ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Welding Research Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Aalo Atomics

Senior Welding Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$35.50 - $48.75/hr

You'll own process development and qualification, drive automation and cost reduction, and lead R&D ... Science, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field * 5+ years of welding ...

ITW Miller

Sr. Optical Engineer

Appleton, WI

$122K - $158K/yr

This role will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including welding engineers, manufacturing engineers, product development teams, and research scientists to develop innovative laser-based ...

SSAB

Research Engineer - Welding

Montpelier, IA · On-site

$36.50 - $50.25/hr

... research technicians and/or coop students working on welding related projects • Review and ... material science • Professional Engineer or Certified Welding Engineer (CWE) licensed welding ...

Conax Technologies

Welding Engineer

Buffalo, NY · On-site

$34.75 - $47.75/hr

Bachelor of Science degree in Welding, Metallurgical, Materials Science, Mechanical or Mechanical ... Research and development experience in welding processes and/or welding metallurgy * Technical ...

Conax

Welding Engineer

Buffalo, NY · On-site

$80K - $113K/yr

Bachelor of Science degree in Welding, Metallurgical, Materials Science, Mechanical or Mechanical ... Research and development experience in welding processes and/or welding metallurgy * Technical ...

Pae

Aerospace Welding Engineer, Senior (ES5)

Huntsville, AL · On-site

$35.25 - $48.50/hr

... Science Capability Augmentation (ESSCA) contract to the NASA MSFC Engineering Directorate. The ... Conduct research and development investigations to develop and test new welding processes and ...

The Shaw Group, LLC

Welding Engineer

Walker, LA

$32.75 - $45.25/hr

Conducts research and development investigations to develop and test new fabrication processes and ... Master's degree in Welding Engineering or Material Science and Engineering and minimum two years ...

The Shaw Group, LLC

Welding Engineer

Walker, LA

$32.75 - $45.25/hr

Conducts research and development investigations to develop and test new fabrication processes and ... Masters degree in Welding Engineering or Material Science and Engineering and minimum two years ...

The Shaw Group, LLC

Welding Engineer

Walker, LA · On-site

$32.75 - $45.25/hr

Conducts research and development investigations to develop and test new fabrication processes and ... Master's degree in Welding Engineering or Material Science and Engineering and minimum two years ...

The Shaw Group, LLC

Welding Engineer (Walker)

Walker, LA

$32.75 - $45.25/hr

Conducts research and development investigations to develop and test new fabrication processes and ... Master's degree in Welding Engineering or Material Science and Engineering and minimum two years ...

New

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsWelding Research Scientist Jobs

Welding Research Scientist information

See salary details

$50.5K

$130.1K

$174K

How much do welding research scientist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for welding research scientist in the United States is $130,117.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $107,500.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Welding Research Scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Welding Research Scientist, you need a strong background in materials science or welding engineering, typically supported by an advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) and experience in metallurgy and welding processes. Expertise in analytical tools such as electron microscopy, spectrometry, and welding simulation software, as well as familiarity with industry standards (e.g., AWS, ASME), is crucial. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication skills help in developing innovative solutions and presenting research findings. These skills and qualifications are essential for advancing welding technology, ensuring safety, and meeting industry demands through rigorous research.

What are some common challenges faced by Welding Research Scientists in developing new welding techniques?

Welding Research Scientists often encounter challenges such as ensuring the scalability of new welding techniques from the laboratory to industrial applications, maintaining high standards of safety, and meeting strict industry regulations. Additionally, they must collaborate closely with engineers, materials scientists, and manufacturing teams to validate the performance and reliability of new processes. Balancing innovation with cost-effectiveness and staying updated with rapidly evolving technologies are also key aspects of the role.

What does a Welding Research Scientist do?

A Welding Research Scientist studies and develops new welding techniques, processes, and materials to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of welded products. They conduct experiments, analyze results, and collaborate with engineers and manufacturers to solve welding-related problems. Their work may involve developing advanced materials, investigating welding defects, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. The goal is to advance welding technology for applications in industries such as construction, automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing.

What is the difference between Welding Research Scientist vs Welding Engineer?

AspectWelding Research ScientistWelding Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires a PhD or master's in materials science, welding engineering, or related fieldsBachelor's or master's in welding engineering, materials science, or mechanical engineering
Work EnvironmentResearch laboratories, academic institutions, corporate R&D centersManufacturing plants, construction sites, industrial facilities
Primary FocusDeveloping new welding materials, processes, and testing methodsApplying welding techniques to manufacturing, quality control, and project management
Industry UsageResearch institutions, academia, R&D departments of manufacturing companiesConstruction, automotive, aerospace, and industrial manufacturing sectors

In summary, Welding Research Scientists focus on developing and testing new welding technologies in research settings, often requiring advanced degrees. Welding Engineers apply existing welding processes in practical manufacturing environments, emphasizing process optimization and quality control.

