Specialist, Material Process Engineer (Weld Engineer)

L3Harris Technologies, Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 89,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Disability insurance

401(k) match

Flexible spending

Employee assistance program

Education assistance

Parental leave

Paid time off

Company holidays

Job summary

L3Harris Technologies, Canoga Park, CA, is seeking a Specialist, Materials Process Engineer (Weld Engineer) to lead welding process development for aerospace components. You will qualify and optimize welding, brazing, heat treatment, and additive manufacturing processes to meet program requirements.

The role collaborates with design, manufacturing, and quality teams to resolve process issues, write WPS/PQR, and ensure compliance with AWS, AMS, MIL-SPEC.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 4 years of related material process engineering experience; Graduate degree with 0–2 years, or 8+ years experience in lieu of degree.

Responsibilities

• Develop, qualify, and optimize welding processes for aerospace metallic components.
• Support production welding operations by troubleshooting process issues and driving continuous improvement.
• Prepare welding process specifications (WPS) and related documentation to AWS, AMS, MIL-SPEC.
• Assist brazing, heat treatment, and additive manufacturing process development for aerospace components.
• Interface with suppliers and cross-functional teams to ensure process solutions meet requirements.
• Travel up to 25% to supplier facilities and other locations; obtain US Secret security clearance if required.

Skills

Welding engineering

Materials processing

Aerospace welding

Quality systems

Root cause analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Welding Engineering or Materials Science

Tools

GTAW equipment

EBW equipment

PAW equipment

LBW equipment

Welding procedure specs

NADCAP accreditation

Job description

L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.

L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.

Job Title: Specialist, Material Process Engineer (Weld Engineer)

Job Code: 46275

Job Location: Canoga Park, CA

Job Schedule: 9/80: Employees work 9 out of every 14 days - totaling 80 hours worked - and have every other Friday off

Job Description:

L3Harris is an industry-recognized leader in propulsion systems for space, missile defense, tactical missile and armament customers. Seventy years of L3Harris proven products continue to drive success for a wide variety of launch vehicles, missile defense systems, and strategic operations for the defense and advancement of our nation.

The Missile Solutions segment at the L3Harris Canoga Park, CA site is seeking Specialist, Materials Process Engineer to join the engineering materials process team.

We are seeing an experienced welding engineer with proficient knowledge of aerospace welding processes, manufacturing operations, and materials joining technologies. Works under general supervision to support welding process development, qualification, and production activities for metallic components across missile system programs. Applies practical knowledge of welding, brazing, heat treatment, and emerging manufacturing technologies to solve engineering problems and drive process improvements in support of program requirements.

Essential Functions:

• Develop, qualify, and optimize welding processes for aerospace metallic components including titanium alloys, nickel-based superalloys, stainless steels, and high-strength steels in accordance with applicable specifications and program requirements
• Support production welding operations by troubleshooting process issues, implementing corrective actions, and driving continuous improvement initiatives to ensure hardware quality and schedule compliance
• Author and maintain welding process specifications, work instructions, weld procedure specifications (WPS), and procedure qualification records (PQR) in compliance with applicable standards such as AWS, AMS, and MIL-SPEC
• Support brazing process development and qualification activities for metallic components, including process parameter development, joint design review, and documentation in accordance with applicable specifications
• Assist in heat treatment process planning and oversight for welded and brazed metallic assemblies, ensuring compliance with applicable material and process specifications
• Support additive manufacturing process development and integration activities for metallic components, applying knowledge of metal additive processes to production and design support efforts
• Conduct failure analysis and root cause investigations on non-conforming weld hardware, supporting disposition of non-conformance reports (NCRs) with practical engineering solutions
• Interface with suppliers to support welding and special process approvals, source qualification activities, and resolution of hardware quality issues
• Work with cross-functional teams including design engineering, stress analysis, manufacturing, and quality to ensure welding and joining process solutions meet program and customer requirements
• Prepare technical reports, data packages, process documentation, and engineering dispositions in support of missile program welding and joining activities
• Travel up to 25% to supplier facilities and other company locations as required
• Must be able to obtain a US Secret security clearance

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of 4 years of prior related material process engineering experience. Graduate Degree or equivalent with 0 to 2 years of related material process engineering experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 8 years of prior related material process engineering experience.

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Bachelor’s or Graduate Degree in Welding Engineering, Materials Science or Metallurgical Engineering, is preferred.
• Prior experience in aerospace or defense welding engineering with hands-on knowledge of welding process qualification and production support is preferred
• Experience with fusion welding processes such as Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), electron beam welding (EBW), plasma arc welding (PAW), or laser beam welding (LBW) on aerospace metallic materials is preferred
• Familiarity with brazing process development and qualification in accordance with AWS C3.6 or AMS 2675 is preferred
• Experience with heat treatment processes for aerospace metallic materials including solution treatment, aging, stress relief, and annealing in accordance with applicable AMS specifications is preferred
• Experience with metal additive manufacturing processes such as laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) or directed energy deposition (DED) and their application to aerospace components is preferred
• Familiarity with NADCAP special process accreditation requirements for welding, brazing, and heat treatment is preferred
• AWS Certified Welding Engineer (CWE) or Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification is preferred.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in California is $88,500 - $164,500. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. L3Harris also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

#LI-AT4

L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. L3Harris is committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity and maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, characteristic or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local laws. L3Harris maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law.

Please be aware many of our positions require the ability to obtain a security clearance. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens. In addition, applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment may be subject to government security investigation(s) and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

By submitting your resume for this position, you understand and agree that L3Harris Technologies may share your resume, as well as any other related personal information or documentation you provide, with its subsidiaries and affiliated companies for the purpose of considering you for other available positions.

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