Certified Welding Inspector

General Matter; Paducah (KY); On-site; USD 45,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical, vision & dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

General Matter is seeking a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) to perform visual and dimensional weld inspections, ensuring compliance with codes and quality requirements. You will interpret welding procedures, drawings, and specifications while coordinating with engineers and quality staff to uphold high weld quality.

The role requires 4 years welding experience, strong fundamentals, and a background in mentoring welders.

Qualifications

• 4 years of welding work experience.
• High School Diploma plus professional certifications or demonstrated ability.
• Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals; ability to interpret procedures and drawings.

Responsibilities

• Perform welding inspections to verify workmanship and conformance to specs.
• Evaluate welding processes and support WPS/PQR documentation development.
• Mentor welders and support training to raise technical skills and consistency.
• Collaborate with engineering/manufacturing to resolve welding issues and drive improvements.
• Verify compliance with welding codes, standards, and customer requirements.
• Identify defects, address root causes, and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Welding

Engineering fundamentals

Trade studies

Mentor welders

Education

High School Diploma

CWI Certification

Tools

AWS CWI Certification

Job description

About the Company

General Matter is enriching uranium in America. Our goal is to design, build, and operate the world’s lowest-cost enrichment services in the United States. Our mission is to restore America’s ability to produce nuclear fuel—fuel that will power AI, advanced manufacturing, critical industries, and the next generation of nuclear reactors. Ultimately, our work will help power national ambitions and enable a high-energy society. We were incubated by Founders Fund, like Anduril and Palantir before us, and are backed by top-tier investors. Our lean, world-class team of engineers and operators is applying a first-principles approach to solving the problem of nuclear fuel production. We are a mission-driven company with a culture of urgency, accountability, and transparency. Help us build a high-energy society by making the cleanest, safest form of baseload energy the most affordable.

About This Role

The Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) is responsible for performing visual and dimensional inspections of welds, weldments, and welding operations to ensure compliance with applicable codes, standards, specifications, and quality requirements. This position requires interpretation of welding procedures, engineering drawings, and specifications, as well as coordination with welding personnel, engineers, and other quality professionals to maintain the highest standards of weld quality and workmanship.

Responsibilities

• Perform welding inspections to verify workmanship, weld quality, and conformance to applicable specifications and acceptance criteria.
• Evaluate welding processes and support the development, qualification, and improvement of WPS/PQR documentation.
• Mentor welders and support training initiatives to strengthen technical skills, consistency, and adherence to best practices.
• Collaborate with engineering and manufacturing teams to resolve welding issues and implement process improvements.
• Verify compliance with applicable welding codes, standards, procedures, and customer requirements.
• Improve manufacturing quality by identifying defects, addressing root causes, and driving continuous improvement opportunities.

Basic Qualifications

• Evidence of exceptional ability (prior projects, portfolio of work, completed products, etc).
• Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals.
• Ability to perform trade studies and make clear recommendations using first principles and engineering fundamentals even with partial information.
• Education requirement – High School Diploma and Professional Certifications or demonstration of ability.
• 4 years of work experience in welding.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience working in a fast-paced engineering or highly technical environment, with a resourceful approach to delivering results under tight timelines and budget constraints.
• AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification.
• Strong hands-on fabrication and technical experience.
• Experience with structural and piping fabrication and welding applications.
• Strong knowledge of welding processes, procedures, and industry best practices.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work effectively across engineering, manufacturing, and production teams.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary.

General Matter is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with General Matter is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Compensation and Benefits

The hourly rate for this role is $33 to $50 per hour.

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. Please note that the stated salary range is an estimate and may be adjusted based on market conditions, business needs, or other factors.

• In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.