Weld Manufacturing Engineer
As a Welding Manufacturing Engineer, you will play a critical role in enabling rapid development, fabrication, and integration of advanced hardware across our R&D and prototype manufacturing environments. You’ll be responsible for developing weld processes, fixtures, and joint designs that bridge early design concepts to flight-ready hardware. This position is hands-on and deeply cross-functional, working directly with design, manufacturing, and test teams to bring complex systems from concept to reality.
Responsibilities
- Develop, qualify, and optimize weld processes and parameters for multiple techniques including, but not limited to, electron beam, laser beam, gas tungsten arc, gas metal arc, plasma arc, resistance, friction-stir, and orbital tube welding.
- Support R&D and production builds of welded aircraft structures, tanks, and propulsion assemblies, providing direct guidance to technicians and manufacturing engineers.
- Collaborate with design and manufacturing engineering to drive weld joint design, fixture development, and assembly methods optimized for manufacturability, precision, and repeatability.
- Lead root cause investigations related to weld performance, material compatibility, and process deviations; implement corrective actions based on metallurgical and mechanical findings.
- Plan and execute weld qualification campaigns, including mechanical testing, NDE inspection, and data interpretation.
- Partner with NDE specialists to evaluate weld quality and develop advanced inspection techniques tailored for high-performance aircraft applications.
- Implement process control improvements using feedback from weld tests, NDE, and production data to increase reliability and consistency.
- Identify and integrate automated or robotic welding solutions to improve throughput, consistency, and quality.
- Research and evaluate emerging welding technologies and materials for potential application in hypersonic vehicle manufacturing.
- Collaborate closely with tooling, automation, and integration teams to develop solutions that minimize distortion, improve accuracy, and accelerate production timelines.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or other related technical discipline.
- Hands-on fabrication, manufacturing, or testing experience with structural aerospace assemblies.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, the person in this role is primarily focused on execution.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Degree in Welding Engineering or related technical field.
- Hands-on welding experience with nickel-based alloys, stainless steel, titanium, copper, and aluminum.
- Understanding of weld design principles and mechanical tolerances under thermal and structural loads.
- Experience with brazing, joining, and metallographic interpretation.
- 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.
Physical Requirements
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Frequent walking through office, manufacturing, and test facility environments.
Hardware pay context
Based on 2,423 disclosed Hardware salaries on RoleSuite, the role pays a median of $136K/year, with most offers between $109K and $171K (10th–90th percentile: $91K–$206K).
This posting lists $100K–$180K, in line with the $136K market median.
See the full Hardware salary breakdown →