Welding Engineer & Quality Lead

Valstad Shipworks; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Valstad is seeking a Welding Engineer to own welding-process development, manufacturing quality, and nondestructive testing for robotic steel fabrication at our Austin facility. You will develop welding procedures, improve robotic welding performance, investigate defects, and establish inspection systems for production.

This role requires 5+ years in welding engineering or welding quality, strong GMAW and structural-steel knowledge, and experience with WPS/PQR development; Level II VT/MT

Qualifications

• 5+ years of welding-engineering or welding-quality experience.
• Strong knowledge of GMAW and structural-steel fabrication; knowledge of HLAW and autogenous laser welding a bonus.
• Experience developing WPSs, PQRs, and qualification programs.
• Current or previous Level II qualification in VT and MT under a recognized written practice.
• Experience investigating weld defects and production variation.
• Ability to work directly with robotic systems and manufacturing teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and qualify welding procedures for structural steel fabrication.
• Define process windows, parameters, consumables, and acceptance criteria.
• Partner with robotics and automation engineers to improve robotic welding.
• Investigate defects and lead root-cause and corrective-action efforts.
• Perform or oversee VT, MT, and other applicable NDT methods.
• Maintain welding, inspection, calibration, and qualification records.
• Develop production inspection plans and quality-control processes.
• Support customer, classification, and program-specific requirements.

Skills

Welding engineering

Welding quality

GMAW

Structural-steel fabrication

NDT methods (VT/MT)

Job description

About Valstad

Valstad is building the machine that builds the ships.

We combine industrial robotics, welding, sensing, and AI to turn 3D models into real high-mix ship structure. Our mission is to rapidly expand America's maritime output by 100x.

Our team works directly with large industrial robots and real manufacturing equipment at our Austin facility. The systems we build will ultimately be deployed across shipyards and industrial facilities throughout the country.

The Role

Valstad is seeking a Welding Engineer to own welding-process development, manufacturing quality, and nondestructive testing for robotic steel fabrication.

You will develop and qualify welding procedures, improve robotic welding performance, investigate defects, and establish the inspection systems required for production.

What You Will Do

• Develop and qualify welding procedures for structural steel fabrication.
• Define process windows, parameters, consumables, and acceptance criteria.
• Partner with robotics and automation engineers to improve robotic welding.
• Investigate defects and lead root-cause and corrective-action efforts.
• Perform or oversee VT, MT, and other applicable NDT methods.
• Maintain welding, inspection, calibration, and qualification records.
• Develop production inspection plans and quality-control processes.
• Support customer, classification, and program-specific requirements.

• 5+ years of welding-engineering or welding-quality experience.
• Strong knowledge of GMAW and structural-steel fabrication, with knowledge of HLAW and autogenous laser welding a bonus.
• Experience developing WPSs, PQRs, and qualification programs.
• Current or previous Level II qualification in VT and MT under a recognized written practice.
• Experience investigating weld defects and production variation.
• Ability to work directly with robotic systems and manufacturing teams.

AWS CWI and Level II UT experience are strongly preferred. PAUT, automated NDT, shipbuilding, and heavy-fabrication experience are valuable.