More about Welding Research Scientist jobs
What cities are hiring for Welding Research Scientist jobs? Cities with the most Welding Research Scientist job openings:
What states have the most Welding Research Scientist jobs? States with the most job openings for Welding Research Scientist jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Welding Research Scientist jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Welding Research Scientist jobs are:
Welding Research Scientist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Welding Research Scientist job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, and 20% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $130,117 per year, or $62.6 per hour.

Senior Welding Engineer

Aalo Atomics

Austin, TX • On-site

$35.50 - $48.75/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 11 days ago

Job description

About Aalo Atomics
Aalo Atomics is pioneering a new era in clean energy with factory-fabricated microreactors designed to deliver affordable, scalable, and reliable nuclear power. Our mission is to make nuclear energy globally accessible, starting with the Aalo-1, a 10 MWe reactor leveraging cutting-edge safety, modularity, and efficiency. Based in Austin, TX, we're rapidly growing as we work to deploy the world's first fleet of advanced microreactors. Join us and help revolutionize energy for a sustainable future.
About the role
You'll be a founding member of our welding engineering function. You'll own process development and qualification, drive automation and cost reduction, and lead R&D into advanced welding modalities - laser beam, electron beam, and others - that unlock performance and throughput conventional arc welding can't. You'll also develop our zirconium welding capability from scratch, a rare technical challenge outside national labs.
This is a hands-on role. You'll be on the shop floor as much as at your desk.
What you'll do
Process Development & Qualification
  • Develop, qualify, and optimize GTAW, GMAW, spray MIG, and emerging processes for stainless steel pressure vessels and piping
  • Own WPS/PQR documentation to ASME Section IX, AWS D1.6, or applicable codes
  • Lead zirconium welding procedure development: inert atmosphere GTAW, shielding gas optimization, contamination control, and full mechanical qualification
  • Develop and document PWHT cycles; interpret metallurgical outcomes

Advanced Welding R&D
  • Evaluate and qualify laser beam (LBW), electron beam (EBW), plasma arc (PAW), and hybrid laser-arc processes for vessel and pressure system applications
  • Design parametric studies to characterize process windows and build qualification datasets
  • Develop solutions for difficult joint configurations - dissimilar materials, thin-wall closures, complex penetrations
  • Collaborate with vendors, equipment suppliers, and national lab partners to stay at the front edge of nuclear-relevant welding technology
  • Build internal IP and documentation to support future procedure qualifications and regulatory submittals

Automation & Cost Reduction
  • Identify and implement orbital GTAW, mechanized MIG, and robotic welding to drive consistency and reduce labor cost
  • Develop parametric programs for automated systems including seam tracking, adaptive fill, and multi-pass sequencing
  • Instrument in-process monitoring (voltage, travel speed, heat input) to enable closed-loop quality control
  • Track weld cycle times, consumable costs, and rework rates; use data to justify capital investments

Quality & Continuous Improvement
  • Partner with design engineers on joint weldability - distortion control, access, inspection compatibility
  • Work with NDE personnel (RT, PT, UT, PAUT) to interpret results and close nonconformances
  • Drive root cause analysis on weld defects using metallography, fractography, hardness, and chemical analysis
  • Build and maintain weld quality metrics; use them to focus engineering effort where it has the highest return
  • Maintain documentation infrastructure: travelers, hold points, NCRs, lessons learned

Production Support
  • Provide real-time direction to welders on the floor; troubleshoot defects and maintain build pace
  • Mentor welders on technique, procedure compliance, and quality standards
  • Support welder qualification and certification as the team scales
Qualifications
  • BS in Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
  • 5+ years of welding engineering experience including process development and qualification
  • Hands-on GTAW experience on stainless steel pressure-boundary applications
  • Working knowledge of ASME BPVC Section IX or equivalent pressure systems code
  • Comfortable on the shop floor - able to evaluate welds in progress, not just on paper
Preferred Qualifications
  • AWS CWE or CWI certification
  • Experience with LBW or EBW process development or production support
  • Experience welding zirconium, titanium, or Inconel under inert-atmosphere conditions
  • Experience deploying orbital or robotic welding in production, including program development
  • Background in weld process monitoring and correlating in-process signals to quality outcomes
  • Familiarity with nuclear QA requirements (NQA-1, 10 CFR 50 Appendix B) or equivalent regulated-industry QA (aerospace, defense)
  • Hands-on fabrication ability - picking up a torch and demonstrating technique is a plus
Why This Role
You'll develop zirconium welding procedures few U.S. engineers have touched outside national labs, qualify laser and electron beam processes for nuclear vessel applications, and build the weld program from the ground up at a company moving from prototype to production at unprecedented speed. Every improvement you make means faster builds, lower cost, and more clean energy in the world.
Candidates only, no recruiters or agencies please.

Apply