Welding Engineer

Saronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance maritime operations through autonomous and intelligent platforms. We are seeking a Certified Welding Engineer (CWE) with strong experience in aluminum shipbuilding and mixed-alloy marine systems to support our Gulf Coast shipyard operations. This role will oversee welding engineering activities across our production lines, including aluminum hulls and superstructures, aluminum piping, copper-nickel piping, carbon steel, and stainless steel fabrication. The Welding Engineer is essential in ensuring robust welding processes and facilitating the scaling of welding processes and equipment. This role is responsible for researching, validating, and integrating new and advanced welding equipment and processes seamlessly into the shipyard’s capabilities, supporting the transition from low-rate to high-volume production, and spearheading the adoption of new automated welding assets and software enhancements. Welding Engineers at Saronic-Franklin are expected to have the knowledge, skill, and ability to accomplish the below: KEY RESPONSIBILITIES · Develop and qualify WPS/PQRs for aluminum (5xxx/6xxx series), CuNi piping, carbon steel, and stainless steel applications · Provide hands-on technical support to production teams working with GMAW (MIG), FCAW, GTAW (TIG), and SMAW processes · Oversee welding of marine piping systems, including copper-nickel (CuNi 90/10, 70/30), ensuring corrosion resistance and proper procedures · Address distortion control and heat input challenges specific to aluminum structures · Support inspection and QA teams with weld acceptance criteria and NDT methods (UT, RT, MT, PT) · Troubleshoot weld discontinuities across dissimilar metals and varied environments · Coordinate with engineering, planning, and production to improve weld efficiency and reduce rework · Maintain documentation for ABS/classification society and customer audits · Train and mentor welders on aluminum techniques, cleanliness standards, and alloy-specific procedures TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE · Can develop technical reports in support of management presentation, procurement decisions, process improvement, research and development and preventive maintenance investigations · Ability to operate or learn how to operate welding equipment, including the latest automation technology · Ability to train others on how to use welding equipment. · Understands welding equipment maintenance requirements and can develop a maintenance plan in conjunction with production engineering team. · Can identify emerging needs on the manufacturing floor re: welding · Can identify weak/strong spots in welding equipment and personnel and work with production engineering team to increase efficiency. · Ensure strict adherence to paperwork and requirements for quality and compliance · Can work directly with software engineering team on buildout of shipyard/production management system · Read, interpret, and follow blueprints and sketches to understand the specifications of a project · Ability to categorize and quantify weld defects · Proficiency with applicable codes and standards (e.g., AWS D1.2 for aluminum, AWS D1.1 for steel, ASME Section IX, ABS rules) JOB PROFICIENCY · Updates and develops PQR’s, WPS’s, techniques, training programs, and the application of welding equipment · Establishes welding procedures to guide production and welding personnel relating to specification restrictions, material processes, and pre- and post-heating requirements · Ensures that the welding processes and sequences are documented in the building method and the welding teams are following the description · Conducts research and development for continuous improvement · Understands and implements applicable QA processes in accordance with the Quality Policy · Checks the effectiveness of our welding equipment, welding consumables, and recommends alternative selection