Certified Welding Inspector (AWS-CWI certified with UT Sheer Wave Level II)

Job Type: Full-Time
Shift: Day Shift
Location: Midland, Texas-Relocation Package Available
Compensation: 120,000-150,000
Benefits: After 3 months

Position Summary

AXE Steel and AXE Energy Services are seeking an experienced Welding Supervisor and Certified Welding Inspector to oversee welding, fabrication, inspection, and quality-control operations for ASME pressure vessel and AISC structural steel projects.

This position is responsible for managing welding personnel, coordinating shop production, performing weld inspections, verifying compliance with approved drawings and procedures, and ensuring all work meets applicable ASME, AWS, AISC, customer, and company quality requirements.

The ideal candidate will possess a current AWS Certified Welding Inspector certification and Ultrasonic Testing certification. The Welding Supervisor must have hands-on experience with welding, fabrication, blueprint reading, weld symbols, welding procedures, inspection documentation, production scheduling, and employee supervision.

Experience working under an ASME Quality Control Program, AISC Certification Program, AWS D1.1, and applicable pressure vessel codes is strongly preferred.

Duties and ResponsibilitiesWelding and Production Supervision

• Manage daily welding, fitting, fabrication, grinding, and assembly operations.
• Plan and coordinate welding department activities based on production schedules, project priorities, manpower, equipment capacity, and delivery requirements.
• Assign work to welders, fitters, grinders, machine operators, and area leads.
• Monitor welding productivity, labor hours, material usage, rework, and scheduled completion dates.
• Ensure welding personnel are working within the limits of their qualifications.
• Verify that welders are using the correct welding procedure specification for each assigned weld.
• Coordinate workflow between fitting, welding, grinding, blasting, machining, assembly, inspection, painting, and shipping.
• Identify production bottlenecks, manpower shortages, material issues, drawing conflicts, inspection delays, and equipment limitations.
• Determine when overtime or additional manpower is necessary based on production demands.
• Provide accurate job-status updates during weekly production meetings.
• Communicate regularly with upper management regarding production risks, delays, staffing needs, quality concerns, and corrective actions.

ASME Pressure Vessel Responsibilities

• Supervise welding and fabrication activities performed under AXE Energy Services’ ASME Quality Control Program.
• Ensure ASME pressure vessel and repair work is performed in accordance with approved drawings, specifications, procedures, and applicable code requirements.
• Verify that required materials have proper identification, documentation, and material traceability.
• Confirm that weld joint preparation, fit-up, preheat, interpass temperature, welding process, filler metal, and final weld profile comply with approved procedures.
• Coordinate inspection hold points with Quality Control, Authorized Inspectors, customers, and third-party inspectors.
• Ensure welding procedure specifications, procedure qualification records, and welder performance qualifications are current and applicable.
• Assist with documentation required for ASME U Stamp and National Board R Stamp work.
• Support pressure vessel fabrication, alteration, repair, nozzle replacement, shell repair, weld buildup, flush patch installation, and related pressure-retaining work.
• Verify that required nondestructive examination is completed and accepted before work proceeds to the next production stage.
• Maintain separation between production responsibilities and final Quality Control acceptance where required by the ASME Quality Control Program.

AISC Structural Steel Responsibilities

• Supervise structural steel fabrication in accordance with approved shop drawings, project specifications, AWS D1.1, and the AXE Steel AISC Quality Management System.
• Ensure structural members are fabricated to the correct dimensions, tolerances, camber, hole locations, weld requirements, and piece-mark identification.
• Review shop drawings, erection drawings, welding symbols, connection details, material grades, and fabrication notes.
• Verify that structural welding is completed using approved welding procedures and qualified welders.
• Monitor material traceability from receiving through fabrication and shipping.
• Ensure fabricated members are properly identified and match approved drawings and bill-of-material requirements.
• Assist with AISC internal audits, management reviews, corrective actions, nonconformance reports, and certification audits.
• Support compliance with AISC 207, AWS D1.1, contract specifications, and company procedures.
• Coordinate inspections for structural welds, bolted connections, dimensional requirements, and finished fabricated members.
• Ensure nonconforming work is properly identified, documented, segregated, repaired, and reinspected.

