Lead Welding Engineer – Robotic Systems & Process Qualification
Up to $110,000/yr • Pewaukee, WI Area • 1st Shift / Mon-Fri • Full-Time / Direct Hire
- Compensation & Earnings: Baseline starting salary up to $110,000/yr (scaling directly with welding engineering and process leadership depth), 401(k) retirement match, full corporate health/dental/vision/life benefits, and short-term disability.
- Role & Impact: Supervisor-level technical authority serving as the primary lead for weld process development, WPS qualification, quality compliance, and technical mentorship of Robotic Welding Technicians.
- Company Culture & Stability: Direct-hire seat with a premier, family-owned custom automation integrator known for leading-edge technology, dedicated R&D, continuous project variety, and strong employee stability.
- Core Technical Scope: Weld procedure specifications (WPS/PQR), root cause defect analysis, process selection (GMAW, GTAW, robotic arc, laser), code compliance (AWS D1.1, ASME Section IX), and robotic cell layout collaboration.
- Strict Requirements: U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency (Green Card); Bachelor’s degree in Welding Engineering or Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent hands-on experience); 5–8+ years of progressive welding engineering experience; local Pewaukee commute.
If you are an experienced Welding Engineer who combines deep hands-on process mastery with a passion for guiding technical teams, this supervisor-level position with an industry-leading custom systems integrator offers an ideal career move. Operating as a true technical authority, you will serve as the primary expert on weld process development, quality standards, and defect troubleshooting across complex, one-of-a-kind automation projects. You will mentor Robotic Welding Technicians, review robot weld paths, qualify welding procedure specifications (WPS), and collaborate directly with engineering and quality teams to ensure all builds meet strict customer and code requirements.
What You Will Be Doing (Daily Responsibilities)
- Technical Leadership & Mentoring: Act as the technical lead for Robotic Welding Technicians, providing hands-on troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and review of complex robot weld programs and parameters.
- Process & Procedure Development: Develop, document, and qualify Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS) and parameters for new materials, joint configurations, and automated processes.
- Process Selection & Tooling Review: Select optimal welding processes (GMAW, GTAW, robotic arc, laser welding) and partner with design engineers to evaluate fixtures and cell layouts for part access and repeatability.
- Quality & Code Compliance: Investigate nonconformances, implement corrective actions, and ensure full compliance with applicable codes (AWS D1.1, ASME Section IX) and defense-adjacent customer specs.
- Project & Quoting Support: Provide technical input on project estimating regarding weld process feasibility, cycle times, and equipment requirements.
- Integration & Commissioning: Support new equipment integration, robot commissioning, and process validation, traveling occasionally to client facilities for startup support.
What We Are Looking For (Requirements & Qualifications)
- Progressive Industry Experience: 5 to 8+ years of experience in welding engineering, weld process development, or robotic welding technical leadership.
- Welding Processes: Deep technical capability in GMAW/MIG, GTAW/TIG, robotic arc welding, laser welding, and metallurgy dynamics.
- Procedure Qualification Depth: Verifiable track record developing, qualifying, and documenting welding procedures (WPS/PQR) and resolving complex weld defects in an active production or automation environment.
- Welding Code Familiarity: Practical knowledge of industry welding codes, specifically AWS D1.1 and ASME Section IX standards.
- Location & Authorization: U.S. Citizenship or Green Card holder residing within a comfortable daily commuting distance of the Pewaukee, WI area.
Preferred Technical Assets (Bonus Skills)
- Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in Welding Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline.
- Industry Certifications: AWS Certified Welding Engineer (CWEng), Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), or Certified Welding Supervisor (CWS).
- Robotics & Offline Programming: Experience with industrial robotic welding systems (FANUC, ABB) and offline simulation programming software.