CWI Quality Engineer
Position Summary
The CWI Quality Engineer is responsible for driving product quality, process improvement, and welding quality compliance across fabrication and assembly operations. This role serves as the subject matter expert for welding quality, weld inspection, and weld-related problem solving while supporting the overall Quality Management System.
What you’ll do
Welding Quality Leadership - Serve as the primary quality resource for welding and fabrication processes. Ensure compliance with applicable welding codes and standards, including AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code, customer specifications, and internal quality requirements.
Develop, review and evaluate weld quality requirements, welding procedures specifications (WPS), procedure qualification records (PQR), inspection methods, and acceptance criteria. Support development, implementation, and continuous improvement of welding quality programs.
Conduct weld process audits and assessments to verify process compliance and effectiveness. Partner with Manufacturing Engineering and Operations to identify and implement welding process improvements.
Analyze weld-related defects and lead corrective and preventive actions to reduce scrap, rework, and customer issues.
Quality Engineering Responsibilities
Lead Nonconformance Reviews and root cause investigations utilizing structured problem-solving methodologies. Drive corrective action initiatives using data-based decision making and continuous improvement principles.
Provide visibility of quality performance, weld quality metrics, and corrective action status through dashboards and KPI reporting. Analyze quality trends and identify opportunities to improve process capability and product performance.
Develop and implement quality plans for new products, processes, and material changes. Evaluate product and process changes to ensure quality requirements are maintained.
Support First Article Inspection (FAI), receiving inspection activities, and manufacturing quality audits. Evaluate supplier quality initiatives involving fabricated and welded components.
Collaborate with Product Development and Manufacturing teams during new product launches. Support efforts to improve product and process quality through Lean Manufacturing, mistake-proofing (Poka-Yoke), and Zero-Defect methodologies.
Leadership & Collaboration
Provide technical guidance to quality inspectors and manufacturing personnel regarding weld quality requirements. Coach and mentor production teams on welding quality standards and inspection best practices.
Cook and mentor production teams on welding quality standards and inspection best practices. Coordinate quality initiatives across Huron and Watertown operations.
Work collaboratively with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and external suppliers to resolve quality concerns.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Welding Engineering Technology, Industrial Technology, or related technical discipline.
Minimum 3-5 years of Quality Engineering, Welding Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, or related experience in a fabrication/manufacturing environment.
Preferred Qualifications
AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification strongly preferred.
Extensive experience with welded steel structures, heavy fabrication, and complex weldments.
Strong working knowledge of AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code and application of acceptance criteria for welded assemblies.
Experience interpreting welding symbols, fabrication drawings, WPSs (Welding Procedure Specifications), PQRs (Procedure Qualification Records), and Welder Qualification Records.
Experience conducting visual weld inspections and evaluating weld discontinuities in accordance with AWS D1.1 requirements.
Knowledge of welding processes including MIG, Flux-Core, and other common manufacturing welding processes.
Experience supporting weld quality audits, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives in a fabrication environment.
Quality Engineering experience in a fabrication/assembly shop environment.
Ability to influence.
Ability to compile and analyze data.
Understanding SPC, and process capability determination.
Technical expertise to identify root causes through data analysis.
Excellent problem-solving skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to teach other team members.
Ability to work independently and within a team.
Ability to coordinate assignments among multiple support groups and provide direction for project team members.
Ability to evaluate product and process change requests to ensure product quality is not compromised.
Ability to work well under compressed time constraints.
Manage multiple tasks/projects at one time.
Understanding precision measurement instruments.
Pay and Benefits
The salary range for this position is $76,500 to $93,500 annually. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to a base salary, this position is eligible for a performance bonus. All eligible Team Members will be offered health insurance (medical, dental, vision, Rx), life insurance, accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D), short-term and long-term disability, extended leave options, paid time off, company holidays, 401k matching, employee stock purchase plan, legal assistance, wellness programs, tuition reimbursement and discount programs.