Certified Welding Inspection

• Perform visual inspections of weld fit-up, joint preparation, root openings, alignment, weld size, weld length, weld profile, undercut, porosity, overlap, cracks, arc strikes, and other discontinuities.
• Inspect welds before, during, and after welding.
• Verify welding consumables, electrodes, filler metals, shielding gases, and storage conditions.
• Verify welding-machine settings and essential variables when required.
• Confirm compliance with approved welding procedure specifications.
• Review welder qualification records and verify that welders are qualified for the applicable process, position, material, thickness, and joint configuration.
• Interpret welding symbols, drawings, procedures, specifications, and acceptance criteria.
• Document inspection results and maintain accurate inspection records.
• Prepare and manage weld maps, inspection reports, repair logs, welder continuity records, and nondestructive examination records.
• Identify weld defects and determine whether welds meet applicable acceptance criteria.
• Coordinate weld repairs and verify repaired welds are properly reinspected.
• Communicate quality concerns to management, production personnel, customers, engineers, and third-party inspectors.

Ultrasonic Testing and Nondestructive Examination

• Perform or oversee ultrasonic testing of welds and base materials when qualified and authorized.
• Evaluate ultrasonic test results in accordance with applicable procedures, codes, specifications, and acceptance criteria.
• Verify UT equipment calibration, reference standards, scanning techniques, and examination coverage.
• Prepare accurate UT reports identifying weld locations, indications, evaluation results, and acceptance status.
• Coordinate additional nondestructive testing, including magnetic particle testing, liquid penetrant testing, radiographic testing, and visual testing, as required.
• Ensure NDT personnel are properly qualified and certified in accordance with the employer’s written practice.
• Maintain NDT certification records, procedure approvals, calibration records, and examination reports.
• Ensure unacceptable indications are properly documented, repaired, and reexamined.
• Communicate NDT findings promptly to Quality Control and production management.

Quality Control and Documentation

• Review fabrication drawings for dimensional and welding compliance.
• Inspect finished products from welding and grinding departments to ensure quality standards are met.
• Verify completed work meets ASME, AWS, AISC, customer, engineering, and company requirements.
• Work closely with the Quality Control Manager and Authorized Inspector on pressure-retaining work.
• Assist in creating and maintaining inspection and test plans.
• Maintain inspection reports, material test reports, welder qualification records, welding procedures, NDT reports, calibration records, and nonconformance documentation.
• Assist with internal audits and third-party audits.
• Identify recurring quality issues and recommend corrective or preventive actions.
• Participate in root-cause investigations involving weld defects, fabrication errors, dimensional issues, and rework.
• Ensure measuring, inspection, and testing equipment is properly calibrated and controlled.
• Stop production when work does not comply with applicable quality or safety requirements.

Employee Leadership and Development

• Establish clear performance expectations for welders, fitters, grinders, and production personnel.
• Provide employees with the tools, drawings, procedures, materials, and training required to perform their work.
• Monitor employee productivity, workmanship, attendance, safety, and conduct.
• Coach and counsel employees regarding performance or behavioral concerns.
• Develop and implement employee improvement plans when necessary.
• Train employees on welding procedures, fit-up requirements, weld quality, drawing interpretation, material identification, and safety.
• Conduct interviews and skills evaluations for welding, fitting, grinding, blasting, forming, machine operating, and assembly positions.
• Administer or assist with welding qualification tests.
• Make reasonable and defensible hiring recommendations based on experience, certifications, welding-test results, attitude, reliability, and job requirements.
• Promote accountability, teamwork, communication, and continuous improvement throughout the shop.

Safety and Shop Management

• Maintain a safe, clean, and organized work environment.
• Enforce company safety policies, welding safety requirements, equipment procedures, and personal protective equipment requirements.
• Ensure employees safely operate welding machines, cranes, forklifts, grinders, positioners, cutting equipment, and fabrication machinery.
• Monitor proper storage and handling of compressed gases, welding consumables, and hazardous materials.
• Coordinate with receiving and purchasing to ensure materials, welding consumables, gases, tools, and parts are available when required.
• Manage inventory within assigned areas and verify correct material identification and quantities.
• Perform additional related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Current AWS Certified Welding Inspector certification.
• Current Ultrasonic Testing Level II certification.
• Certifications must be verifiable and in good standing.
• Multiple years of welding supervision, welding inspection, or production-management experience.
• Experience in ASME pressure vessel fabrication, repair, or alteration.
• Experience in AISC structural steel fabrication.
• Strong MIG and flux-cored arc welding experience.
• Ability to pass the company welding test when required.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, shop drawings, welding symbols, engineering drawings, specifications, and work instructions.
• Strong knowledge of weld inspection methods and weld acceptance criteria.
• Experience with welding procedure specifications, procedure qualification records, and welder performance qualifications.
• Experience planning production, prioritizing work, and assigning manpower.
• Experience identifying welding and fabrication defects.
• Ability to prepare clear and accurate inspection and production documentation.
• Ability to communicate effectively with welders, supervisors, project managers, engineers, customers, Authorized Inspectors, and third-party inspectors.
• Strong leadership, organization, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to effectively coach and counsel employees regarding performance and behavioral issues.
• Strong attendance and punctuality history.
• Valid driver’s license.

