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Welding Engineering Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

SpaceX

Sr. Welding Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$135K - $190K/yr

Support design, manufacturing, and materials engineering with root cause analysis * Work closely with design, tooling, automation, and development engineers to improve welded designs for ...

Impulse Space

Principal Welding Engineer

Redondo Beach, CA

$37.75 - $52.25/hr

Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline or related field * 10+ years of experience with hands-on fabrication, manufacturing, or testing experience of welded assemblies * Master's degree in ...

Impulse Space

Welding Engineer (New Grad)

Redondo Beach, CA

$37.75 - $52.25/hr

Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline or related field * 2+ years of experience with hands-on fabrication, manufacturing, or testing experience of welded assemblies * Master's degree in ...

Hermeus

Senior Welding Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

$140K - $200K/yr

Support design, manufacturing, and materials engineering with root cause analysis * Work closely with design, tooling, automation, and development engineers to improve welded designs for ...

Hermeus

Senior Welding Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$140K - $200K/yr

Support design, manufacturing, and materials engineering with root cause analysis * Work closely with design, tooling, automation, and development engineers to improve welded designs for ...

Hermeus

Senior Welding Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

$140K - $200K/yr

Support design, manufacturing, and materials engineering with root cause analysis * Work closely with design, tooling, automation, and development engineers to improve welded designs for ...

General Atomics

Engineer II

San Diego, CA · On-site

$68K - $116K/yr

Reviews engineering drawings for correct weld symbol and code application requirements * Develops weld maps for welded assemblies * Generates weld qualification documentation and organizes ...

Relativity Space

Weld Engineer I

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$90K - $136K/yr

Welding Engineering degree (B.S. or M.S.) * 1+ years of fusion welding experience - GTAW or Laser welding experience preferred At Relativity Space, we are committed to transparency and fairness in ...

Relativity Space

Weld Engineer II

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$104K - $156K/yr

Welding Engineering degree (B.S. or M.S.) * 2+ years of fusion welding experience - GTAW or Laser welding experience preferred At Relativity Space, we are committed to transparency and fairness in ...

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Welding Engineering information

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How much do welding engineering jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for welding engineering in California is $41.07, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $33.94 and $46.73 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a welding engineer typically collaborate with other departments during a project?

Welding Engineers often work closely with design, manufacturing, and quality assurance teams to ensure that welding processes meet both technical specifications and safety standards. They may participate in project meetings, review blueprints with designers to assess weldability, and coordinate with production supervisors to address real-time challenges on the shop floor. Additionally, they frequently liaise with quality inspectors to troubleshoot defects and ensure compliance with industry codes. This collaborative environment fosters strong communication skills and provides opportunities to influence various stages of product development.

What is welding engineering?

Welding engineering is a specialized field of engineering that focuses on the design, development, and application of welding processes to join materials, typically metals and alloys. Welding engineers are responsible for selecting appropriate welding methods, developing procedures, overseeing quality control, and ensuring that welded structures meet safety and performance standards. They work in industries such as manufacturing, construction, automotive, and aerospace, where the integrity of welds is critical to the product's safety and functionality.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a welding engineer, and why are they important?

To excel as a Welding Engineer, you need a solid background in materials science, metallurgy, welding processes, and typically a degree in welding engineering or a related field. Familiarity with CAD software, inspection tools, non-destructive testing methods, and certifications like Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) are highly valuable. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and ensure quality standards are met. These competencies are essential for designing safe, efficient welding solutions and maintaining high production standards in manufacturing or construction environments.

What is the difference between Welding Engineering vs Welding Technology?

AspectWelding EngineeringWelding Technology
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Welding Engineering or related field, certifications like AWS Certified Welding EngineerAssociate's or Bachelor's in Welding Technology, certifications like AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Work EnvironmentDesigning welding processes, quality control, research and developmentPerforming welding operations, inspecting welds, assisting in production
Industry UsageEngineering firms, manufacturing, aerospace, constructionManufacturing plants, fabrication shops, construction sites

Welding Engineering focuses on designing and optimizing welding processes, ensuring quality, and applying engineering principles. Welding Technology emphasizes hands-on welding, inspection, and supporting production. Both roles are essential in the industry but differ mainly in scope and responsibilities.

