Contract Engineer Jobs in Appleton, WI (NOW HIRING)

Basic Job Purpose:

The Welding Engineer is responsible for the overall technical leadership, compliance, and continuous improvement of the company's welding program. This position ensures all welding activities meet applicable customer, industry, military, and regulatory requirements while supporting manufacturing efficiency, quality, and operational excellence.The Welding Engineer develops and maintains welding procedures, qualifies welding procedures and personnel, audits welding operations, maintains required certifications and records, and serves as the company's technical expert for all welding-related activities. This role works closely with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Program Management, and Business Development to support both existing production and new business opportunities.

Assignment of Functions and Responsibilities:
Welding Program Management (20%)

Own and administer the company's welding program.

• Ensure compliance with customer specifications and applicable industry standards (AWS, ASME, NAVSEA, MIL-STD, and customer-specific requirements).
• Conduct periodic audits of the welding program to verify compliance and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Maintain welding manuals, procedures, work instructions, and supporting documentation.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on welding quality, productivity, and cost reduction.

Welding Procedure Development & Qualification (20%)

• Develop, review, and revise Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS), Procedure Qualification Records (PQR), and supporting documentation.
• Plan and execute welding procedure qualification testing.
• Ensure welding procedures remain current with applicable codes, customer requirements, and manufacturing capabilities.
• Provide technical recommendations for new materials, processes, equipment, and welding technologies.

Cross-Functional Support & New Business (20%)

• Participate in Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews.
• Review welding requirements during quotation and contract review.
• Support Engineering and Business Development by evaluating weldability of new products and manufacturing opportunities.
• Recommend manufacturing methods and welding processes to improve competitiveness.

Welder Qualification & Certification (15%)

• Develop and administer welder qualification testing.
• Qualify and certify welders to applicable welding codes and customer specifications.
• Maintain welder continuity records and certification status.
• Schedule and coordinate requalification testing as required.
• Ensure welding personnel maintain compliance with qualification requirements.

Training & Technical Support (10%)

• Develop and conduct welding training programs for new and existing welders.
• Mentor welding personnel on best practices, workmanship standards, and process improvements.
• Provide technical guidance to production supervisors and manufacturing personnel.
• Support troubleshooting of welding-related production issues.

Records Management & Compliance (10%)

• Maintain all welding records, certifications, qualification documents, continuity logs, and audit records.
• Ensure documentation is accurate, organized, and readily available for customer or regulatory audits.
• Support internal, customer, and third-party audits.

Continuous Improvement (5%)

• Identify opportunities to improve welding efficiency, quality, safety, and throughput.
• Support Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA), and other continuous improvement initiatives.
• Evaluate new welding technologies, automation, consumables, and equipment.

Minimum Requirements for Education, Skillset, Qualifications, and Experience:

Required

• Must be a US citizen

  Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Welding Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Equivalent combination of education and significant welding engineering experience may be considered.
  Experience
• 5+ years of welding engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with military, aerospace, defense, or heavy fabrication preferred.
• Experience developing and qualifying welding procedures.
• Experience qualifying welders and maintaining certification programs.
• Experience supporting customer and third-party audits.
  Preferred Certifications
• Certified Welding Engineer (CWEng)
• Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)
• NAVSEA Welding Program experience (preferred)
• ASME Section IX experience
• AWS D1.1, D1.2, D1.6, or other applicable code experience
  Knowledge & Skills
• Expert knowledge of welding processes including:
  • GTAW (TIG)
  • GMAW (MIG)
  • FCAW
  • SMAW
• Strong understanding of metallurgy and weldability of carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, armor steel, and specialty alloys.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and welding symbols.
• Knowledge of NDT methods including VT, PT, MT, UT, and RT.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong technical writing and documentation skills.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities.