Job Description

Overview

At UES, we’re a team of more than 4,000 engineers, scientists, geologists, inspectors, technicians, and drillers united by a shared purpose—to make a meaningful impact in the communities we serve. The Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) plays a critical role in supporting Houston’s fast-paced industrial, infrastructure, and energy-driven construction market by ensuring the quality and reliability of welded structures.

Responsibilities

  • Conduct welding inspections at job sites in a timely fashion and submit accurate reports.
  • Study and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, and manuals to understand project requirements.
  • Operate and maintain a motor vehicle, including scheduled and unscheduled maintenance.
  • Partner with fabricators, engineers, and supervisors, to ensure project quality and completion per specifications.
  • Communicate with dispatching and/or field supervisor, advising of current job status and locations as required.
  • Adhere to safety protocols and guidelines to protect oneself and others in the work environment.

Requirements

  • High school diploma or equivalent with a completed welding certificate program or vocational training.
  • American Welding Society (AWS) or similar welding certification, preferred.
  • Valid driver’s license with acceptable driving record and basic computer literacy.
  • Knowledge of various welding techniques, equipment, and safety protocols.
  • Adaptability and flexibility to changing schedules and hours to support business needs.
  • Strong time management, mathematics, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills.

Additional Information

  • This position requires moderate travel, approximately up to 40% of the time.
  • Travel may be both scheduled and on short notice, depending on project needs.
  • The position primarily works in an outdoor work environment, regularly exposed to varying field conditions.

How this job compares in Houston, TX

Pay in context

This employer didn't publish a rate. For reference, welding jobs in Houston, TX currently run a median of $25/hr in our index, with the middle half of them falling between $22–$32/hr across 60 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 Houston, TX

We're tracking 209 other active welding openings in Houston, TX right now, from 122 different employers. 8 of them were added in the last week. 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 Houston, or widen the search to Texas.

UES currently has 1 other opening 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.

Certifications this posting mentions

  • 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 Houston, TX

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