The Director – Welding and Joining Technologies is responsible for defining and executing the enterprise strategy for welding and joining processes across product lines, materials, and platforms. This role leads the development, standardization, and deployment of cutting-edge welding and bonding techniques for structural and non-structural applications. The director ensures that joining technologies meet performance, safety, manufacturability, and cost requirements while enabling innovation and scalability in production.
Lead the strategic direction and execution of all welding and joining activities across global manufacturing operations.
Oversee the development, validation, and deployment of welding methods including MIG, TIG, laser, spot resistance, friction stir, and ultrasonic welding.
Evaluate and integrate alternative joining technologies such as adhesives, mechanical fastening, clinching, and hybrid joining.
Drive innovation in materials joining for dissimilar materials (e.g., aluminum to steel, composites to metals).
Collaborate with design, materials, quality, and manufacturing engineering teams to define weld requirements and standards.
Guide development of welding process specifications, qualification procedures, and welder certification programs.
Lead failure analysis, weld quality investigations, and root cause resolution for field or production issues.
Support new product launches and manufacturing line setups with joining process readiness and validation.
Define and enforce global standards for weld quality, NDT/inspection criteria, and compliance with industry regulations (e.g., AWS, ISO, IATF).
Manage a cross-disciplinary team of welding engineers, metallurgists, and automation specialists.
Advanced Joining Technology Leadership:
Develop strategies for adoption of robotic welding, laser welding, FSW, and multi-process integration.
Pilot smart welding solutions with real-time monitoring, closed-loop control, and AI-based defect detection.
Material Compatibility & Metallurgical Expertise:
Lead efforts to join challenging materials such as ultra-high-strength steels, aluminum alloys, and composites.
Optimize heat input, distortion control, and metallurgical integrity across joint types.
Automation and Digital Integration:
Collaborate with automation teams to integrate robotic welding and joining into smart manufacturing environments.
Enable traceability, data logging, and predictive maintenance for welding systems.
Weld Quality Assurance & Standards Compliance:
Define and enforce global weld specifications, codes, and testing methodologies (e.g., macro/micro, UT, X-ray).
Ensure robust inspection, weld validation, and compliance with industry and customer requirements.
Cross-functional Program Support:
Partner with design teams during early-stage product development to influence DFW (Design for Welding).
Support advanced product quality planning (APQP), PPAP, and launch milestones with weld capability reviews.
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Welding Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
15+ years of experience in welding and joining technologies, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
Certified Welding Engineer (CWE) or Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) credentials preferred.
Deep technical knowledge of welding processes, weld metallurgy, joint design, and inspection methods.
Experience in automotive, aerospace, heavy engineering, or fabrication industries.
Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive joining innovation across multiple platforms.
Strong communication, project management, and strategic planning skills.