HIRE TALENT  /  MEP & ENGINEERING  /  WELD ENGINEER
Welding & Manufacturing Engineering Recruiting

Hire Weld Engineers

Hire Weld Engineers who own the joint, the procedure and the cell — WPS and PQR qualification to AWS D17.1 and D1.1, friction stir and orbital welding of rocket tanks, structures and hull sections, weld inspection and CWI-grade acceptance calls, metallurgy of aluminum-lithium, titanium, Inconel and HY-80, and automation of the weld cells that make rate possible. Verified with the quality managers, welders and NDT Level IIIs who saw the welds pass, not the resume.

Weld Engineer - iRecruit.coExample profile
Hector M.
Vetted Specialists
MEP & Engineering
Weld Engineer
BS Welding Engineering · AWS CWI · CWEng
Sectors
Rockets, structures, ships
Launch vehicles and propulsion, aerospace structures, shipyards, defense and energetics manufacturing
Role scope
Engineer through Principal
WPS/PQR, FSW and orbital processes, weld inspection, metallurgy, weld-cell automation
Geography
US-wide
Industrial, defense and mission-critical network
Placement warranty
Replacement guarantee
Every model, every placement
How It Works

Hire Weld Engineers in 3 steps

A structured process for the hire who decides whether a propellant tank holds proof pressure and a hull section passes NAVSEA radiography — where a Weld Engineer who has only run structural steel qualifies an FSW procedure without a fracture-toughness basis, the domes pass visual and fail at cryogenic test, and the production line waits on a requalification nobody budgeted.

Step 01

Talk to our team

30-minute call. Align on processes in scope (friction stir, orbital GTAW, TIG and MIG, electron beam, laser, resistance and stud), materials (2195 and 2219 aluminum-lithium, 6061, Ti-6Al-4V, Inconel 718 and 625, stainless, HY-80 and HSLA-100), governing codes (AWS D17.1, D1.1, D1.2, D1.6, ASME IX, NAVSEA S9074-AQ-GIB-010/248, NASA-STD-5006), weld-cell automation and rate targets, inspection and NDT interface, ITAR status, and start date.

Step 02

Review hand-selected talent

Within 2 weeks we introduce 3–5 Weld Engineers with verified procedure-qualification and production-weld ownership on comparable hardware — not welding-supply reps or generalist manufacturing engineers restyled. References from quality managers, weld shop leads and NDT Level IIIs included.

Step 03

Hire with confidence

Every placement carries a replacement guarantee. If the hire fails within the warranty window, we run a no-fee replacement search.

Why iRecruit.co for Weld Engineer Hires

What makes our Weld Engineer shortlist different

A Weld Engineer at a launch, aerospace or shipyard manufacturer is judged by whether the procedure qualified first time, the production welds passed NDT at rate, and the cell ran without an engineer standing beside it. Real PQR history, metallurgical judgment on the alloys you weld, and automation scars separate an engineer who owns the joint from one who owns a binder of WPSs.

01

Procedure qualification verified, not listed

Every Weld Engineer has reference-verified WPS and PQR ownership — test-coupon design, mechanical and metallurgical testing, essential-variable control and requalification history — confirmed with the quality manager or customer representative who accepted the procedure, under AWS D17.1, D1.1, ASME IX or NAVSEA requirements.

02

Rocket-, structure- and ship-specific process depth

Friction stir welding of aluminum-lithium tank barrels and domes with self-reacting and fixed-pin tools, orbital GTAW of propulsion and cryogenic tubing, electron-beam and laser welding of titanium and Inconel, resistance and stud welding on secondary structure, and SAW, FCAW and GMAW of HY-80 hull plate. Matched to your alloys and joint geometries, not a generic welding engineer.

03

Inspection, metallurgy and cell automation

Verified working history with CWI-level visual and weld-inspection acceptance, NDT interface for RT, UT and PAUT of welds, failure analysis and weld metallurgy (HAZ softening, hot cracking, hydrogen, porosity, post-weld heat treatment), and automation of weld cells — robotic and gantry FSW, orbital heads, seam trackers, adaptive control and weld-data logging — with rate and first-pass-yield outcomes checked.

