforming material control, corrective action, and production readiness activities.

The AWS Certified Welding Inspector reports to the Quality Manager. This position requires a full‑time work week spent in the shop and office in Mooresville, NC. The regular work schedule is Monday through Thursday, 6:00am to 4:30pm. The employee must be flexible to work additional hours as needed based on project requirements, production needs, customer requirements, and deadlines. Travel is not expected as a regular requirement of the position but may be required on a limited basis to support supplier inspections, customer requirements, or program needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform visual inspections of welded assemblies, fabricated components, weld joints, and related workmanship features in accordance with applicable drawings, weld symbols, AWS welding codes, specifications, work instructions, quality requirements, and contract requirements.
• Verify compliance with applicable welding standards based on substrate material and contractual requirements, including AWS D1.1/D1.1M for steel, AWS D1.2/D1.2M for aluminum, AWS D1.3/D1.3M for sheet metal, AWS D1.9/D1.9M for titanium, AWS B2.1/B2.1M when applicable, and other standards when invoked by drawing, TDP, purchase order, contract, or customer flowdown.
• Review and interpret engineering drawings, weld symbols, GD&T, specifications, technical data packages, manufacturing instructions, work orders, quality clauses, and customer requirements to determine applicable weld inspection and documentation requirements.
• Conduct in‑process and final visual inspections of weldments, fabricated assemblies, and welded structures to verify conformance prior to acceptance, movement to the next operation, or shipment.
• Verify that Weld Procedure Specifications (WPS), Procedure Qualification Records (PQR), Welder Performance Qualification records (WPQ), welder continuity records, and related welding records are complete, current, traceable, and applicable to the work being performed.
• Verify that welders and welding operators are qualified for the applicable welding process, material, thickness range, position, joint configuration, and code requirements prior to performing production welding.
• Support the identification and control of critical, high‑stress, safety‑related, or customer‑designated weld joints requiring enhanced inspection, documentation, hold points, customer review, or additional verification.
• Support the development, review, implementation, and maintenance of welding inspection procedures, weld inspection checklists, weld maps/logs, inspection forms, and welding quality records.
• Confirm that applicable welding requirements, acceptance criteria, inspection points, hold points, and quality records are properly flowed into work instructions, travelers, routers, build books, inspection plans, and supplier purchase orders when required.
• Document weld inspection results, inspection status, weld defects, rework requirements, and acceptance/rejection determinations in accordance with company procedures, customer requirements, and applicable quality record requirements.
• Identify, document, and control nonconforming weld conditions through the NCR/MRB process in accordance with company procedures and approval authority.
• Support root cause analysis, corrective action, containment, rework verification, and effectiveness verification for weld‑related internal, supplier, or customer quality issues.
• Provide technical guidance to welders, production personnel, inspectors, and supervisors regarding welding standards, weld symbols, workmanship expectations, visual acceptance criteria, inspection requirements, and documentation requirements.
• Support First Article Inspections, production readiness reviews, customer inspections, source inspections, government inspections, and hardware acceptance activities involving welded or fabricated assemblies.
• Support supplier quality activities for externally sourced welded components, including supplier documentation review, WPS/PQR/WPQ review, weld inspection record review, certificate of conformance review, source inspection support, and supplier corrective action follow‑up.
• Coordinate with approved external NDT providers when nondestructive testing is required by drawing, specification, purchase order, contract, or customer flowdown. Review NDT reports and related objective evidence for completeness, traceability, and compliance with applicable requirements.
• Support calibration control and suitability of weld inspection tools, gauges, visual aids, and measurement equipment used for weld inspection activities.
• Maintain required vision testing, certification, qualification, and inspection records needed to support weld inspection authority and customer/program compliance.
• Participate in internal audits, customer audits, government audits, registrar audits, and welding‑related process audits as required.
• Monitor welding and fabrication processes to identify opportunities to improve quality, consistency, defect prevention, documentation accuracy, and process control.
• Support MSI's welding inspection program, including AWS QC1 CWI requirements and any employer‑based welding inspector qualification requirements established under AWS B5.2 when applicable.
• Promote a culture of quality, safety, workmanship discipline, documentation accuracy, and continuous improvement.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills and Qualifications Required

• Current AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification in good standing in accordance with AWS QC1.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years of welding inspection experience in a manufacturing, fabrication, defense, aerospace, vehicle, structural, or similar industrial environment.
• Working knowledge of applicable AWS welding codes and welding inspection requirements.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, weld symbols, GD&T, technical specifications, manufacturing instructions, quality clauses, and customer documentation.
• Experience inspecting welds and fabricated assemblies for visual discontinuities, dimensional requirements, workmanship requirements, and code‑based acceptance criteria.
• Experience reviewing WPS, PQR, WPQ, welder qualification ranges, and welder continuity records.
• Working knowledge of welding processes such as GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, SMAW, and related fabrication practices.
• Proficiency with weld inspection tools and measuring equipment, including fillet weld gauges, bridge cam gauges, hi‑lo gauges, calipers, micrometers, squares, levels, visual aids, and other applicable inspection tools.
• Ability to document inspection results clearly and maintain complete, accurate, and traceable quality records.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work in a hands‑on manufacturing environment and support production, inspection, engineering, supplier quality, and customer quality activities.
• Ability to complete and maintain required vision testing for weld inspection and visual examination activities, including near vision, distance vision, and color vision screening when required.
• U.S. Citizenship is required. Candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance if required for the position.

MSI Defense Solutions is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to providing a workplace free of any discrimination or harassment.