Welding Engineer
Valstad
Welding Engineer
Valstad
AI-powered shipbuilding using robotics and automation
Valstad is building the machine that builds the ships.
We combine industrial robotics, welding, sensing, and AI to turn 3D models into real high-mix ship structure. Our mission is to rapidly expand America's maritime output by 100x.
Our team works directly with large industrial robots and real manufacturing equipment at our Austin facility. The systems we build will ultimately be deployed across shipyards and industrial facilities throughout the country.
Valstad is seeking a Welding Engineer to own welding-process development, manufacturing quality, and nondestructive testing for robotic steel fabrication.
You will develop and qualify welding procedures, improve robotic welding performance, investigate defects, and establish the inspection systems required for production.
Develop and qualify welding procedures for structural steel fabrication.
Define process windows, parameters, consumables, and acceptance criteria.
Partner with robotics and automation engineers to improve robotic welding.
Investigate defects and lead root-cause and corrective-action efforts.
Perform or oversee VT, MT, and other applicable NDT methods.
Maintain welding, inspection, calibration, and qualification records.
Develop production inspection plans and quality-control processes.
Support customer, classification, and program-specific requirements.
5+ years of welding-engineering or welding-quality experience.
Strong knowledge of GMAW and structural-steel fabrication.
Experience developing WPSs, PQRs, and qualification programs.
Current or previous Level II qualification in VT and MT under a recognized written practice.
Experience investigating weld defects and production variation.
Ability to work directly with robotic systems and manufacturing teams.
AWS CWI and Level II UT experience are strongly preferred. PAUT, automated NDT, shipbuilding, and heavy-fabrication experience are valuable.
Valstad designs and builds ships for commercial and defense clients by combining artificial intelligence, robotics, and software with cross-disciplinary expertise from marine, automotive, and aerospace industries. Its production system uses AI-driven manufacturing processes and robotic automation to plan, fabricate, and assemble vessels, aiming to raise efficiency and reduce the cost of US-made ships, especially as the shipbuilding workforce ages. What sets Valstad apart is its integrated approach that fuses multiple engineering disciplines with automation to modernize the fabrication line, offering a pathway to more predictable costs and timelines for naval and commercial vessels. The company’s goal is to make U.S.-built ships more affordable and accessible while advancing naval technology and domestic maritime capability.
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