Welding & Materials Engineer

Exo Group, LLC has been protecting public infrastructure across the U.S. since 2009. Without consistent maintenance and quality assurance, critical assets face a growing risk of failure over time. Exo delivers engineering, inspection, and remediation services for lighting poles, transmission towers, and other infrastructure exposed to ongoing wear from usage, aging, and environmental conditions.

With deep expertise in vertical infrastructure, Exo builds on years of engineering design and fabrication experience across utilities, telecom, transportation, and retail sectors. This foundation supports a comprehensive inspection and asset management approach that addresses both new installations and aging structures requiring immediate attention.

Recognizing that full replacement is often impractical due to cost and safety constraints,

Exo developed its “Ex-Tend” approach to manage assets throughout their entire life cycle. From initial quality assurance to ongoing inspection and targeted repairs, this method is designed to extend service life and improve reliability. Supported by data-driven insights, Exo helps clients monitor asset conditions and make informed, strategic decisions.

Position Summary: The Welding & Materials Engineer provides independent third-party technical and engineering services to support manufacturers, fabricators, utilities, EPC contractors, and asset owners. This position applies expertise in welding engineering, metallurgy, materials, fabrication processes, and quality assurance to evaluate compliance, validate qualifications, identify technical risks, and support continuous improvement.

The Welding & Materials Engineer is responsible for developing, reviewing, and qualifying Welding Procedure Specifications (WPSs) and Procedure Qualification Records (PQRs), overseeing weld and welder qualification testing, supporting material and mechanical testing programs, conducting quality and process audits, and evaluating fabrication and inspection documentation. The role requires the ability to interpret applicable codes, standards, specifications, and client requirements and translate those requirements into practical recommendations.

The position works independently and directly with clients, fabrication personnel, inspectors, testing laboratories, engineers, and project teams. Assignments may involve fabrication shops, manufacturing facilities, utility projects, testing laboratories, and other industrial or construction environments.

