Purpose and scope
The Welding & Additive Manufacturing Manager is responsible for leading, developing, and optimizing all welding and metal additive manufacturing (AM) activities within the organization. This role oversees day-to-day operations, ensures compliance with safety and quality standards, drives continuous improvement, and supports strategic initiatives that advance the company’s welding, and production capabilities. The Welding & Additive Manufacturing Manager collaborates closely with engineering, mission assurance, manufacturing, quality, and leadership teams to deliver reliable, efficient, and innovative manufacturing solutions.
Responsibilities
Program Leadership
• Develop and execute the overall strategy for welding and metal additive manufacturing processes, equipment, personnel, and infrastructure.
• Lead long-term planning for capability growth, capital equipment, and workforce development.
• Identify opportunities for process automation, cost reduction, and workflow optimization.
Operations Management
• Oversee daily operations of welding and additive manufacturing areas, including scheduling, resource allocation, and project coordination.
• Ensure all deliverables meet production deadlines, technical requirements, and customer expectations.
• Manage maintenance, calibration, and operational readiness of welding systems, AM equipment, and supporting infrastructure.
Technical Expertise
• Serve as subject matter expert for welding processes (e.g., GTAW, GMAW) and metal AM systems (e.g.,DED, WAAM).
• Guide the development of print parameters, heat treatments, material qualification, and process validation.
• Troubleshoot technical issues involving equipment, material behavior, part distortion, deposition quality, and robot/automation errors.
Quality, Safety & Compliance
• Maintain strict adherence to safety policies, welding codes, and applicable industry standards.
• Implement and maintain quality control plans, inspection protocols, weld procedures (WPS/PQR), and AM process documentation.
• Coordinate with Mission Assurance to ensure traceability, documentation, and certification requirements are met.
Team Leadership & Development
• Supervise welders and AM technicians; provide coaching, technical training, and performance feedback.
• Establish a culture of continuous learning, safety awareness, and process ownership.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and career development pathways for skilled trades and technical staff.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Support mission assurance, engineering, and manufacturing teams with welding/AM expertise and feasibility assessments.
• Interface with suppliers, service providers, and equipment manufacturers as needed.
Documentation & Reporting
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive records of production metrics, process parameters, consumables, defects, rework rates, and equipment uptime.
• Provide regular updates to leadership on program performance, risks, and strategic needs.
• Lead root-cause analysis and corrective action efforts for process deviations or equipment failures.
Organizational Relationships
The Welding & Additive Manufacturing Manager will report to the engineering manager and has support responsibility to all departments.
Functional Competencies
• Demonstrate Cogitic core values every day - (Performance, Courage, Development, Initiative & Character)
• Ability to consistently handle and follow through with multiple projects to completion
• Embrace changes in priorities to meet customer needs, with optimism and adaptability
• Must possess strong mechanical aptitude and problem solving skills
• Must be coachable with a desire to learn and grow with the company
• Demonstrated proficiency with business software such as ERP, spreadsheets, presentations, etc.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills; requires excellent active listening behavior
• Experience presenting technical content to cross-functional teams and stakeholders
Qualifications and Experience Required
• Bachelor’s degree in Welding Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience in welding or metal additive manufacturing; 2+ years in a leadership or supervisory role.
• Strong understanding of welding codes, metallurgical principles, and metal AM technologies.
• Proven ability to manage technical teams and complex manufacturing workflows.
• Experience with robotic welding and/or robotic additive systems (ABB preferred.).
• Knowledge of NDT techniques (VT, PT, RT, MT, UT)
• Excellent communication, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to pass a background check and hold a security clearance.
• Must be a US citizen.
Preferred
• AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), Certified Welding Engineer (CWEng), or similar certification.
• Experience with DED systems, powder-bed fusion systems, or hybrid manufacturing systems.
• Background in naval, aerospace, defense, or precision fabrication environments.