Required Certifications

• AWS Certified Welding Inspector.
• Ultrasonic Testing Level II.
• Documented certification through an employer-based written practice or recognized certification program.
• Current vision examination meeting applicable NDT certification requirements.

Preferred Certifications and Qualifications

• ASNT Level II or ASNT Level III certification.
• Ultrasonic Testing Level III certification.
• Magnetic Particle Testing Level II.
• Liquid Penetrant Testing Level II.
• Visual Testing Level II.
• Certified Welding Educator.
• AWS D1.1 structural steel inspection experience.
• ASME Section IX experience.
• ASME Section VIII pressure vessel experience.
• National Board Inspection Code repair experience.
• Experience working under an ASME U Stamp and National Board R Stamp program.
• Experience with AISC 207 certification requirements.
• Experience with AISC Certified Fabricator audits.
• Structural steel fabrication experience.
• Pressure vessel fabrication and repair experience.
• Experience with automated welding, beam-processing equipment, plate-processing equipment, CNC machinery, and welding positioners.
• Experience using production-management, quality-control, or fabrication-tracking software.

Code and Standard Knowledge

The successful candidate should have working knowledge of the following, as applicable:

• ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.
• ASME Section VIII.
• ASME Section IX.
• National Board Inspection Code.
• AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code—Steel.
• AISC 207 Certification Standard.
• AISC structural steel fabrication requirements.
• Project specifications and customer quality requirements.
• Employer-based NDT written practices.
• Applicable OSHA and company safety requirements.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Ability to lift approximately 20 to 50 pounds occasionally.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Frequent bending, reaching, climbing, crouching, and stooping.
• Ability to access ladders, platforms, vessels, and fabricated structures as required.
• Ability to work inside pressure vessels or confined spaces when properly trained and authorized.
• Ability to work in a non-air-conditioned manufacturing environment.
• Regular exposure to welding noise, dust, fumes, airborne particles, sparks, heat, and moving equipment.
• Must wear required personal protective equipment.
• Must complete required company safety training.
• Must be able to safely work around cranes, forklifts, welding equipment, pressure vessels, structural steel, and fabrication machinery.

Desired Characteristics

• Demonstrated ability to lead and hold employees accountable.
• Strong commitment to welding quality and code compliance.
• Makes informed decisions using drawings, procedures, inspection results, codes, and available production data.
• Requires minimal supervision to complete work and meet deadlines.
• Takes ownership of department performance, quality, safety, and production results.
• Proactively identifies problems and recommends practical solutions.
• Maintains professional communication during production or quality disputes.
• Works well with management, project managers, Quality Control, engineering, production employees, and third-party inspectors.
• Consistently strives to exceed safety, quality, productivity, and schedule expectations.

Experience

Applicants should have demonstrated experience in the following areas:

• ASME pressure vessel fabrication or repair.
• AISC structural steel fabrication.
• Certified welding inspection.
• Ultrasonic testing.
• MIG welding.
• Flux-cored arc welding.
• Blueprint and shop-drawing interpretation.
• Welding procedure and welder qualification review.
• Weld inspection and documentation.
• Production supervision.
• Employee management.
• Manufacturing and metal fabrication.
• Production planning and scheduling.

AXE Steel and AXE Energy Services are equal-opportunity employers. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, certifications, experience, performance, and the requirements of the position.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $120,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Relocation assistance

Shift:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift

Experience:

• Welding : 3 years (Required)
• MIG welding: 2 years (Required)

License/Certification:

• Certified Welding Inspector (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Midland, TX 79706 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Midland, TX 79706: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person