Key Responsibilities

Welding Engineering & Procedure Qualification

• Develop, review, revise, and qualify Welding Procedure Specifications (WPSs) and Procedure Qualification Records (PQRs).
• Determine applicable welding processes, base materials, filler metals, preheat/interpass requirements, post-weld heat treatment, joint designs, and essential variables for welding qualifications.
• Coordinate and oversee weld procedure qualification testing and welder performance qualification testing.
• Review welding procedures and qualification documentation for compliance with applicable codes, standards, specifications, and client requirements.
• Provide technical guidance regarding welding processes, fabrication methods, weldability, and qualification requirements.
• Evaluate welding-related technical issues and recommend appropriate corrective or preventive actions.
Materials & Testing
• Coordinate and support material testing, mechanical testing, metallurgical evaluation, and weld testing programs.
• Review material certifications, mill test reports, laboratory reports, mechanical test results, and other material documentation.
• Evaluate test results and determine compliance with applicable acceptance criteria and project requirements.
• Support investigations involving material properties, weld failures, fabrication defects, and other material-related issues.
• Interface with accredited testing laboratories and technical personnel to ensure testing is properly planned, documented, and performed.
Quality Assurance & Auditing
• Conduct third-party quality audits, fabrication assessments, supplier evaluations, and process audits at client and supplier facilities.
• Review quality management systems, inspection and test plans, quality records, welding documentation, and fabrication processes.
• Identify nonconformances, process deficiencies, documentation gaps, and potential quality risks.
• Develop audit findings and provide practical corrective and preventive action recommendations.
• Verify implementation and effectiveness of corrective actions when required.
• Support quality improvement initiatives and development of standardized welding, fabrication, and inspection practices.
Technical Evaluation & Consulting
• Perform independent technical reviews and evaluations of welding, materials, fabrication, and inspection activities.
• Interpret and apply applicable industry codes, standards, specifications, and client requirements.
• Provide clients with technical recommendations related to welding compliance, fabrication quality, material selection, and risk mitigation.
• Support root cause investigations involving welding, fabrication, coating, material, or quality-related issues.
• Review drawings, specifications, inspection reports, test results, and other technical documentation.
• Assist with development of technical procedures, inspection criteria, qualification plans, and quality documentation.
Reporting & Client Support
• Prepare technical reports, audit reports, qualification summaries, inspection findings, and engineering recommendations.
• Clearly document technical findings, supporting evidence, conclusions, and recommended actions.
• Communicate technical information effectively to both engineering and non-engineering audiences.
• Interface with clients, fabricators, inspectors, testing laboratories, engineers, project managers, and other stakeholders throughout project execution.
• Participate in client meetings, technical discussions, and project reviews.
• Represent the company professionally while maintaining independent, objective, and technically defensible evaluations.
Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Welding Engineering, Materials Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering or technical discipline.
• 3-7 years of experience in welding engineering, materials engineering, quality assurance, fabrication, inspection, or related technical services.
• Demonstrated experience with WPS/PQR development and review, weld procedure qualification, and welder performance qualification.
• Experience coordinating or evaluating weld qualification and mechanical testing programs.
• Working knowledge of AWS D1.1, AWS D1.5, ASME Section IX, AISC, and other applicable industry codes and standards.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, welding symbols, material specifications, inspection reports, and technical documentation.
• Experience reviewing material certifications, laboratory reports, and mechanical test results.
• Experience conducting audits, assessments, supplier evaluations, or third-party technical reviews preferred.
• AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification preferred.
• Additional certifications such as AWS Certified Welding Engineer (CWEng), NDT certifications, ASNT certifications, or AMPP/NACE credentials are a plus.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to prepare professional technical documentation and reports.
• Ability to travel to client facilities, fabrication shops, manufacturing plants, testing laboratories, and project sites as required.
Preferred Attributes
• Strong understanding of welding metallurgy, weldability, fabrication processes, and material behavior.
• Practical knowledge of structural steel, utility infrastructure, transmission structures, industrial fabrication, or similar applications.
• Ability to independently evaluate technical information, identify deficiencies, and develop practical corrective action recommendations.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and root-cause investigation skills.
• Strong technical writing and documentation skills.
• Effective verbal communication and client-facing skills.
• Ability to establish credibility with engineers, fabricators, inspectors, quality personnel, and client representatives.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to technically defensible, objective evaluations.
• Ability to work independently while effectively coordinating with project teams and external stakeholders.
• Comfortable working in environments where requirements, project conditions, and technical issues may change during project execution.
• Willingness to travel and work periodically in fabrication, manufacturing, construction, and industrial environments.
Physical Requirements
• Ability to travel regularly to fabrication facilities, manufacturing plants, testing laboratories, utility sites, construction sites, and other industrial environments.
• Ability to walk, stand, and move throughout fabrication shops, manufacturing facilities, and project sites for extended periods.
• Ability to climb stairs, ladders, platforms, and access elevated work areas when required to perform inspections or assessments.
• Ability to navigate uneven surfaces, construction areas, industrial facilities, and other potentially challenging work environments.
• Ability to occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, or reach while examining welds, materials, equipment, or fabrication processes.
• Ability to visually inspect welds, materials, fabrication details, documentation, and equipment in varying lighting and environmental conditions.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, high-visibility clothing, protective footwear, and other site-specific PPE.
• Ability to safely work around welding operations, fabrication equipment, cranes, heavy equipment, industrial machinery, and other site hazards while following applicable safety requirements.
• Ability to lift and carry light equipment, inspection tools, testing documentation, and other materials as required.
• Ability to work in outdoor environments and tolerate varying temperatures and weather conditions when required by project assignments.
Mental & Cognitive Requirements
• Ability to analyze complex technical information and make sound engineering and quality judgments.
• Strong attention to detail when reviewing welding procedures, qualification records, drawings, test results, material certifications, inspection reports, and other technical documentation.
• Ability to interpret and apply multiple codes, standards, specifications, and client requirements to individual projects.
• Ability to identify discrepancies, nonconformances, technical risks, and potential quality issues that may not be immediately apparent.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to investigate root causes and develop technically sound recommendations.
• Ability to evaluate test data and technical evidence objectively and reach defensible conclusions.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, deadlines, and client requirements while maintaining accuracy and quality.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment when technical requirements or project conditions are unclear or conflicting.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to engineers, inspectors, fabricators, management, and clients with varying levels of technical knowledge.
• Ability to remain objective and professional when identifying deficiencies or challenging existing fabrication or quality practices.
• Ability to adapt to changing project requirements, field conditions, schedules, and client priorities.
• Ability to maintain concentration and accuracy during detailed technical reviews and extended periods of documentation, analysis, and reporting.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize workload, and make appropriate decisions without constant supervision.
Work Environment

This position operates in a combination of office, laboratory, fabrication, manufacturing, construction, and industrial environments. Work may involve exposure to welding operations, noise, dust, fumes, outdoor conditions, heavy equipment, elevated work areas, and other industrial hazards. Appropriate safety procedures and PPE are required when working in field and client environments.

The position requires travel based on project requirements, including potential overnight travel and visits to client and supplier facilities.

FLSA Status: Exempt

Pay Range: $100, 000-$160, 000 Annually, depending on experience

Reports To: Director, Technical Services

Benefits:

Exo offers a comprehensive benefits package including:
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment
• Short Term and Long-Term Disability
• Accident, Hospital Indemnity and Critical Illness
• 401k with company match
• PTO
• 10 paid holidays
Note: The above job description is a general overview of the responsibilities and requirements typically associated with the role of a Welding & Materials Engineer. The specific duties and requirements may vary depending on organizational requirements and industry standards.

Exo is committed to equal employment opportunity. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.