Welding Automation Engineer

Milwaukee, WI, United States

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Job details

Posting language: English

Original job description

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Job Overview

The Welding Automation Engineer provides technical leadership, training, and engineering support for manual and automated welding processes. This role develops and implements welding methods, procedures, and automation solutions to support production, quality, cost saving, and continuous improvement goals. The position combines technical knowledge in welding, robotics, welding with cobots, and manufacturing engineering with hands-on training, troubleshooting, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality production of Komatsu products.

Key Job Responsibilities

Lead, develop, and deliver hands-on training for welders, operators, supervisors, and international/domestic personnel on manual and automated welding processes; administer skills assessments and certification tests.
Coordinate new hire welder assessments, maintain certification records, and manage training schedules and resources, including Weld Lab inventory, consumables, and equipment.
Support the development and documentation of welding procedures (PQR, WPS) and evaluate new consumables, equipment, and new welding processes.
Develop, change, and implement robotic welding programs, tooling, and fixtures using engineering drawings, CAD/CAM, and offline programming software; optimize weld sequences and parameters for quality, cycle time, and cost.
Provide technical support for automation and robotic work cells, including troubleshooting, process improvements, and implementation of new applications.
Aid product design engineering with design for manufacturability, weldability, and cost reduction opportunities.
Conduct weld audits and investigations, analyze defects, and develop corrective actions, including repair procedures.
Monitor, collect, and analyze welding process data and key performance metrics and report findings and recommendations to management.
Support supervisory and inspection personnel with interpretation and compliance to AWS and Komatsu welding standards.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Operations, Quality, Safety, Product Engineering, Maintenance, Suppliers, and Customers) to resolve welding and automation issues and drive continuous improvement.
Participate in safety walks and audits, promote safe work practices, and ensure compliance with company policies and industry standards.

Qualifications/Requirements

Required Skills

Welding processes and metallurgy
Robotic welding programming
Fixture and tooling design.
Problem solving and root cause analysis.
Data analysis and reporting
Training and technical instruction
CAD/CAM and manufacturing software
Microsoft Office and manufacturing systems (SAP, C-spec Weld Office)
Verbal and written communication
Leadership and team collaboration
Project management
Commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement

Preferred Skills

AWS Certified Welding Inspector (preferred).
AWS Certified Welding Educator (preferred).
AWS Certified Robotic Arc Welding Technician (preferred).

Required Education/Experience, Travel Requirements

Required Education/Experience, Travel Requirements and Preferred skills

Associate degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Welding Technology, or a related field and 4-10 years of related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Strong understanding of welding processes, robotic automation, and manufacturing engineering principles.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret engineering drawings, technical documents, and industry standards.
Demonstrated experience with welding procedure qualifications, fabrication, and robotic welding systems.
Experience in training, mentoring, and collaborating with diverse teams across multiple locations (domestic and international).
Willingness to travel up to 10-20% (domestic and international) for training, product support, and technical assistance.

Safety

Safety is a core responsibility of this position. The employee is expected to actively support a proactive safety culture by identifying, communicating, and helping eliminate workplace hazards and unsafe conditions. This includes following all company and site-specific safety requirements, participating in safety walks, audits, risk assessments, and corrective actions, and demonstrating safe work practices when working in or around manufacturing, welding, robotic, and automated equipment.

The employee is expected to stop and address work when an unsafe condition is identified, promptly report safety concerns, incidents, near misses, and hazards, and partner with Operations, Safety, Maintenance, Engineering, and other stakeholders to implement sustainable corrective actions. The employee must follow established procedures for machine guarding, energy control/lockout-tagout, required personal protective equipment (PPE), welding and hot-work hazards, and other applicable manufacturing safety requirements.

Employees are also expected to understand and comply with site emergency procedures, alarms, evacuation and shelter requirements, and participate in required emergency drills and safety activities. Through technical leadership, training, and day-to-day actions, this position is expected to reinforce personal accountability for safety and contribute to Komatsu's commitment to preventing injuries and continuously improving workplace safety.

Diversity & Inclusion Commitment

At Komatsu we come from diverse backgrounds, with unique perspectives, experiences, and contributions. We are committed to creating a workforce that is reflective of the communities we work and live in. We believe that our people are part of our shared purpose. We are authentic, ambitious, and innovative in our pursuit of Diversity & Inclusion. United, we are on a journey towards a sustainable future that creates value together.