Base Welding & Paint Quality Inspector

Panelmatic • Houston, TX

7h • Onsite

About The Position

The Base Welding & Paint Quality Inspector inspects fabricated steel bases for e-houses and electrical enclosures to verify compliance with approved engineering drawings, weld requirements, dimensional tolerances, material specifications, surface preparation requirements, and paint specifications. The role performs inspections throughout fabrication, including material verification, fit-up, welding, dimensional checks, surface preparation, coating application, and final release. The inspector works with production, welding, paint, and engineering personnel to identify defects, prevent nonconforming work from advancing, document inspection results, and ensure bases meet customer and company requirements.

The inspector may hold or stop work when significant quality issues, safety-related concerns, or specification violations are identified; prevent nonconforming work from advancing; request engineering clarification; require documented approval for deviations; escalate unresolved concerns to the QC Supervisor; and reject work that fails documented acceptance requirements. The role does not authorize independent redesigns, changes to engineering requirements, unauthorized weld deviations, or acceptance of defects merely because production plans to cover, modify, or conceal them.

The position is full-time and on-site on a manufacturing and fabrication shop floor. Overtime and schedule flexibility may be required to meet production deadlines. The work environment includes high noise, dust and metal particulates, moving equipment such as overhead cranes and forklifts, welding fumes, arc flash, sparks, hot metal surfaces, sharp edges, and seasonal temperature changes. Required PPE includes a welding helmet, safety glasses, hearing protection, steel-toe boots, gloves, and flame-resistant clothing. Safety procedures, including lockout/tagout and hot-work practices, must be followed.

Requirements

• Experience in steel fabrication, welding inspection, industrial manufacturing, or a related quality inspection role.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, fabrication details, weld symbols, and dimensional tolerances.
• Knowledge of common welding discontinuities and visual inspection methods.
• Ability to use measuring tools such as tape measures, squares, calipers, levels, and other dimensional inspection equipment.
• Ability to document inspection results accurately and communicate defects clearly.
• Ability to work independently on the production floor and collaborate with welders, fabricators, painters, and supervisors.
• Ability to physically push, pull, and lift 50 pounds or more.
• Ability to stoop and bend.
• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for four or more hours at a time.
• Ability to convert decimals to fractions and use conversion charts.
• Excellent manual dexterity, color vision, and eyesight.
• Ability to follow required PPE and safety procedures, including lockout/tagout and hot-work practices.

Nice To Haves

• Experience inspecting structural steel bases, skids, modular buildings, e-houses, or industrial enclosures.
• Familiarity with welding procedures, applicable welding codes, and visual weld acceptance criteria.
• Experience with coating inspection, surface preparation, dry film thickness (DFT) measurement, and coating repair verification.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 quality management systems, nonconformance reports (NCRs), corrective actions, and inspection travelers.
• Relevant welding inspection or coating inspection certifications, where required by the position or customer.

Responsibilities

• Verify base materials and components against approved drawings and bills of materials, and verify material identification and required material documentation when specified.
• Inspect incoming and staged components for damage, incorrect dimensions, missing holes, improper cut lengths, and incorrect orientation.
• Confirm fabrication follows the latest approved drawings and revisions; identify missing information, discrepancies, or conflicting requirements.
• Inspect joint preparation, fit-up, alignment, joint gaps, component placement, and weld accessibility as required by the inspection plan.
• Verify weld locations, lengths, sizes, and types against approved drawings and applicable welding requirements.
• Perform visual weld inspections for cracks, porosity, undercut, overlap, excessive spatter, incomplete welds, and other relevant discontinuities.
• Verify that welding follows the applicable approved welding procedure specification when required.
• Inspect welded assemblies for distortion, bowing, twisting, squareness, and dimensional changes.
• Verify lifting lug locations, mounting points, ground pads, support members, floor openings, and perimeter beam orientation.
• Identify incomplete or missing welds, incorrect weld placement, and unauthorized modifications.
• Verify approved rework and document reinspection results before accepting the work.
• Identify recurring defects and communicate trends to the QC Supervisor for corrective action.
• Complete inspection checklists, travelers, dimensional reports, weld inspection records, and paint inspection records; record results, pass/fail status, drawing revisions, and supporting notes.
• Maintain traceability of inspection records to the applicable job, base assembly, or project.
• Verify required inspection hold points and nonconformance dispositions before work advances; sign off only after applicable requirements are verified.
• Communicate inspection status, production risks, and unresolved quality issues during production meetings or quality updates.
• Stop or hold work when significant quality issues, safety-related concerns, or specification violations are identified.
• Prevent nonconforming work from proceeding to paint, assembly, or another production stage until inspections and dispositions are complete.
• Request clarification from Engineering when drawings, tolerances, weld details, or specifications are unclear or conflicting.
• Require documented approval before accepting work that deviates from approved requirements; escalate unresolved concerns to the QC Supervisor and reject work that does not meet documented acceptance requirements.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Health Savings Account (HSA).
• Term life, AD&D, short-term disability, and long-term disability coverage.
• Panelmatic pays 100% of the medical premium for employee-only medical coverage.
• For other medical coverage levels, Panelmatic pays 80% and the employee pays 20%.
• 401(k) contributions matched 100% up to 4%.
• Scholarships and educational reimbursement.
• Paid volunteerism.
• Paid personal and professional development.
• PTO and paid holidays.
• Career advancement opportunities.
• Competitive wages.
• Family-friendly environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed