Industrial Welding Training Specialist (Pressure Vessels & Heat Exchangers)

Industrial Welding Training Specialist Mason Manufacturing, LLC — Decatur, Illinois

Step onto the production floor at Mason Manufacturing and you’ll spend your day shaping welders into masters of their craft. You’ll coach teams who build industrial heat exchangers, pressure vessels, and complex welded assemblies—raising the bar on skill, safety, and quality every step of the way.

A day in the life

• Start the shift by delivering hands-on instruction for both new hires and seasoned welders, tailoring sessions to GTAW (TIG), GMAW (MIG), FCAW, and SMAW as needed.
• Guide trainees through blueprint reading, weld symbols, fabrication drawings, and work instructions before moving to live practice.
• Observe technique, evaluate performance, and provide targeted coaching to improve weld quality and productivity.
• Administer and document welder qualification tests and support adherence to Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS).
• Collaborate with Operations, Quality Assurance, Engineering, and Production Management to identify skill gaps, build corrective training plans, and align with customer and quality standards.
• Maintain meticulous training records, track progress, and report on readiness for production.
• Reinforce OSHA and company safety policies while participating in root cause investigations for weld defects—turning findings into training solutions.
• Assist supervisors with workforce skill development initiatives and contribute to continuous improvement efforts that elevate quality, efficiency, and employee growth.

What you bring

• 5+ years of welding and fabrication experience in a manufacturing setting.
• Proven skill across multiple processes—with strong TIG and MIG proficiency.
• Fluency in reading and interpreting fabrication drawings, weld symbols, and engineering documentation.
• Clear communicator with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to teach and mentor across varying skill levels.
• Working knowledge of welding inspection criteria and quality requirements.
• Comfort operating in a shop environment with frequent hands-on demonstrations.

Preferred

• Background in heat exchangers, pressure vessels, heavy fabrication, or code welding environments.
• Familiarity with ASME Section IX welder qualification requirements.
• Experience as a trainer, lead welder, supervisor, or mentor.
• Technical training certification, vocational education, or equivalent manufacturing training experience.
• Knowledge of welding stainless steel, carbon steel, and exotic alloys.

Core competencies

• Strong troubleshooting and practical problem-solving for welding applications.
• Ability to assess technique and provide constructive, actionable feedback.
• Excellent organization and documentation discipline.
• Skilled at collaborating with employees, management, engineering, and quality teams.
• Unwavering commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and training documentation systems.

Physical requirements

• Stand, walk, bend, and stoop; lift up to 50 lbs.
• Comfort working around noise, heat, and welding fumes in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).

Work environment

You’ll work primarily in our manufacturing facility producing industrial heat exchangers and related welded products, spending significant time on the production floor conducting hands-on training and supporting production teams.

How success is measured

• New hire qualification success rate.
• Welding quality and defect reduction.
• Training completion metrics.
• Welder certification/qualification pass rates.
• Employee skill progression.
• Safety compliance and incident reduction.

Role details

• Position Type: Full-Time
• Location: Decatur, Illinois
• Department: Operations / Manufacturing
• Reports To: VP Operations
• Pay Range: $30–$40 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications

You should be proficient in

• Leadership / People Management
• Lean Manufacturing Principles
• Welding Setups for Production

Machines & technologies you’ll use

• MIG Welder
• TIG Welder
• GTAW Welder
• SMAW Welder
• Flux-Cored Arc Welder