What are popular job titles related to Welding Engineering jobs in California? For Welding Engineering jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Welding Engineering jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Welding Engineering jobs in California are:
Welding Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Welding Engineering job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $85,421 per year, or $41.1 per hour.

Sr. Welding Engineer

SpaceX

Hawthorne, CA • On-site

$135K - $190K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 3 days ago

SpaceX rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 147 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

15th of 72 rated aerospace companies

Job description

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.
SR. WELDING ENGINEER
This position will support manufacturing and development of SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Starship launch vehicles, Dragon spacecraft, and Starlink satellites alongside a strong group of design and build engineers. The person in this position will help develop, qualify, and optimize welding designs and processes including but not limited to; electron beam welding, laser beam welding, gas tungsten arc welding, orbital tube welding, resistance welding, gas metal arc welding, and plasma arc welding. The welding engineer in this role will interface daily with design and manufacturing engineers to make welding judgment calls and improvements and will enforce standardized practices and procedures on multiple welded assemblies.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Develop, optimize, and qualify weld processes and parameters for multiple welding processes including but not limited to: electron beam welding, laser beam welding, gas tungsten arc welding, orbital tube welding, resistance welding, gas metal arc welding, friction stir welding, and plasma arc welding
  • Support production operations on full scale welded assemblies, providing direction to manufacturing engineers and welders on correct techniques in a fast paced manufacturing environment
  • Support design, manufacturing, and materials engineering with root cause analysis
  • Work closely with design, tooling, automation, and development engineers to improve welded designs for manufacturing
  • Set up welding qualification test campaigns and interpret mechanical testing and NDE results
  • Work closely with NDE personnel to interpret weld quality on development and flight hardware in addition to developing and implementing innovative state-of-the-art NDE techniques
  • Develop and implement improved process control where possible using test and NDE results as feedback loop
  • Set up automated welding solutions in an effort to drive process consistency
  • Scope out new welding technologies that may be employed to improve rate/quality/efficiency
  • Support on-site manufacturing and development of Starlink, F9, Dragon, Starship, and related propulsion engines

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
  • 5+ years of experience with hands-on fabrication, manufacturing, or testing experience of welded assemblies

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
  • Master's degree in welding engineering or related technical program
  • Hands on welding experience of stainless steel, nickel-based, titanium, copper, and aluminum alloys
  • Experience with brazing, joining, and metallographic interpretation
  • Fundamental understanding of welding processes including, but not limited to, electron beam, laser beam, plasma arc, resistance, friction-stir, gas tungsten arc, and gas metal arc
  • Robot programming experience for automated welding solutions
  • Tooling design experience for welded assemblies to reduce part distortion and improve part consistency
  • Understanding of weld strength testing methodologies, standards, and data acquisition systems used to make informed welding decisions (ASTM E8, E399, E740, ISO 15653, AWS D17.X, AWS C7.X, thermos-couples, strain gages, etc.)
  • Experience with root cause analysis and corrective actions including, but not limited to, optical and SEM fractography/metallography, hardness, chemical analysis, and mechanical testing
  • Self-motivated engineer with keen attention to detail
  • Strong ability to multi-task and communicate status and results with broad spectrum of internal and external departments

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
  • Willing to work long hours and weekends as needed to support and maintain build schedules
  • Travel may be required to other SpaceX facilities in Texas and Washington state (up to 50%)
  • Ability to perform job duties that require standing, kneeling, crouching, twisting upper body, working in cramped positions in small openings and climbing hand over hand

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay Range:
Level 3: $135,000.00 - $190,000.00
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.
ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
  • To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX's Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com.

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About SpaceX

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Aerospace product and parts manufacturing, data services, guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing and satellite telecommunications

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Hawthorne, CA, US

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