Sr. / Principal Welding Process Engineer
Location: 203A Log Canoe Circle, Stevensville, MD 21666-2128
Work Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday
Salary: $116,000 - $156,000/yr.
Hydrasearch is looking for a Senior / Principal Welding Process Engineer to join our team in Stevensville, MD. In this role you will be a senior technical contributor responsible for developing welding and joining capabilities that support Hydrasearch's aerospace, naval, and defense programs. This role focuses on solving complex manufacturing capability gaps and establishing the technical infrastructure required for growth in regulated markets.
This is a hands-on engineering capability development role centered on process development, qualification, and technical problem solving. You will work within a small, highly capable technical team executing rapid cycles of development, validation, and production transition. The successful candidate must balance the speed of a "builder" environment with the technical rigor required to maintain compliance.
About Us: Hydrasearch is a U.S. manufacturer specializing in fluid-transfer and control systems for maritime, aerospace, and defense applications. Since its founding in 1962, Hydrasearch has developed capabilities in hose assemblies, valve fittings, and customer machined parts, often to meet MIL-SPEC and naval standards.
At Hydrasearch, we value the contributions of our Military Veterans and proudly employ our nation’s heroes. Veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.
What You'll Do:
- Capability Creation: Identify and solve manufacturing capability gaps limiting growth and develop internal welding knowledge and standards.
- Hands-on Development: Drive rapid cycles of welding procedure development (WPS), procedure qualifications (PQR), and personnel qualifications (WPQ).
- Technical Authority: Interpret and apply AWS, ASME, NAVSEA, and customer-specific welding requirements.
- Design for Weldability: Provide early technical input to development teams to ensure manufacturability and prevent late-stage rework.
- Special Processes: Support the development of joining processes including welding, brazing, and tube joining.
- Strategic Transition: Support "make vs. partner" decisions and ensure the clean transition of qualified processes into production.
What We're Looking For:
Required Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Welding Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related field.
- Experience: 10+ years or equivalent experience in welding engineering or welding process development within compliance-driven manufacturing environments.
- Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge of welding metallurgy, various welding processes, and inspection methods (VT, PT, RT, UT).
- Procedure Qualification: Extensive experience qualifying welding procedures and developing welder certification programs.
- Compliance Knowledge: Thorough understanding of AS9100 special process requirements.
- Execution Mindset: A "builder" mindset with a bias toward execution over discussion and the ability to work effectively in small, fast-paced teams.
- Travel: Travel my be required, both domestically and internationally.
- Defense Standards: Experience with defense or naval welding standards, specifically NAVSEA Tech Pub 248/278.
- Industry Certifications: Certified Welding Engineer (CWE) or relevant AWS credentials.
- Regulatory Excellence: Experience preparing for and supporting NADCAP welding process audits.
- Aerospace Proficiency: Working knowledge of AWS D17.1 and D17.2 for aerospace welder qualification.
- Specialized Joining: Exposure to brazing and tube joining processes in high-mix, low-volume environments.
What We Offer:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family
- Competitive salary
- Bonus programs
- 401K retirement plan
- Training opportunities
- Tuition reimbursement
- Paid vacation, PTO, and holidays
- Gym reimbursements, and more!
Join us and be a part of a team that values your contributions and supports your goals!
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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.
