ENGINEER - RESEARCH ENGINEER - Welding & Fabrication

Who We Are: The Fabrication Shop Section provides engineered fabrication services for commercial and government customers. We fabricate precision machined components and welded joint assemblies to the most stringent of requirements. We service all technical areas of Southwest Research Institute and are involved in a large cross section of the total of SwRI's and commissioned pressure vessels of various types for land-based, subsea, manned, and unmanned purposes.

The Mechanical Fabrication Center executes projects that cover every aspect of SwRI’s slogan “from deep sea to deep space." Objectives of this Role: Apply principles, theories and concepts to welding and fabrication execution, leading project fabrication efforts by translating design intent into qualified, repeatable welding processes for large pressure vessels and structural assemblies. Assist in leading fabrication efforts involving complex or critical welds with internal teams and external customers including weld qualification and risk mitigation.

Provide advanced technical expertise and procedural oversight for welding and fabrication tasks, ensuring execution of critical project requirements and compliance with industry codes. Assist in the skill development of technical staff through hands-on training, practical demonstrations, and process improvement recommendations on assigned projects. Work to maintain and improve welding procedures in accordance with AWS and ASME standards, addressing project-specific applications with attention to quality and repeatability.

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities: Work to ensure proper welding and fabrication processes are followed through site inspections and procedure evaluations. Assist in the support the design and application of weld procedures to optimize for prescribed project needs. Support collaboration between team members and support the implementation of existing training programs for welders, ensuring adherence to best practices.

Assist with the development, qualification, and maintenance of welding procedures supporting specific project needs, making recommendations for process adjustments based on observed performance. Assist in the preparation and technical review of fabrication project proposals, ensuring feasibility and compliance with relevant standards. Conduct on-the-job training for team members and provide targeted instruction when gaps in procedural knowledge are observed.

Requirements: Requires a Bachelors degree in Welding Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials Engineering or related Engineering degree. Current Certified Welding Inspector Certification or must obtain AWS CWI Certification within first 3 years of employment. Shift work required. 0-5 years: Demonstrated ability in the development, qualification, interpretation, and application of welding procedures in accordance with AWS, ASME, and customer-specific codes and standards.

Hands-on experience across multiple welding processes and materials. 0-5 years: Ability to exercise independent technical judgment in weld process selection, acceptance criteria interpretation, and resolution of non-conformances. 0-5 years: Capability to train, mentor, and technically evaluate welders, serving as a subject matter expert rather than line supervision. Proficiency in inspection planning, CWI-level evaluation, and objective quality evidence generation, ensuring traceability and audit readiness.

Must pass a Jaeger 1 vision test and Ishihara color test to obtain Welding Inspector Certification per the American Welding Society specifications. A valid/clear driver's license is required.