THE WELDING ENGINEER
( materialsite.com )

 INTRODUCTION 

    The welding engineer is a person with a real welding engineering degree who understands the depth and breadth of the science of welding metal alloys and joining materials, and the complex microstructure and property changes taking place in the weld and heat affected zone more than any other engineering discipline.  And contrary to popular belief, metallurgical and materials engineering are not equivalent to welding engineering; and neither is any other engineering discipline.  See mistake no.1 by clicking on "common mistakes to avoid" in the left side frame.

FUNCTION

   The welding engineer typically works in a support role to assist with welding design and engineering drawing details, and writes and applies the requirements in the welding specification which defines welding and fabrication requirements for processes, materials, procedures, qualifications, codes and standards, workmanship, inspection, testing, quality, and procurement.

EDUCATION

   In addition to the basic core of engineering mathematics, physics, chemistry etc, required for all engineering disciplines, the welding engineer also studies:

• Welding design
• Ferrous and nonferrous process/extractive metallurgy
• Ferrous physical metallurgy
• Nonferrous physical metallurgy
• Ferrous and nonferrous welding metallurgy
• Joining ceramics, plastics, and composites
• Physics and chemistry of welding and cutting
• Heat flow in welding
• Welding processes
• Brazing and soldering processes
• Thermal spraying
• Heating and cutting processes
• Welding quality systems and programs
• Codes, standards, and specifications
• Welding qualification and certification
• Welding inspection
• Nondestructive examination
• Destructive testing
• Weldability testing
• Defects, discontinuities, and failure analysis
• Welding fabrication, manual, mechanized, automated and robotic
• Welding process monitoring and control
• Welding residual stress and distortion
• Weldment tooling, fixturing, and positioning
• Welding costs and economics
• Welding health and safety