Welding Engineer in Ladson, South Carolina at Keel

Built on Experience. Built for Skill. Built for You.

Keel was formed by bringing together three industry leaders combining generations of hands-on expertise in steel fabrication, shipbuilding, aerospace, and defense manufacturing.

That means when you join Keel, you’re joining a team backed by decades of proven craftsmanship and real-world results.

We build ships, defense systems, aerospace components, and heavy steel structures that serve critical missions — and we do it with pride.

Your Mission:

The Welding Engineer III is a senior technical authority responsible for leading complex welding engineering activities from concept through production. This position establishes welding strategies, leads procedure development and qualification, resolves complex welding and fabrication challenges, advances welding automation and technology, and provides technical leadership across the organization. The Welding Engineer III serves as a subject-matter expert for welding processes, codes, materials, and production applications.

Explore the Depth of the Role:

• Lead the development, qualification, implementation, and optimization of welding procedures from concept through production.
• Serve as the technical authority for complex welding engineering issues and provide direction to engineering, quality, production, and operations personnel.
• Lead and approve welding procedure development and qualification activities in accordance with applicable codes and customer requirements.
• Establish welding strategies, processes, parameters, and production requirements for complex or high-risk applications.
• Lead resolution of complex welding defects, quality issues, fabrication challenges, and production constraints.
• Direct implementation of new welding technology, automation, robotics, equipment, and processes.
• Evaluate and recommend new welding equipment, consumables, technologies, and process improvements.
• Lead initiatives to improve weld quality, productivity, throughput, cost, and manufacturing capability.
• Provide technical input to quoting, estimating, manufacturing planning, and new product/process development.
• Develop and maintain welding standards, work instructions, procedures, and technical documentation.
• Interpret customer requirements and applicable welding codes and translate them into practical manufacturing requirements.
• Mentor Welding Engineers I and II and provide technical leadership within the welding engineering function.
• Partner with Quality to establish appropriate inspection and NDE requirements and resolve welding-related nonconformances.
• Support strategic planning for welding capabilities, equipment, automation, and workforce development.
• Represent Welding Engineering in cross-functional and customer-facing technical discussions as required.
• All other related duties as assigned.

Mission Readiness:

• Bachelor’s degree in Welding Engineering, Welding Engineering Technology, or a related engineering discipline.
• 7+ years of progressively responsible welding engineering or related fabrication experience preferred.
• Extensive experience in heavy, non-automotive fabrication environments.
• Extensive experience developing, qualifying, and implementing code-compliant welding procedures.
• Advanced knowledge of welding processes, materials, metallurgy, and NDE methods.
• Significant experience with robotic welding, programming, automation, and advanced welding technologies.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting and applying welding codes, industry standards, customer specifications, and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex welding engineering projects and technical initiatives.
• Expert-level knowledge of FCAW, GMAW, SAW, SMAW, and GTAW processes.
• Extensive experience welding and developing procedures for a broad range of materials, configurations, and thicknesses.
• Expert ability to interpret and apply welding codes, specifications, drawings, blueprints, and customer requirements.
• Advanced knowledge of weld metallurgy, weldability, preheat/interpass requirements, heat input, distortion, and weld discontinuities.
• Advanced understanding of NDE processes and their application to welding and fabrication.
• Advanced knowledge of robotic welding systems, programming, automation, and process optimization.
• Ability to identify, evaluate, and implement new welding technologies and equipment.
• Ability to provide authoritative technical direction on complex welding problems and non-conformances.
• Ability to develop practical, cost-effective welding solutions while maintaining quality and code compliance.
• Recognized technical expertise and sound engineering judgment.
• Exceptional problem-solving and root-cause analysis skills.
• Strong leadership and ability to influence cross-functional teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong project-management and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex priorities and projects.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to balance technical requirements, production demands, cost, quality, and schedule.
• Demonstrated ability to drive continuous improvement and technical innovation.

Travel Requirements:

• Between facilities as needed

Physical Requirements:

• May?be?required?to?stand,?walk,?sit,?reach/pull/push?with?hands?and?arms,?climb?or?balance,?stoop?or kneel regularly.?
• May?lift?or?carry?50lbs.?Weights?exceeding?50lbs?will?require?mechanical?means?to?maneuver.?

Become a part of our Builders and you too can...

• Uphold Safety and Quality Standards
• Embody Team Spirit
• Relentless Customer Focus
• Convey Integrity, Trust, and Professionalism
• Execute with Excellence and Velocity

What Keel will build for you:

• Comprehensive Benefit Package
• Competitive Pay
• 401(k) Match
• HSA/FSA
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off
• Internal Referral Bonus Opportunities
• Shift Differentials
• Overtime Potential
• Paid on the Job Training
• Certification Sponsorship Opportunities
• Committed to Individual Career Growth
• We Do Fun Things, Plus More!

Need Assistance?

If you require a reasonable accommodation at any stage of the employment process, please email talent@keelusa.com with details about your request and your contact information. Accommodation requests are reviewed individually on a case-by-case basis. Please note that this email address is monitored only for inquiries related to reasonable accommodation requests.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans

What we build, builds us.