Lead Welding Engineer – Robotic Systems & Process Qualification

Software Placement Group; Waukesha (WI); On-site; USD 99,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) retirement match

Health/dental/vision/life benefits

Short-term disability

Job summary

Software Placement Group in Pewaukee, WI, is seeking a Lead Welding Engineer to act as the primary technical authority for weld process development, procedure qualification, and quality compliance. This supervisor-level role mentors robotic welding talent and oversees complex automation builds.

You will lead weld program reviews, qualify welding procedures, select processes (GMAW, GTAW, robotic arc, laser), and ensure compliance with AWS D1.1 and ASME IX while collaborating with design engineers

Qualifications

• 5-8+ years in welding engineering or robotic welding leadership
• Experience developing and qualifying welding procedures
• Practical knowledge of AWS D1.1 and ASME IX codes

Responsibilities

• Act as technical lead for Robotic Welding Technicians, providing hands-on troubleshooting and root cause analysis
• Develop, document, and qualify Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS) for new materials and joint configurations
• Select optimal welding processes (GMAW, GTAW, robotic arc, laser welding) and review fixtures for part access and repeatability
• Investigate nonconformances, implement corrective actions, and ensure compliance with AWS D1.1 and ASME IX
• Support project estimating regarding weld feasibility, cycle times, and equipment requirements
• Assist with new equipment integration, robot commissioning, and startup support

Skills

Welding engineering leadership

GMAW/MIG welding

GTAW/TIG welding

Robotic arc welding

Laser welding

WPS/PQR development

AWS D1.1 knowledge

ASME Section IX knowledge

US citizenship or GC

Education

Bachelor's degree in Welding Engineering or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

FANUC robotics

ABB robotics

Welding simulation software

Job description

Location: Pewaukee, WI Area | Schedule: Full-Time, Direct Hire, 1st Shift / Mon-Fri, On-Site | Compensation: Up to $110,000/yr

Overview

A family-owned custom automation integration company known for advanced technology and strong R&D investment is seeking a Lead Welding Engineer to serve as the primary technical authority for weld process development, procedure qualification, and quality compliance. This supervisor-level role is central to ensuring complex, one-of-a-kind automation builds meet rigorous customer and code requirements while mentoring the next generation of robotic welding talent.

What you'll do

• Act as technical lead for Robotic Welding Technicians, providing hands-on troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and review of complex robot weld programs and parameters
• Develop, document, and qualify Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS) and parameters for new materials, joint configurations, and automated processes
• Select optimal welding processes (GMAW, GTAW, robotic arc, laser welding) and partner with design engineers to evaluate fixtures and cell layouts for part access and repeatability
• Investigate nonconformances, implement corrective actions, and ensure full compliance with applicable codes (AWS D1.1, ASME Section IX) and defense-adjacent customer specs
• Provide technical input on project estimating regarding weld process feasibility, cycle times, and equipment requirements
• Support new equipment integration, robot commissioning, and process validation, with occasional travel to client facilities for startup support

Required qualifications

• 5-8+ years of experience in welding engineering, weld process development, or robotic welding technical leadership
• Deep technical capability in GMAW/MIG, GTAW/TIG, robotic arc welding, laser welding, and metallurgy dynamics
• Verifiable track record developing, qualifying, and documenting welding procedures (WPS/PQR) and resolving complex weld defects in an active production or automation environment
• Practical knowledge of industry welding codes, specifically AWS D1.1 and ASME Section IX standards
• U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency (Green Card) required, residing within a comfortable daily commuting distance of the Pewaukee, WI area
• Bachelor's degree in Welding Engineering or Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent hands‑on experience)

Preferred qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Welding Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline
• AWS Certified Welding Engineer (CWEng), Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), or Certified Welding Supervisor (CWS) certification
• Experience with industrial robotic welding systems (FANUC, ABB) and offline simulation programming software

Compensation and benefits

• Baseline starting salary up to $110,000/yr, scaling with welding engineering and process leadership depth
• 401(k) retirement match
• Full corporate health/dental/vision/life benefits
• Short-term disability coverage

Why this role

This is a direct-hire, supervisor-level opportunity to serve as the primary technical authority on weld process development and quality standards within a stable, family-owned custom automation integrator offering continuous project variety and dedicated R&D.