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Welding Engineering Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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 ...

Sr. Weld Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$38.25 - $52.75/hr

Required Qualifications and Skills * BS in Welding Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related discipline. * 5+ years of experience with welding materials and processes ...

Welding Engineer (All Levels)

Redondo Beach, CA · On-site

$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 ...

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 ...

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

Welding Engineer Technician

Riverside, CA

$37.25 - $51.50/hr

Experience in the field and/or Welding Engineering Technology * High interest in technology and in particular enjoys the trade of welding * Knowledge of Spanish and/or German a plus * Strong ...

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 ...

Experience in the field and/or Welding Engineering Technology * High interest in technology and in particular enjoys the trade of welding * Knowledge of Spanish and/or German a plus * Strong ...

Sr. Weld Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$125K - $170K/yr

Required Qualifications and Skills * BS in Welding Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related discipline. * 5+ years of experience with welding materials and processes ...

Sr. Weld Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$125 - $150/hr

Required Qualifications and Skills * BS in Welding Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related discipline. * 5+ years of experience with welding materials and processes ...

Welding Engineer

Burbank, CA · On-site

$120K/yr

Acts as Solver on welding problem for foreman. * Issues Technical Reports and Process ... Develop or identify, then recommend improvements in engineering design methods, engineering, and ...

Welding Engineer

Burbank, CA · On-site

$120K/yr

Acts as Solver on welding problem for foreman. * Issues Technical Reports and Process ... Develop or identify, then recommend improvements in engineering design methods, engineering, and ...

Showing results 41-60

Welding Engineering information

See California salary details

$24

$41

$56

How much do welding engineering jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 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.

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.

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 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.

Are welding engineers in demand?

Welding engineers are in demand due to their expertise in designing and overseeing welding processes in industries such as manufacturing, construction, and energy. Their skills in quality control, safety standards, and certifications like AWS are highly valued, and employment opportunities are expected to grow with infrastructure and industrial development.

What does a welding engineering do?

A welding engineer designs, develops, and oversees welding processes and procedures to ensure strong, safe, and efficient joints in manufacturing and construction. They analyze materials, select appropriate welding techniques, and often hold certifications such as AWS welding inspector or engineer. Their work involves quality control, troubleshooting, and ensuring compliance with safety standards in various industrial environments.

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:

Infographic showing various Welding Engineering job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 5% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $85,421 per year, or $41.1 per hour.

Principal Welding Engineer

Impulse Space

Redondo Beach, CA

$37.75 - $52.25/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 28 days ago


Job description

As a Principal Weld Engineer at Impulse you will help develop, qualify and optimize welding designs and processes with both laser beam, gas tungsten arc welding, friction stir welding, and orbital tube welding. This role will integral to performing weld developments on Helios' main structural tank, Deneb's thrust chamber and preburner assemblies, and valve components across all of our vehicles. 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.
Helios is Impulse's new vehicle, a 3rd stage/kick stage. Launching in 2027, it is designed to take satellites & payloads to GEO for 1/3rd of today's current cost. Deneb is Impulse's 15k lb thrust lox methane staged combustion engine.
  • Develop, optimize, and qualify weld processes and parameters for multiple welding processes including but not limited to: laser beam welding, friction stir welding, gas tungsten arc welding, orbital tube welding.
  • Work closely with design, tooling, automation, and development engineers to improve welded designs for manufacturing
  • Develop and implement improved process control where possible using test and NDE results as feedback loop
  • 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 on-site manufacturing and development of Helios tank, Deneb engine weldments, and Mira components.
  • 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
  • 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 design, manufacturing, and materials engineering with root cause analysis
  • 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 welding engineering or related technical program
  • 8+ years' of demonstrated hands-on welding experience of aluminum, nickel-based, stainless steel, titanium, and copper alloys.
  • 8+ years' of demonstrated experience with brazing, joining, and metallographic interpretation
  • Fundamental understanding of welding processes including, but not limited to, laser beam, friction stir, gas tungsten arc, gas metal arc, electron beam, plasma arc, and resistance welding
  • 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, driven and high attention to detail

Additional Information:
Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.

Impulse Space's spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here.  
Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space 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.