Apera

Welding Engineer 📍 Los Angeles, CA | Full-Time | On-Site

Overview This role is highly hands-on and cross-functional, working closely with design, manufacturing, tooling, automation, and test teams to bring complex systems from concept to flight-ready hardware.

Responsibilities • Develop, qualify, and optimize welding processes across multiple techniques (EB, laser, GTAW, GMAW, friction-stir, resistance, plasma arc, orbital tube, etc.) • Support fabrication and build of aerospace structures, tanks, and propulsion assemblies • Develop weld joint designs, fixtures, and assembly methods focused on manufacturability and repeatability • Support root cause investigations for weld quality issues and process deviations; help implement corrective actions • Plan and execute weld qualification testing, including mechanical testing and NDE inspections • Work with NDE and inspection teams to evaluate weld quality and improve methods • Support automation and robotic welding initiatives • Contribute to process improvements using test and production data • Evaluate new welding technologies and materials for advanced applications • Partner with tooling and integration teams to reduce distortion and improve build efficiency

Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical field • Hands-on experience with fabrication, manufacturing, or testing of welded aerospace or high-performance structures • Strong understanding of weld design principles and behavior under thermal and structural loads • Experience with welding processes such as EB, laser, GTAW, GMAW, friction-stir, plasma arc, resistance, etc. • Familiarity with aerospace alloys (titanium, stainless steel, nickel alloys, aluminum, copper) • Experience with weld inspection, testing, or NDE methods • Exposure to tooling/fixture design and Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles • Experience in fast-paced engineering or prototype environments • Strong communication, documentation, and problem-solving skills