A Welding Engineer develops welding techniques and equipment for use in metal fabrication and product manufacturing. Researches welding techniques and engineers welding equipment and processes.
Full-Time Join a Company Built to Grow - Powered by People At Virginia Transformer , we're not just manufacturing custom transformers — we're building power solutions that move the world. As a privately held, organically growing company , we thrive on momentum, innovation, and grit. If you love the challenge of manufacturing, the strategy of an endurance race, and the energy of a fast-moving train — this is your track. We train hard, grow together, and lead with purpose. Every transformer we build is custom, every challenge unique, and every team member essential. We're looking for people ready to lead, fueled by commitment, and driven by impact. One team. One mission. One source. Position Summary Virginia Transformer is seeking a Welding Engineer to support our manufacturing operations in Roanoke, Virginia . This position will provide hands-on engineering support for welding, fabrication, and manufacturing processes used in the production of custom power transformers. The Welding Engineer will work closely with Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Quality, Production, and Maintenance to improve welding processes, standardize manufacturing methods, optimize workstation layouts, improve material and production flow, and drive productivity and quality improvements. This is a hands-on, shop-floor-focused engineering role supporting Virginia Transformer's World Class Manufacturing priorities . Key Responsibilities Develop, implement, maintain, and improve welding procedures and manufacturing processes. Create and maintain Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS) and supporting qualification documentation. Support qualification of welding procedures and welding personnel. Provide daily technical support to welding and fabrication operations. Troubleshoot weld defects, distortion, fit-up issues, cracking, porosity, penetration, and other welding-related production problems. Establish appropriate welding parameters, joint designs, filler materials, and process controls. Standardize Manufacturing Engineering (M.E.) and Industrial Engineering (I.E.) processes across welding and fabrication operations. Lead workstation redesign and layout optimization to improve ergonomics, safety, efficiency, and production performance. Analyze manufacturing processes and implement improvements that increase productivity and streamline production flow . Identify and eliminate bottlenecks, unnecessary movement, waiting time, rework, and other manufacturing waste. Develop standardized work methods and support consistent execution across shifts and work areas. Improve material, people, and product flow throughout welding and fabrication operations. Work directly with production teams to improve welding consistency, productivity, throughput, and quality. Support fabrication of transformer tanks, structural assemblies, carbon steel components, stainless steel components, and other welded assemblies . Evaluate welding equipment, tooling, fixtures, workstation design, and automation opportunities. Support robotic and automated welding processes where applicable. Perform root-cause analysis and develop corrective actions for welding and manufacturing-related quality issues. Partner with Quality Engineering to improve first-pass quality, reduce defects, and minimize rework and scrap . Assist with development of welding fixtures and manufacturing methods that improve repeatability and reduce distortion. Train and coach welders, supervisors, and production personnel on welding standards, standardized work, and manufacturing best practices. Ensure welding processes comply with applicable AWS, ASME, customer, and internal quality requirements . Drive Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and World Class Manufacturing initiatives . Support and align engineering improvements with the plant's World Class Manufacturing priorities for Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Productivity . Support new product introduction and engineering changes affecting welded assemblies. Maintain appropriate welding documentation, specifications, manufacturing standards, and process controls. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Welding Engineering, Welding Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering , or a related technical field preferred. 3+ years of welding, manufacturing, or industrial engineering experience preferred. Strong knowledge of GMAW/MIG, FCAW, GTAW/TIG, and other applicable welding processes . Experience working in a fabrication, heavy manufacturing, or Engineer-to-Order manufacturing environment strongly preferred. Knowledge of carbon steel and stainless-steel welding. Experience developing or maintaining WPS/PQR documentation . Understanding of welding metallurgy, heat input, distortion control, weld defects, and joint design. Familiarity with AWS D1.1 and applicable welding codes and standards . Experience with workstation design, plant layout, process flow, standardized work, and productivity improvement . Understanding of Lean Manufacturing, waste reduction, cycle-time improvement, and continuous improvement methodologies . Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, welding symbols, GD&T, and manufacturing specifications. Strong problem-solving and root-cause analysis skills. Ability to work directly with production employees and leadership to turn engineering improvements into measurable shop-floor results. Preferred Qualifications Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification. Certified Welding Engineer or equivalent welding certification. Experience with large welded structures, tanks, electrical equipment, transformers, heavy industrial equipment, or ETO manufacturing . Experience with robotic or automated welding systems. Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, standard work, time studies, line balancing, and process-flow optimization . Demonstrated success improving productivity, quality, throughput, workstation efficiency, and manufacturing flow . What We're Looking For The ideal candidate is not someone who wants to engineer entirely from behind a desk. We need an engineer who will go to the floor, observe the process, talk with the welder and production team, identify the problem, and implement the solution . This person should be equally comfortable solving a welding problem and evaluating the overall manufacturing process — including workstation layout, material flow, standardized work, cycle time, quality, and productivity . Success in this position means creating measurable improvements in Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Productivity while helping Virginia Transformer advance its World Class Manufacturing objectives. Virginia Transformer Corp. - One Team. One Mission. One Source. #IND3
Pay:
$60,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Referral program
Experience:
welding, manufacturing, or industrial engineering: 3 years (Required)
