AWS-Certified Weld Instructor / Dimensional Quality Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

Littell Steel Company is seeking an experienced AWS-certified welding professional to serve in a dual-role focused on both workforce development and dimensional quality control.

This position will spend approximately 50% of their time training, coaching, and developing welders and fitters, and 50% of their time performing dimensional inspections, fit-up verification, and fabrication quality checks throughout the shop.

The ideal candidate is a highly respected craft professional who enjoys teaching others, improving shop performance, and helping ensure complex fabricated steel projects are built safely, accurately, and efficiently.

Essential Responsibilities

Workforce Development & Training (50%)

• Develop and deliver hands-on welding and fabrication training programs.
• Coach welders, fitters, and new hires on proper welding techniques, fit-up practices, blueprint interpretation, and quality expectations.
• Conduct practical welding evaluations and qualification tests.
• Assist employees in obtaining and maintaining AWS certifications and qualifications.
• Identify skill gaps and create individualized improvement plans.
• Provide mentoring and day-to-day technical support on the shop floor.
• Partner with supervisors to improve craftsmanship, productivity, and first-pass quality.
• Assist with onboarding and training of apprentices and entry-level employees.
• Promote a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

Dimensional Quality & Fit-Up Verification (50%)

• Perform dimensional inspections throughout fabrication using tape measures, levels, squares, transits, laser measuring equipment, and other inspection tools.
• Verify fit-up, alignment, camber, hole locations, member geometry, and overall dimensional compliance.
• Review fabrication drawings, shop drawings, and welding details to ensure compliance with project requirements.
• Identify non-conformances and work with production personnel to develop corrective actions.
• Assist Quality Assurance personnel with inspection activities and documentation.
• Verify compliance with AWS D1.1, AWS D1.5, AISC requirements, customer specifications, and internal quality procedures.
• Support root cause investigations involving fabrication or welding issues.
• Participate in internal quality audits and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

Required

• AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification.
• Minimum 10 years of structural steel fabrication and welding experience.
• Strong knowledge of AWS D1.1 and structural steel welding practices.
• Ability to read and interpret structural steel fabrication drawings.
• Experience performing dimensional inspections and fit-up verification.
• Excellent communication and coaching skills.
• Ability to work effectively with union craft employees and shop leadership.
• Strong understanding of fabrication tolerances and quality requirements.

Preferred

• Experience within an AISC-certified structural steel fabrication facility.
• Familiarity with AWS D1.5 Bridge Welding Code.
• NDT certifications or experience.
• Experience developing formal training programs.
• Associate's degree, technical degree, or equivalent industry experience.

Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate is more than an inspector and more than a welding instructor. They are a teacher, mentor, and technical leader who can walk the shop floor, identify opportunities for improvement, and help employees become more skilled craftsmen.

They are equally comfortable:

• Teaching a new welder proper technique.
• Coaching a fitter through a difficult connection.
• Verifying a complex girder assembly meets dimensional requirements.
• Helping resolve fabrication challenges before they become costly quality issues.

Their success will be measured by improvements in workforce capability, reduction in rework, increased first-pass quality, stronger welding performance, and consistent dimensional accuracy across the shop.

About Littell Steel Company

Littell Steel Company is an AISC-certified structural steel fabricator specializing in complex bridge and building projects throughout the region. Our work includes heavy structural steel, fracture-critical bridge components, sophisticated paint systems, and challenging fabrication projects that demand exceptional craftsmanship and quality.

We are committed to investing in our people and developing the next generation of skilled steel fabrication professionals.

Littell Steel is an AISC-certified structural steel fabricator serving the bridge and commercial
construction industries. For more than 80 years, we have built a reputation for quality
craftsmanship, complex fabrication, and delivering critical infrastructure projects throughout the
region.

Company Description

Littell Steel is an AISC-certified structural steel fabricator serving the bridge and commercial\r\nconstruction industries. For more than 80 years, we have built a reputation for quality\r\ncraftsmanship, complex fabrication, and delivering critical infrastructure projects throughout the\r\nregion.