Welding Engineer

Direct Hire / Permanent Placement | Full-Time, Onsite | Newport News, VA

Position Summary

We are seeking a Production / Welding Engineer to support manufacturing operations, production processes, equipment improvements, and new product development within a heavy industrial manufacturing environment. This position works closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, operations, and other cross-functional teams to improve production methods, support welding processes, resolve manufacturing issues, and implement new equipment and technologies. The ideal candidate will have experience in welding engineering, manufacturing engineering, production engineering, or a related discipline and will be comfortable supporting both existing production and continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the manufacture of existing products and the development of new products and manufacturing processes.
• Work closely with cross-functional engineering, production, quality, and operations teams.
• Review product designs and provide recommendations regarding manufacturability.
• Identify opportunities to improve production efficiency, quality, workflow, and overall manufacturing performance.
• Research and develop solutions for manufacturing and production challenges.
• Provide technical assistance in the implementation of manufacturing concepts, processes, equipment, and technologies.
• Specify welding equipment, processes, procedures, and production requirements.
• Support the development and improvement of welding processes used within manufacturing operations.
• Evaluate and disposition non-conforming materials and products from a manufacturing engineering perspective.
• Participate in design reviews and provide manufacturing and production feedback.
• Assist with specifying, selecting, purchasing, installing, and implementing manufacturing equipment.
• Ensure new equipment is reliable, maintainable, statistically capable, safe, and ergonomically appropriate.
• Develop and improve manufacturing workflows and production processes.
• Evaluate new engineering concepts, manufacturing technologies, equipment, and process improvements.
• Maintain awareness of emerging manufacturing technologies and industry best practices.
• Support equipment utilization planning and recommend changes necessary to accommodate production growth or changing manufacturing requirements.
• Support materials engineering activities related to manufacturing and welding operations.
• Assist with capital equipment projects, manufacturing investments, and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Support supplier development activities related to manufacturing processes and production requirements.
• Maintain and review manufacturing processes to ensure safe operating practices, tools, methods, and equipment are being utilized.
• Lead or support manufacturing improvement projects from concept through implementation.
• Coordinate resources and manage engineering projects as assigned.
• Troubleshoot complex manufacturing, welding, equipment, and production issues.
• Develop recommendations and corrective actions for recurring production problems.
• Communicate effectively with internal teams, customers, suppliers, and regulatory representatives when required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Welding Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related engineering discipline preferred.
• Relevant manufacturing engineering experience may be considered in combination with education.
• Experience in welding engineering, production engineering, manufacturing engineering, or a closely related role.
• Strong understanding of welding processes, equipment, procedures, and manufacturing methods.
• Experience reviewing engineering designs for manufacturability.
• Knowledge of manufacturing equipment selection, installation, and implementation.
• Experience troubleshooting production and manufacturing issues.
• Ability to evaluate and disposition non-conforming products.
• Strong knowledge of continuous improvement and production efficiency methodologies.
• Experience supporting capital projects and manufacturing equipment improvements preferred.
• Ability to independently manage engineering projects and priorities.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical decision-making skills.
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional engineering, production, quality, and operations teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience within heavy equipment, industrial machinery, fabrication, structural welding, or a similar manufacturing environment is highly desirable.

Preferred Experience

• Welding process development and optimization.
• Heavy fabrication or structural welding.
• Manufacturing process development.
• Production equipment specification and installation.
• Root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Non-conformance disposition.
• Design for manufacturability.
• Capital equipment projects.
• Manufacturing workflow optimization.
• Supplier manufacturing support.
• Continuous improvement and cost-reduction initiatives.

Work Environment

This is a full-time, onsite engineering position supporting an industrial manufacturing facility in Newport News, Virginia. The role requires regular interaction with manufacturing equipment, production personnel, and engineering teams throughout the facility.

Compensation

Annual Salary: Up to $125,000, depending on experience and qualifications. This is a direct-hire / permanent placement opportunity.

Benefits

As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources. Eligibility may vary by assignment, location, and job type. Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability. As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account. In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan.