Full-Time

Welding Engineer

Posted on 5/22/2026

Challenge Manufacturing

Challenge Manufacturing

1,001-5,000 employees

High-speed automotive stamping, welding, and assembly

No salary listed

Westlake, TX, USA

In Person

Category
Mechanical Engineering (1)
Requirements
  • Bachelor of Science in Welding Engineering or equivalent understanding of resistance welding and arc welding principals and standards, as well as mechanical engineering
  • 1-3 years’ experience in a welding manufacturing environment, automotive experience preferred
  • Welding experience in resistance spot welding (RSW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and diffusion welding (DAW) on a variety of low carbon and high strength steels
  • Robotic welding experience, ABB and Fanuc preferred
  • Destructive testing experience (setting up the process and training others) for RSW, DAW and GMAW
  • 5+ years’ RSW, GMAW and DAW experience in welding manufacturing in the automotive industry preferred
  • Developing and troubleshooting GMAW and RSW on different grades of steel and aluminum preferred
  • Experience setting up and training with Tessonics RSWA devices or other ultrasonic testing devices preferred
  • Training inexperienced people with destructive and nondestructive testing methods preferred
  • Developing and writing work instructions as they pertain to different welding and inspection operations preferred
  • Excellent planning, organizational, written and verbal communication skills with MS Office proficiency preferred
  • Is thorough, accurate, and reliable when performing and completing job tasks; demonstrates honesty and integrity in all aspects of work
  • Takes positive action to objectively resolve conflict by listening, staying focused on issue to find resolution, and monitoring progress
  • Works with sense of urgency to meet needs of customers
  • Has necessary experience, skills, and knowledge to perform all aspects of job; rotates through all job responsibilities
  • Maintains knowledge and skills to perform job effectively
  • Has ability to focus on benefits of change and see it as positive; approaches change or newness in constructive/objective manner; views change as learning opportunity
  • Looks for good in others; works collaboratively with others; shares information and knowledge
  • Is at work when scheduled and ensures coverage when absent; takes timely breaks/lunches; uses time wisely
Responsibilities
  • Maintain existing welding process to Challenge Manufacturing standards
  • Reduce costs through continuous improvement activities that improve safety, quality and productivity
  • Define recommended welding spare parts
  • Develop and maintain weld parameter/ setup sheets
  • Support and lead new line launch verification projects
  • Work with Maintenance and destruct staff to maintain and improve weld quality
  • Implement and test and monitor products from time to time in production equipment
  • Support in driving standardization across the following joining processes in manufacturing: GMAW, DAW, RSW, SPR, FDS
  • Developing training documentation on the above joining processes in relationship to quality requirements of the customer
  • Trouble shoot welding (GMAW, RSW, and DAW) issue on production tooling
  • Develop welding schedules for (GMAW, RSW and DAW) on ferrous and nonferrous material
  • Participate in design reviews for upcoming new projects
  • Interface with new equipment vendors and customers (internal and external)
Desired Qualifications
  • Developing and writing work instructions as they pertain to different welding and inspection operations preferred
  • Experience setting up and training with Tessonics RSWA devices or other UT devices preferred
  • Training inexperienced people with destructive and nondestructive testing methods preferred
  • Excellent planning, organizational, written and verbal communication skills with MS Office proficiency preferred
Challenge Manufacturing

Challenge Manufacturing

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Challenge Manufacturing specializes in high-speed progressive stamping, high-tonnage transfer, automated assembly, and multiple welding methods (resistance, projection, MIG, drawn arc stud welding) to produce automotive structures for Tier 1 suppliers. Its processes turn raw metal into precise, high-quality assemblies through automated lines with about 1,500 industrial robots across 12 locations, enabling fast production and high consistency. The company differentiates itself by its large, employee-owned ESOP model that aligns worker incentives with company success, a global footprint, and a culture built on Safety, Ownership, and Teamwork, alongside its scale and focus on automotive structures. The goal is to be the best global supplier of automotive structures while delivering value to its employee-owners.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

Debt Financing

Total Funding

$100M

Headquarters

Walker, Michigan

Founded

1981

Your Connections

People at Challenge Manufacturing who can refer or advise you

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • EV production reaching 35% of global sales by 2030 drives lightweight assembly demand.
  • Nearshoring trends increase North American OEM capacity 15-20% through 2027, favoring Challenge.
  • Tier 1 supplier consolidation creates M&A opportunities for employee-owned companies to scale.

What critics are saying

  • EV transition reduces stamped metal component demand; integrated battery housings favor composites.
  • Chinese suppliers undercut pricing; Challenge's Michigan cost structure cannot compete.
  • Top 3 OEM customers represent 60-75% revenue; 20% production drop loses 15-25% revenue.

What makes Challenge Manufacturing unique

  • 1,500+ industrial robots with AI-driven predictive maintenance reduce downtime 25-30%.
  • Employee-owned ESOP structure aligns workforce incentives with long-term operational excellence.
  • Specialized welding expertise positions Challenge for emerging EV battery enclosure demand.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

Short-Term Disability

Basic Life

Voluntary Life

LTD

401(k) Company Match

Tuition Reimbursement

Referral Bonus Program

Challenge Incentive Program

Paid Time Off

ESOP shares

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

-4%

1 year growth

-4%

2 year growth

-4%
Business Wire
Oct 17th, 2023
WhiteHawk Capital Partners Provides Senior Term Loan Facility to Challenge Manufacturing

WhiteHawk Capital Partners, LP announced it has entered into an agreement with Challenge Mfg. Company, LLC to provide a senior term loan facility.

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