Quality Engineer (Welding)

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Quality Welding Engineer to support fabrication of ultra-high-purity (UHP) gas delivery systems for semiconductor process equipment, including gas panel assemblies and chamber weldments. This role owns weld quality across the fabrication lifecycle — procedure qualification, welder certification, in-process inspection, and nonconformance resolution — within a controlled cleanroom manufacturing environment. The ideal candidate combines deep orbital welding and stainless steel metallurgy expertise with fluency in the SEMI standards that govern UHP gas system integrity.

Key responsibilities

• Develop, qualify, and maintain welding procedure specifications (WPS) and procedure qualification records (PQR) for orbital GTAW of UHP gas lines, gas panels, and chamber weldments.
• Establish and audit welder/operator qualification programs for orbital and manual welding personnel working on UHP systems.
• Serve as the site subject matter expert on applicable SEMI standards, including F78 (particle contamination / cleanroom compatibility), F81 (surface roughness for UHP components), E49.8 (orbital weld documentation and acceptance), F70 (UHP gas distribution system components), and related SEMI specifications governing gas delivery hardware.
• Own weld quality within cleanroom fabrication cells: gowning discipline, purge gas control, ID/OD surface finish verification, and contamination prevention throughout the weld process.
• Perform and oversee visual, boroscopic, and dimensional weld inspection against acceptance criteria; drive root-cause analysis and corrective action for weld discrepancies and nonconformances.
• Provide metallurgical oversight of 316L stainless steel (and related UHP alloys) including heat-affected-zone control, oxide/heat-tint discoloration limits, interpass temperature, and purge gas (Ar/back-purge) requirements to preserve corrosion resistance and surface passivation.
• Specify, evaluate, and maintain orbital welding equipment — power supplies, weld heads, and tube-prep tooling — from manufacturers such as Arc Machines Inc. (AMI), Polysoude, Orbitalum, and equivalent, including PQ/programming, preventive maintenance, and end-of-life qualification.
• Partner with manufacturing engineering, quality assurance, and supply chain teams to qualify internal and supplier weld sources against consistent acceptance standards.
• Support root-cause investigations and 8D/CAPA activities for weld-related field or customer escrow issues.
• Maintain and audit weld travelers, certification records, and traceability documentation to support customer and internal quality audits.

About you

• Bachelor's degree in Welding Engineering, Materials/Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience in lieu of degree.
• 5+ years of welding engineering or weld quality experience in semiconductor capital equipment, UHP gas systems, or a comparably regulated high-purity fabrication environment.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of SEMI F78, F81, E49.8, and F70.
• Direct hands-on or oversight experience with orbital GTAW welding equipment from Arc Machines Inc. (AMI), Polysoude, Orbitalum, or comparable OEMs, including weld schedule development and machine qualification.
• Strong understanding of 316L stainless steel metallurgy — including electropolishing, sulfur content effects on weld penetration, ID surface finish, and passivation — as applied to UHP gas line and chamber weldment fabrication.
• Experience working within a certified cleanroom manufacturing environment (Class 100/ISO 5 or better), including contamination control protocols specific to gas panel and gas box assembly.
• Familiarity with WPS/PQR development and welder performance qualification under AWS D1.2, ASME Section IX, or equivalent codes, adapted for orbital tube welding.
• Working knowledge of VCR/VCO/face-seal fitting cleanliness requirements and UHP component handling practices.
• Strong root-cause and corrective-action (8D, fishbone, 5-Why) problem-solving skills applied to weld defects and process escapes.
• Preferred: AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) or equivalent certification.