Sr. / Principal Welding Process Engineer

Dixon Valve; Stevensville (MD); On-site; USD 116,000 - 156,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Bonus programs

401K retirement plan

Training opportunities

Tuition reimbursement

Paid vacation, PTO, and holidays

Gym reimbursements

Job summary

Hydrasearch in Stevensville, MD is seeking a Senior/Principal Welding Process Engineer to lead welding capability development for aerospace, naval, and defense programs. You will solve capability gaps, establish technical infrastructure, and drive rapid development cycles from validation to production.

This hands-on role balances builder speed with technical rigor to maintain compliance in a small, high-performing team. Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Welding Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years or equivalent experience in welding engineering or welding process development in compliance-driven manufacturing.
• Deep knowledge of welding metallurgy, welding processes, and inspection methods (VT, PT, RT, UT).
• Extensive experience qualifying welding procedures and developing welder certification programs.
• Thorough understanding of AS9100 special process requirements.
• Builder mindset with bias toward execution in small, fast-paced teams.
• Travel may be required domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Identify and solve manufacturing capability gaps; develop welding knowledge and standards.
• Drive rapid cycles of welding procedure development (WPS), procedure qualifications (PQR), and WPQ.
• Interpret and apply AWS, ASME, NAVSEA, and customer welding requirements.
• Provide early technical input to development teams for manufacturability and reduced rework.
• Support development of joining processes including welding, brazing, and tube joining.
• Support make-vs-partner decisions and ensure smooth transition of qualified processes to production.

Skills

Welding expertise

Quality inspection methods

Welding procedure qualification

Team collaboration

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelors in Welding Engineering or related field

Job description

Location: 203A Log Canoe Circle, Stevensville, MD 21666-2128

Work Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday

Salary: $116,000 - $156,000/yr.

We do not provide sponsorships to work in the United States.

Hydrasearch is looking for a Senior / Principal Welding Process Engineer to join our team in Stevensville, MD. In this role you will be a senior technical contributor responsible for developing welding and joining capabilities that support Hydrasearch's aerospace, naval, and defense programs. This role focuses on solving complex manufacturing capability gaps and establishing the technical infrastructure required for growth in regulated markets.

This is a hands‑on engineering capability development role centered on process development, qualification, and technical problem solving. You will work within a small, highly capable technical team executing rapid cycles of development, validation, and production transition. The successful candidate must balance the speed of a "builder" environment with the technical rigor required to maintain compliance.

At Hydrasearch, we value the contributions of our Military Veterans and proudly employ our nation’s heroes. Veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.

What You'll Do

• Capability Creation: Identify and solve manufacturing capability gaps limiting growth and develop internal welding knowledge and standards.
• Hands‑on Development: Drive rapid cycles of welding procedure development (WPS), procedure qualifications (PQR), and personnel qualifications (WPQ).
• Technical Authority: Interpret and apply AWS, ASME, NAVSEA, and customer‑specific welding requirements.
• Design for Weldability: Provide early technical input to development teams to ensure manufacturability and prevent late‑stage rework.
• Special Processes: Support the development of joining processes including welding, brazing, and tube joining.
• Strategic Transition: Support "make vs. partner" decisions and ensure the clean transition of qualified processes into production.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Welding Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience: 10+ years or equivalent experience in welding engineering or welding process development within compliance‑driven manufacturing environments.
• Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge of welding metallurgy, various welding processes, and inspection methods (VT, PT, RT, UT).
• Procedure Qualification: Extensive experience qualifying welding procedures and developing welder certification programs.
• Compliance Knowledge: Thorough understanding of AS9100 special process requirements.
• Execution Mindset: A "builder" mindset with a bias toward execution over discussion and the ability to work effectively in small, fast‑paced teams.
• Travel: Travel my be required, both domestically and internationally.

Preferred Qualifications

• Defense Standards: Experience with defense or naval welding standards, specifically NAVSEA Tech Pub 248/278.
• Industry Certifications: Certified Welding Engineer (CWE) or relevant AWS credentials.
• Regulatory Excellence: Experience preparing for and supporting NADCAP welding process audits.
• Aerospace Proficiency: Working knowledge of AWS D17.1 and D17.2 for aerospace welder qualification.
• Specialized Joining: Exposure to brazing and tube joining processes in high‑mix, low‑volume environments.

What We Offer

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family
• Competitive salary
• Bonus programs
• 401K retirement plan
• Training opportunities
• Tuition reimbursement
• Paid vacation, PTO, and holidays
• Gym reimbursements, and more!

Who We Are

Hydrasearch is a U.S. manufacturer specializing in fluid‑transfer and control systems for maritime, aerospace, and defense applications. Since its founding in 1962, Hydrasearch has developed capabilities in hose assemblies, valve fittings, and customer machined parts, often to meet MIL‑SPEC and naval standards.

Join us and be a part of a team that values your contributions and supports your goals!

The Dixon Group is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices and laws. Accordingly, to the fullest extent required by applicable law, The Dixon Group strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons.

The Dixon Group is committed to protecting the privacy rights of its employees and job applicants to the fullest extent required by applicable law. To that end, personal information will be collected solely for those legitimate business purposes recognized by law, and then maintained in a manner consistent with all applicable laws and regulations pertaining to document retention requirements. The Dixon Group does not sell personal information to third parties, and does not share such personal information with third parties except when authorized by law to do so (e.g., in response to a lawful subpoena; mandatory tax reporting; etc.).

Please contact us at [phone] or [e-mail] if you need help to participate fully in the application process.