Welding Operations & Quality Manager
Location: Virginia Beach, VAJob Type: Direct HireStarting Salary: $130,000/year (Higher compensation available based on experience, plus annual bonus opportunity)
Position Overview
Seeking an experienced Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) to lead welding quality, workforce development, and process improvement within a high-volume sheet metal fabrication operation.
This hands-on leadership position oversees welders, fitter/fabricators, welding leads, and supervisors while partnering with Production, Engineering, and Quality to improve weld consistency, reduce defects and rework, and maintain strong safety and quality standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee welding activities across multiple fabrication departments.
- Lead, coach, and develop welders, fitter/fabricators, welding leads, and supervisors.
- Establish and maintain Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS) and applicable AWS welding requirements.
- Improve welding performance by increasing first-pass acceptance and reducing defects, leaks, weld failures, and rework.
- Review welding processes, equipment, consumables, and production methods and implement improvements.
- Develop and manage welder qualification, onboarding, training, and skills development programs.
- Perform weld inspections and quality audits using visual inspection methods, fillet weld gauges, weld gauges, calipers, tape measures, and other inspection equipment.
- Partner with Quality and Engineering to investigate weld problems, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.
- Provide technical direction for MIG (Spray Transfer/GMAW), FCAW, and other welding processes used in the facility.
- Align welding personnel and resources with production requirements.
- Promote OSHA compliance, safe work practices, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the operation.
Required Qualifications
- Active Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification required.
- Proven leadership experience managing welders, fitter/fabricators, welding supervisors, and multiple fabrication or manufacturing departments.
- Strong knowledge of MIG welding, including Spray Transfer/GMAW, plus additional welding processes.
- Experience developing and maintaining WPS documentation.
- Demonstrated success improving weld quality, first-pass acceptance, and reducing failures, leaks, and rework.
- Experience developing and delivering welding training programs.
- Strong knowledge of weld inspection and quality evaluation using AWS standards and inspection tools.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, weld symbols, and fabrication specifications.
- Strong leadership, coaching, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work effectively with Production, Engineering, Quality, and leadership teams.
- Positive, professional approach with a focus on accountability and continuous improvement.
Preferred Qualifications
- Certified Welding Educator (CWE) or previous welding instructor/trainer experience.
- Background in sheet metal fabrication, heavy fabrication, structural steel, or industrial manufacturing.
- Experience leading major welding quality or process improvement initiatives.
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement programs.
Work Environment
This is a hands-on shop-floor leadership role. The successful candidate should be comfortable working directly with welding teams, evaluating processes, solving technical problems, conducting inspections, and developing employees while supporting a safe, quality-focused manufacturing environment.