Welding Engineer

Actalent; Wilmington (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Professional development programs

ERGs and inclusion initiatives

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Welding Engineer to develop and optimize laser welding processes in our Newton/Hickory, NC campus. You will troubleshoot weld issues, define work instructions, and drive continuous improvement while ensuring IATF compliance and support for new product launches.

Ideal candidates have 1+ years of welding/ Manufacturing Engineering experience, strong root cause analysis skills, and hands-on experience with robotic welding systems and laser welding equipment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent industry experience in Welding/Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering.
• 1+ years of manufacturing or welding engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting production welding operations.
• Knowledge of weld quality standards, inspection methods, and testing procedures.
• Experience troubleshooting manufacturing processes and equipment.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and root cause analysis skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and optimize laser welding processes for production.
• Support daily manufacturing operations by troubleshooting weld-related issues and minimizing downtime.
• Establish and maintain process parameters, work instructions, and standardized operating procedures.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for weld defects, quality issues, and equipment failures.
• Support new product launches, including process design, equipment validation, APQP deliverables, PFMEA, and control plans.
• Work closely with Quality to ensure compliance with IATF and customer-specific requirements.
• Analyze production data (scrap, rework, downtime, cycle time) to drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Improve welding efficiency, including cycle time reduction and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• Assist in specifying, installing, and commissioning new welding equipment, tooling, and automation systems.
• Provide technical support and training to operators, technicians, and maintenance personnel.
• Collaborate with suppliers, integrators, and customers on weld process-related issues.

Skills

Welding process engineering

Robotic welding

Automotive manufacturing

IATF/PPAP/APQP

Engineering degree (Welding/Mech/Manuf

1+ years manufacturing/welding

welding quality standards

troubleshooting manufacturing

root cause analysis

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Welding Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field

Tools

Fanuc robots

ABB robots

KUKA robots

Laser welding equipment

APQP/PPAP/SPC tools

Job description

Job Title: Welding Engineer

Location: Hickory NC

Job Description

Responsibilities

• - Develop, implement, and optimize laser welding processes for production.
• - Support daily manufacturing operations by troubleshooting weld-related issues and minimizing downtime.
• - Establish and maintain process parameters, work instructions, and standardized operating procedures.
• - Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for weld defects, quality issues, and equipment failures.
• - Support new product launches, including process design, equipment validation, APQP deliverables, PFMEA, and control plans.
• - Work closely with Quality to ensure compliance with IATF and customer-specific requirements.
• - Analyze production data (scrap, rework, downtime, cycle time) to drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• - Improve welding efficiency, including cycle time reduction and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• - Assist in specifying, installing, and commissioning new welding equipment, tooling, and automation systems.
• - Provide technical support and training to operators, technicians, and maintenance personnel.
• - Collaborate with suppliers, integrators, and customers on weld process-related issues.
• - Perform all other duties as assigned.

Essential Skills

• - Welding Process Engineering & Troubleshooting
• - Robotic Welding & Manufacturing Automation
• - Automotive Manufacturing & Launch Experience
• - IATF, PPAP, APQP knowledge
• - Bachelor's Degree in Welding Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience
• - 1+ years of Manufacturing Engineering or Welding Engineering experience in a manufacturing environment
• - Experience supporting production welding operations
• - Knowledge of weld quality standards, inspection methods, and testing procedures
• - Experience troubleshooting manufacturing processes and equipment
• - Strong analytical, problem-solving, and root cause analysis skills

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• - Automotive or Tier 1 supplier experience
• - Experience with robotic welding systems (Fanuc, ABB, KUKA, or similar)
• - Laser welding experience
• - Knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, and SPC methodologies
• - Experience supporting new product launches

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Newton, NC.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $85000.00 - $125000.00/yr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance and Disability Coverage
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match
• Additional Company-Sponsored Retirement Contributions
• Health & Wellness Programs
• Employee Assistance and Wellbeing Resources
• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
• Professional Development and Career Growth Programs
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Inclusion Initiatives
• Community Involvement and Volunteer Opportunities
• Internal Advancement Opportunities Across a Global Organization

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Newton, NC.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 28, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Newton,NC.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without
regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected
by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or
adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,
please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the
city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants
with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a
condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law
shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications
and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you
acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.