Meet Vetted Weld Engineers

The caliber of Weld Engineer you’ll interview

Every candidate is credential-verified, reference-checked, and matched to your hardware, alloys and processes. Anonymized examples below reflect real placement profiles.

Vetted SpecialistsFemale Weld Engineer - launch vehicle factoryExample profile

Valeria A.

Senior Weld Engineer, Launch Vehicle Tanks
  • Qualified friction-stir-weld procedures for 2195 aluminum-lithium barrel longitudinal and circumferential joints on a 5.2m tank — tool design, plunge and travel parameters, and fracture-toughness test program accepted on the first PQR cycle
  • Owned three gantry FSW cells and the dome-to-barrel circ welder; lifted first-pass PAUT yield from 82% to 97% through pin-tool wear limits and adaptive force control
  • Wrote the FSW essential-variable matrix and repair procedure that cleared customer and NASA-STD-5006 review for crewed-vehicle tanks
Friction stir weldingAl-Li 2195AWS D17.1
Vetted SpecialistsMale Weld Engineer - shipyardExample profile

Miguel O.

Welding Engineer, Submarine Hull Structures
  • Qualified 40+ WPS and PQR packages in SAW, FCAW and GMAW on HY-80 and HY-100 pressure-hull and framing joints under NAVSEA S9074-AQ-GIB-010/248 and MIL-STD-1689
  • Cut hydrogen-cracking rework on hull-section butt welds 60% through preheat and interpass control, electrode moisture management and a revised PWHT window
  • Supported 300 welders across two shifts as the CWI-certified engineer of record for NAVSEA and SUPSHIP source inspection
HY-80 / HY-100NAVSEA 248CWI
Vetted SpecialistsFemale Weld Engineer - propulsion manufacturingExample profile

Carmen O.

Weld Engineer, Propulsion and Cryogenic Systems
  • Owned orbital GTAW of Inconel 718 and 316L propellant and cryogenic tubing from 1/4 in to 4 in — 220 qualified weld schedules, autogenous and wire-fed, to AWS D17.1 Class A
  • Qualified electron-beam procedures joining Ti-6Al-4V injector faceplates and additively manufactured Inconel manifolds with metallurgical sectioning and RT acceptance
  • Automated the tube-weld cell with fixture-integrated purge monitoring and weld-data capture; eliminated the manual weld log and cut reject rate 45%
Orbital GTAWElectron beamWeld-cell automation
Weld Engineer Specializations

Match the Weld Engineer specialty to your hardware and process

“Weld Engineer” at a reindustrialization plant ranges from a friction-stir specialist on tank domes to a NAVSEA-qualified structural engineer on hull plate to an automation engineer who makes weld cells run at rate. Below are the specializations we recruit for:

Not sure which Weld Engineer specialty fits?

We’ll help you scope the role on the call — processes and alloys, governing codes, procedure-qualification load, automation and rate targets, and how the seat interfaces with quality and NDT.

Hire Weld Engineers →
Vetting Criteria

What we verify on every Weld Engineer candidate

Weld Engineer hires live and die on procedures that qualify first time, production welds that pass NDT at rate, and cells that run without an engineer at the console. Below is what every candidate has documented before you meet them:

Procedure qualification ownership

Reference-verified WPS and PQR authorship and qualification under AWS D17.1, D1.1, ASME IX or NAVSEA requirements — coupon design, testing, essential variables, welder performance qualification and requalification history confirmed with the quality manager or customer representative.

Process and alloy history

Verified production-weld ownership on comparable processes and materials — FSW, orbital GTAW, EB, laser, SAW and FCAW on aluminum-lithium, titanium, Inconel, stainless or HY-80 — with first-pass yield, rework and NDT reject outcomes reference-checked.

Weld inspection and NDT interface

Verified working history with visual and dimensional weld acceptance, CWI-level inspection judgment, RT, UT and PAUT interface with the NDT organization, and disposition of weld nonconformances through MRB.

