Welding Quality Assurance Inspector II

A day in the life

You start your shift on the production floor of a heavy manufacturing shop, walking the line before the first arc strikes. You verify fit-up and alignment, check root gaps, confirm the correct WPS is posted, and compare details against the latest drawings. As welding progresses, you move station to station, performing in-process checks and capturing measurements with gauges, calipers, and micrometers. You flag discontinuities, document findings, and collaborate with fabricators to correct issues in real time. Before anything ships, you complete final visual inspections and, when needed, support or perform NDT (MT, PT, UT). Throughout the day, you keep meticulous records and contribute ideas that make the shop safer, faster, and more consistent.

What you’ll do

• Execute thorough visual inspections of welds and fabricated assemblies
• Assess fit-up and alignment prior to welding; verify work against WPS and drawings
• Conduct in-process and final inspections to ensure product quality
• Use measurement tools (gauges, calipers, micrometers) to validate dimensions and tolerances
• Identify, document, and communicate weld defects and quality concerns
• Support or perform nondestructive testing activities (MT, PT, UT)
• Partner closely with production teams to resolve quality issues at the source
• Complete inspection reports and maintain accurate quality documentation
• Drive continuous improvement and strengthen shop-wide quality initiatives

Who thrives here

This QA Technician II role is ideal for professionals grounded in welding, fabrication, machining, or industrial manufacturing who want to advance toward pressure pipe work and code-governed applications.

Qualifications

• Hands-on background in welding, fabrication, machining, or heavy manufacturing
• Experience inspecting welds or manufactured components
• Ability to read blueprints and interpret weld symbols
• Familiarity with WPS, inspection workflows, and general shop QA practices
• Comfort working in fast-paced production environments
• Exposure to AWS, ASME, AWWA, or comparable codes is a plus
• AWS CWI/CAWI or equivalent experience preferred

Preferred qualifications

• 2+ years in QA, QC, or production within pipe manufacturing, precast concrete, or a related industry
• Practical experience in at least one area: concrete/civil, coatings, welding, or NDE/NDT
• Level I certification or equivalent in at least one discipline; Level II or equivalent strongly preferred — ACI Field Test Technician; AWS CWI or CAWI; NDE/NDT MT, PT, RT, UT, or VT (ASNT SNT-TC-1A or NAS 410); NACE/AMPP Coating Inspector; or API 510, 570, or 577
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel
• Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus

Core strengths

• Quality inspection expertise
• Knowledge of production welding setups
• Blueprint reading and interpretation

Tools and processes you may encounter

• MIG (GMAW)
• TIG (GTAW)
• Stick (SMAW)
• Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)