Welding Inspector / QA Technician II

Thompson Pipe Group; South Beloit (IL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Thompson Pipe Group in South Beloit, IL is seeking a QA Technician II to serve as a hands-on Welding Inspector supporting production in a heavy manufacturing environment. You will inspect welds, verify conformance to WPS and drawings, and document quality issues while collaborating with fabrication teams.

Ideal candidates have welding, fabrication, machining experience, read weld symbols, and familiarity with AWS/ASME codes.

Qualifications

• 2+ years in QA, QC, or production in pipe manufacturing or heavy industry.
• Experience inspecting welds or manufactured components.
• Ability to read drawings and understand weld symbols.
• Exposure to AWS, ASME, AWWA, or similar codes is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Perform visual inspection of welds and fabricated components.
• Inspect fit-up, alignment, and production work prior to welding.
• Verify work is performed in accordance with WPS and drawings.
• Conduct in-process and final inspections.
• Use inspection tools such as gauges, calipers, and micrometers.
• Identify and document weld defects and quality issues.
• Support or perform NDT activities (MT, PT, UT).
• Work with production teams to resolve quality issues.
• Complete inspection and quality documentation.
• Support continuous improvement and shop quality initiatives.

Skills

Welding

Fabrication

Reading drawings

QA / QC

MS Excel

NDT knowledge

Bilingual

Education

AWS CWI/CAWI certification

NDE/NDT certifications

ACI Field Test Technician

ASNT SNT-TC-1A / NAS 410

API 510/570/577

Tools

MIG Welder

TIG Welder

Stick Welder

Flux-Cored Arc Welder

Job description

Position Summary

The QA Technician II serves as a hands-on Welding Inspector supporting production in a heavy manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for inspecting welds, ensuring product quality, and supporting fabrication operations. Ideal for candidates with experience in welding, fabrication, machining, or industrial manufacturing looking to grow into pressure pipe applications.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform visual inspection of welds and fabricated components
• Inspect fit-up, alignment, and production work prior to welding
• Verify work is performed in accordance with WPS and drawings
• Conduct in-process and final inspections
• Use inspection tools such as gauges, calipers, and micrometers
• Identify and document weld defects and quality issues
• Support or perform NDT activities (MT, PT, UT)
• Work with production teams to resolve quality issues
• Complete inspection and quality documentation
• Support continuous improvement and shop quality initiatives

Requirements

• Experience in welding, fabrication, machining, or heavy manufacturing
• Experience inspecting welds or manufactured components
• Ability to read drawings and understand weld symbols
• Familiarity with WPS, inspection processes, or shop QA
• Experience working in production environmentsExposure to AWS, ASME, AWWA, or similar codes is a plus
• AWS CWI/CAWI or equivalent experience preferred
• PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• 2+ years of experience in a QA, QC, or production role in pipe manufacturing, precast concrete, or a related industry.
• Hands-on experience in at least one discipline: concrete/civil, coatings, welding, or NDE/NDT.
• Level I or equivalent certification in at least one area; Level II or equivalent strongly preferred - ACI Field Test Technician; AWS CWI or CAWI; NDE/NDT MT, PT, RT, UT, or VT (ASNT SNT-TC-1A or NAS 410); NACE/AMPP Coating Inspector; or API 510, 570, or 577.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus.

You Should Be Proficient In

• Quality Inspection Experience
• Welding Setups for Production
• Blueprint Reading

Machines & Technologies You'll Use

• MIG Welder
• TIG Welder
• Stick Welder
• Flux-Cored Arc Welder