Metallurgy and cell automation

Verified failure-analysis and weld-metallurgy work (HAZ properties, cracking mechanisms, PWHT, filler selection) and automation of weld cells — robotic and gantry systems, seam tracking, adaptive control, weld-data logging — with rate and yield results confirmed.

Credentials verified

Welding, materials or mechanical engineering degree, AWS CWI and CWEng, ASME IX and NAVSEA qualification exposure, PE where held, and US-person status where ITAR applies — all checked.

Compensation alignment

Engineer, Senior, Lead and Principal comp bands aligned before finalists are introduced, including process-specialty premiums for FSW and EB, shift and shop-floor expectations, relocation, and clearance or ITAR premiums.

FAQ

Hiring a Weld Engineer: frequently asked questions

How long does it take to hire a Weld Engineer?

Time to shortlist is typically 2 weeks from scoping call. Total time to placement (shortlist through offer acceptance) is typically 3–5 weeks. Friction-stir and electron-beam specialists, NAVSEA-experienced shipyard engineers, clearance requirements, or relocation to a remote launch or shipyard site can run a week or two longer.

What does a Weld Engineer cost in 2026?

Most US Weld Engineers at launch, aerospace, shipyard and defense manufacturers land between $95K and $130K base at the Engineer-to-Senior level depending on metro and process depth. Lead and Principal Weld Engineers with friction-stir, electron-beam or NAVSEA procedure-qualification history typically run $130K–$175K, with welding engineering managers above that. These are market bands; we confirm live market bands during scoping. See our manufacturing engineer salary guide for the adjacent engineering tier.

How is a Weld Engineer different from a Manufacturing Engineer?

A Manufacturing Engineer owns the overall process, routing, tooling and line design for a product. The Weld Engineer owns the joints inside that process — procedure qualification, weld metallurgy, inspection acceptance and the weld cells — and is the engineer of record when a weld is disputed. At smaller shops one manufacturing engineer carries welding as a duty; at a tank or hull factory it is a dedicated seat.

How is a Weld Engineer different from a Quality Engineer or NDT Level III?

The Weld Engineer defines how the weld is made and what makes it acceptable. A Quality Engineer owns the nonconformance, MRB and corrective-action system around it, and an NDT Inspector or Level III examines the finished weld and calls the indication. The three share the acceptance criteria and the repair procedure, and the Quality Manager arbitrates when they disagree.

How is a Weld Engineer different from a Tooling Engineer or Fabrication Manager?

A Tooling Engineer designs the fixtures, jigs and pin tools the weld cell needs; the Weld Engineer specifies what the fixture must hold and the process it must survive. A Fabrication Manager runs the weld and fab shop — people, schedule and throughput — and typically relies on the Weld Engineer for procedures, qualification and technical disposition.

Do you require a CWI or CWEng?

It depends on the seat. Shipyard and structural programs often require an AWS CWI for inspection acceptance and a CWEng or welding engineering degree for the engineer of record; launch and propulsion manufacturers weigh procedure-qualification history on the specific process and alloy more heavily than certifications. A CWI held alongside real PQR ownership is the strongest combination. We confirm the requirement during scoping and verify all certifications directly with AWS.

Do you offer a placement guarantee?

Yes. Every Weld Engineer placement carries a replacement guarantee. Guarantee terms are confirmed in writing at engagement start.

Can you build a full welding engineering team?

Yes. Multi-hire builds (a welding engineering lead plus FSW, orbital, structural and automation weld engineers for a new tank factory or hull-block facility, or a weld engineering and NDT group ahead of a rate ramp) route through embedded recruiting or RPO. Adjacent seats — Manufacturing Engineers, Tooling Engineers, Fabrication Managers and Quality Managers — can be scoped in the same engagement.

Ready to hire

Talk to a welding engineering recruiter

30-minute scoping conversation. We’ll review the Weld Engineer role you need — processes and alloys, governing codes, procedure-qualification load, inspection and NDT interface, automation and rate targets, ITAR requirements — then recommend the right hire path and start sourcing.

Prefer to talk it through?
Book a 30-minute intro call and leave with pricing, timelines, and next steps.
Book a Call →