Manufacturing Engineer - Welding

VDL Industries Gainesville; Flowery Branch (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

VDL Industries Gainesville is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer - Welding to act as the technical SME for welding processes across the product lifecycle. You will lead sheet metal and structural weld projects from quotation through NPI, production launch, and continuous improvement, applying DfM to enhance weldability and efficiency.

You will develop WPS, fixtures, and process controls; support weld qualification and NDT; and drive quality, productivity, and cost improvements while collaborating

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Welding Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• AWS CWE and AWS CWI certifications are required.
• 7+ years welding and fabrication manufacturing experience.
• Experience with sheet metal fabrication and structural weldments.
• Experience supporting semiconductor, aerospace, medical device, or high-tech manufacturing environments.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks; TruTops and Bysoft a plus.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 quality management systems.
• Experience with ASTM, ISO, and DIN material standards.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the welding subject matter expert for MIG and TIG welding processes.
• Lead NPI and production launch readiness for welding projects.
• Review customer documents to determine manufacturing methods and production requirements.
• Apply Design for Manufacturability to improve weldability and efficiency.
• Develop, qualify, and maintain Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS) and weld parameters.
• Design and implement weld fixtures, tooling, and work-holding solutions.
• Coordinate weld training and welder qualification activities.
• Perform NDT and qualification testing to verify compliance.
• Investigate weld defects and implement corrective actions.
• Support welding costs, labor standards, and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Develop best practices and standardized processes for improved output.
• Collaborate with Project Management on scope changes and costs.
• Identify NRE costs for new projects and assess fabrication requirements.

Skills

MIG welding

TIG welding

Weld metallurgy

Fixture design

Engineering drawings

AWS codes

WPS development

NDT methods

Lean manufacturing

Cost estimation

Project management

Root cause analysis

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Welding Engineering

AWS CWE

AWS CWI

7+ years welding experience

Sheet metal fabrication experience

Experience in high-tech environments

SolidWorks

ISO 9001 knowledge

ASTM/ISO/DIN standards

Tools

SolidWorks

TruTops

Bysoft

Job description

The Manufacturing Engineer - Welding serves as the technical subject matter expert for welding processes and welded assembly manufacturing. This position is responsible for leading sheet metal and structural welding projects throughout the entire product lifecycle, from quotation review and New Product Introduction (NPI) through production launch and continuous improvement. The role applies Design for Manufacturability (DfM) principles to improve weldability, develops Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS), designs and implements weld fixtures, supports weld qualification activities, and drives improvements in quality, productivity, and cost. The Manufacturing Engineer - Welding partners closely with Engineering, Production, Quality, Project Management, and Planning to ensure customer requirements are met through safe, repeatable, and efficient manufacturing processes.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as the welding subject matter expert for MIG and TIG welding processes.
• Work with the NPI team to evaluate new projects and ensure manufacturing readiness.
• Review customer technical product documents (TPD), engineering drawings, specifications, and welding requirements to determine manufacturing methods and production requirements.
• Apply Design for Manufacturability (DfM) principles to improve weldability, reduce risk, and optimize production efficiency.
• Evaluate material properties and the effects of welding on product performance, dimensional stability, and quality.
• Develop, qualify, and maintain Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS), weld parameters, process controls, and work instructions.
• Develop project-specific weld training requirements and support welder qualification and requalification activities.
• Design, develop, and implement weld fixtures, tooling, and work-holding solutions required to produce assemblies to customer specifications.
• Apply distortion control methods, heat input management, and welding best practices to improve product quality and repeatability.
• Perform or coordinate non-destructive testing (NDT) and other required qualification testing to verify compliance with customer and industry requirements.
• Investigate weld defects, nonconformances, and production issues and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Support weld inspectors, production personnel, and quality teams with technical interpretation of welding requirements and acceptance criteria.
• Work with project teams to establish welding costs, labor standards, and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Develop best practices, standardized processes, and innovative manufacturing solutions to improve production rates and quality of output.
• Collaborate with Project Management regarding changes in project scope, schedules, manufacturing requirements, and associated costs.
• Identify Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) costs associated with new projects and evaluate manufacturing requirements for both prototype and production builds.
• Assess and justify equipment, tooling, fixture, OPEX, and CAPEX requirements necessary to support business growth and operational objectives.
• Support quoting, process planning, production readiness reviews, and manufacturing feasibility assessments.
• Lead welding-related continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing scrap, rework, cycle time, and manufacturing waste.
• Support implementation of advanced welding technologies, automation, and robotic welding systems.
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements, AWS standards, company quality systems, and workplace safety standards.

Key Competencies

• Advanced knowledge of MIG and TIG welding processes.
• Strong understanding of weld metallurgy, material properties, and fabrication methods.
• Expertise in weld fixture and tooling design.
• Proficiency in interpreting engineering drawings, welding symbols, and GD&T.
• Knowledge of AWS welding codes, standards, and industry best practices.
• Experience with WPS development, weld qualification, and NDT methods.
• Strong root cause analysis and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Cost estimation and project management support.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills across engineering, quality, production, and project teams.

Education And Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Welding Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical discipline; or equivalent experience.
• AWS Certified Welding Engineer (CWE) and AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) required
• Seven (7) or more years of welding and fabrication manufacturing experience.
• Experience with sheet metal fabrication and structural weldments.
• Experience supporting semiconductor, aerospace, medical device, or high-tech manufacturing environments.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks required, experience with TruTops and Bysoft a plus
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 quality management systems.
• Experience with ASTM, ISO, and DIN material standards.