Duration of role: Permanent
Location: Pocahontas, AR
About Us
At Tate we are passionate about everything we do. As an independent brand operating within Kingspan Group, a global plc group of companies, Tate has been recognized worldwide as an industry leader in the development and manufacture of data center infrastructure solutions and commercial office raised access floors, for over 60 years. With revenues of over $420m and growing, Tate plays a pivotal role in offering expertise in cutting edge design engineering in order to craft solutions, by working collaboratively with clients as a trusted partner.
Tate continues to grow and expand, operating multiple manufacturing and commercial sites across the US, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We are excited about our fresh, dynamic, and inclusive team of experts working on new innovations and forward-thinking designs, as we remain a market leading player within our industry. We continue to invest heavily in the best available manufacturing tools and equipment needed to adhere to Tate’s world class standards and in keeping with our Planet Passionate sustainability strategy, our focus is on having minimal climate impact.
We are excited by potentially welcoming you as part of our team as we continue to grow on a worldwide scale.
About the Role
The Senior Welding Inspector is responsible for overseeing welding quality systems, ensuring compliance with industry codes and standards, and driving continuous improvement across manufacturing operations. This role serves as a subject matter expert (SME) in welding inspection and nondestructive testing, providing technical guidance, leading quality initiatives, and partnering with engineering and production teams to ensure product integrity, safety, and regulatory adherence.
This position operates with a high level of autonomy, exercising independent judgment in inspection decisions, process improvements, and compliance assessments.
What You’ll Do
- Lead and oversee visual inspection (VT) and nondestructive testing (NDT) activities to ensure compliance with applicable codes (AWS, ASME), customer requirements, and internal standards.
- Serve as a technical authority on welding processes, inspection methods, and code interpretation.
- Review, approve, and maintain Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS), Procedure Qualification Records (PQR), and welder qualifications.
- Interpret and validate engineering drawings, weld symbols, and technical specifications to ensure proper fabrication practices and final weld quality.
- Analyze inspection data and trends to identify systemic issues and drive root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA).
- Partner with engineering and manufacturing leadership to develop and implement process improvements that enhance weld quality, efficiency, and repeatability.
- Lead or support internal and external audits, ensuring alignment with Quality Management System (QMS) requirements and regulatory standards.
- Mentor and provide guidance to inspectors, welders, and production personnel on best practices, defect prevention, and compliance expectations.
- Own documentation standards and reporting for weld quality, ensuring accuracy, traceability, and audit readiness.
- Evaluate and recommend new inspection technologies, tools, and methodologies to improve quality outcomes.
- Ensure compliance with safety policies and champion a proactive safety and quality culture across the organization.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with quality, engineering, production, and supply chain teams to resolve complex quality issues.
- Perform other duties as required to support operational and quality excellence.
Additional Expectations
- Remain compliant with the Code of Conduct and Policies which includes the Kingspan Group Compliance Policy.
- Ensure that all duties related to product compliance are adhered to in accordance with the Product Compliance Policy, Laws, Regulations, and market demands.
- Responsible for all tasks to achieve compliance goals and demands of the Compliance Management System.
- Must raise concerns related to the Compliance Management System to their supervisor, manager, or any member of the Leadership Team, or through the confidential whistle blower service.
What You’ll Bring
- High school diploma required; associate or bachelor’s degree in welding engineering, materials science, or related technical field strongly preferred.
- Current AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification required.
- Advanced or multiple NDT certifications (e.g., ASNT Level II or III) strongly preferred.
- 5+ years of progressive experience in welding inspection, fabrication, or quality engineering within a manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply industry codes (AWS, ASME) and drive compliance initiatives.
- Strong knowledge of welding processes (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW), metallurgy, and defect analysis.
- Proven experience leading root cause analysis and continuous improvement efforts.
- Ability to exercise independent judgment and make critical quality decisions with minimal oversight.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.
- Experience working in or supporting a formal Quality Management System (ISO or similar).
- Ability to mentor and develop others within quality and production teams.
- Physical ability to perform inspections in a manufacturing environment as needed.
What You'll Get
- Pay range: $100,000-$120,000.
- Career Scope and Advancement: As we grow, new positions and career opportunities arise, offering accelerated paths for the right candidates, locally and globally.
- World of Wellness Philosophy: We empower you to take charge of your health and well-being. You’ll have access to a wide range of medical, dental, and vision benefits, along with personalized guidance from a “Health Advocate.” We also offer other supplemental options, including 401k, legal, disability, and theft insurance, to ensure your financial wellness.
- Corporate Social Responsibility: Through Planet Passionate we are determined to reduce our manufacturing carbon (CO2e) emissions to as close to zero as technically possible, together with halving carbon intensity in our primary supply chain. We are very involved in our community, and you will have ample opportunities to support us in creating a better world.
- Skills Development: Given the dynamic pace of our business and a strong collaborative environment, your new role will be diverse and multifaceted – allowing you to be more versatile and develop a broader skill set.
- Mentorship and development: At Tate, we don’t believe in hierarchy, we work together as one team for one common goal. You will have access and exposure to our senior leaders and experts for learning in your role, and additionally mentorship for the future.
- Culture: We have a great team culture, highly collaborative, supportive, and social. Together we innovate, collaborate, take ownership, and strive for excellence.
Stay connected with us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/tate-access-floors/mycompany/verification/) for insights into life at Tate. Join us in our mission to make a difference through exceptional solutions.
Tate Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of post-offer requirements, including a background check and drug screening, in accordance with company policy and applicable laws.
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Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
