Job Description

Career Area:

Engineering

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

Job Description

Nature and Scope:**

As an Experienced Welding Engineer, you will play a crucial role in overseeing all aspects of welding processes and technologies within our organization. Collaborating closely with design and production teams, your focus will be on developing and implementing effective welding solutions that prioritize quality, safety, and efficiency. Your expertise will be instrumental in upholding high standards in welding practices and technologies throughout the production lifecycle.

Knowledge:**

With a rich background in various welding techniques—including Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), and submerged arc welding (SAW)—you will possess the skills necessary to choose the most effective method for each project. You will ensure compliance with industry standards set by organizations such as AWS, ASME, and API, maintaining high safety and quality benchmarks. Your understanding of different metals and alloys, along with their mechanical properties, will enable you to select the right materials for diverse applications. Furthermore, your proficiency in operating and maintaining welding equipment will empower you to troubleshoot any technical challenges that may arise.

Your commitment to quality assurance will be evident as you implement stringent control measures and inspections throughout the welding process. Emphasizing workplace safety will promote a secure environment for all team members. With strong project management skills, you will lead projects from initiation to completion, effectively collaborating with diverse teams. Staying informed about technological advancements in welding will be a priority as you assess new solutions to enhance our operations. Ultimately, your technical expertise, dedication to quality and safety, and leadership in project management will ensure the effectiveness and innovation of our welding processes.

Principal Accountabilities:** Develop welding techniques, procedures, and equipment applications to address fabrication issues, drawing on your knowledge of production specifications, metal properties, and engineering principles. Conduct research and development investigations to test new fabrication processes and procedures, improve existing methods, develop or modify equipment, and identify new welding phenomena. Provide training to technical and operational personnel on joining techniques, applicable codes, weld inspection criteria, and other job-specific requirements. Establish welding procedures that guide production and welding personnel, addressing specification restrictions and complex fabrication methods. Evaluate new developments in the welding field for potential application to current challenges or production processes. Direct and coordinate technical personnel in inspections to ensure compliance with established welding procedures and standards, as well as facilitate weld tests for conformance with national code requirements. Engage with personnel from other agencies, engineering teams, or clients to exchange ideas, provide technical advice, and address welding-related matters. Perform experimental welding to assess new equipment, techniques, and materials. Conduct materials and weld failure investigations and serve as the Steward for the Facility Weld Quality Plan. Minimum Qualifications:** A bachelor's degree in Welding Engineering, Welding Engineering Technology, or a related discipline with significant experience in Welding Engineering. A minimum of 2 years of experience in welding applications, robotics, and related manufacturing processes. A minimum of 2 years of experience using engineering specifications and standards, as well as various industry welding specifications. Experience with robotic or automated welding equipment and manufacturing automation systems, including offline programming, with a strong preference for ABB and/or Fanuc Robotic Welding Systems. Proven experience leading project teams to meet New Product Introduction (NPI) schedules. Strong background in welding processes, including Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), Submerged Arc Welding (SAW), and Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW).

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree in another disciple with significant experience in Welding Engineering. AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification.

Summary Pay Range:

$112,710.00 - $169,060.00

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience.

Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar.

Benefits:

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines.

This Is a Summary List Of Benefits.

Competitive salary and annual bonus program Medical, dental, and vision coverage Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holiday, Sick, Etc.) Health savings account (HSA) Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) Life Insurance Employee Assistance Programs Voluntary Benefits (Ex. Accident, Identity Theft Protection) Potential base salary increases from annual performance reviews

All eligible candidates MUST pass the following pre-employment screenings before they can be hired to any position:

Background Screening Physical and drug/alcohol screening

Solar is not currently hiring foreign national applicants that require or will require sponsorship tied to a specific employer, such as H, L, TN, F, J, E, O. As a global company, Solar offers many job opportunities outside of the U.S. which can be found through our employment website at https://www.solarturbines.com/en_US/about-us/careers.html

Please ensure you frequently check the email account you provided on your application, including the junk/spam folder, as this is the primary correspondence method in our recruiting process.

EEO/AA Employer.  All qualified individuals - Including minorities, females, veterans and individuals with disabilities - are encouraged to apply.

Summary Pay Range:

$112,704.00 - $169,056.00

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar.

Benefits:

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.

Medical, dental, and vision benefits* Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)* 401(k) savings plans* Health Savings Account (HSA)* Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)* Health Lifestyle Programs* Employee Assistance Program* Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts* Career Development* Incentive bonus* Disability benefits Life Insurance Parental leave Adoption benefits Tuition Reimbursement These benefits also apply to part-time employees

Posting Dates:

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.

Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.

How this job compares in Channelview, TX

Pay in context

This employer didn't publish a rate. For reference, welding jobs across Texas currently run a median of $26/hr in our index, with the middle half of them falling between $22–$34/hr across 341 postings with published pay. That median is a reasonable floor to anchor on when a recruiter asks what you're looking for.

The local market in Channelview, TX

We're tracking 11 other active welding openings in Channelview, TX right now, from 6 different employers. None of them were added in the last week, so this is a slower-moving market. Across Texas as a whole we're tracking 914 other active welding openings from 519 employers. A metro this active generally means you have real leverage — employers here are competing for the same welders. Browse every welding job in Channelview, or widen the search to Texas.

Solar Turbines currently has 2 other openings live in Texas, which is usually a sign of either steady growth or steady turnover — worth asking which in the interview.

The most active employers in Texas at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are Welding Shop in Houston, TX (21), Zachry Group (20), and Austin Industries (20). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within Texas, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Pasadena at $82/hr, Dallas at $35/hr, and La Porte at $32/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

What you'll be running

This posting calls for MIG, TIG, and Flux-Core work. MIG (GMAW) feeds a continuous wire electrode through a shielding-gas nozzle. It lays down metal fast and is forgiving on clean material, which is why it dominates production and light fabrication work. TIG (GTAW) uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode with filler added by hand, giving the operator the most control of any process. It is slow, demanding, and the standard for stainless, aluminum, and anything where the bead has to look as good as it holds.

Certifications this posting mentions

  • ASME Section IXthe ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code qualification. It covers welding on pressure-retaining equipment — boilers, vessels, and process piping — where a failed weld is a safety incident rather than a rework ticket.
  • CWIthe AWS Certified Welding Inspector credential. It is an inspection qualification rather than a welding one, requiring documented experience plus a three-part exam, and it is the usual route off the torch into QC.

Read straight from this posting's text. Confirm the exact qualification the employer wants before you test — requirements vary by shop even under the same code.

Similar openings near Channelview, TX

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Senior Welding Engineer figures were last recalculated when this page was built.