Instructor - Welding

Welding • Avondale, LA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Welding Technology Instructor will teach assigned welding lecture, laboratory, and related technical courses in accordance with approved course descriptions, student learning outcomes, master syllabi, College policies, and applicable industry standards. This role involves providing classroom instruction, hands-on demonstrations, and supervised laboratory experiences in a variety of welding and cutting processes, safety procedures, and fabrication practices. The instructor will also integrate industry-recognized curricula like NCCER and AWS SENSE, maintain laboratory equipment and supplies, and participate in curriculum development and student advising. Additionally, the position requires fostering student success, maintaining professional currency, and engaging with industry partners and the community.

Requirements

• Option 1 – Postsecondary Degree: Associate degree or higher in Welding Technology, Welding Engineering Technology, Industrial Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, or a closely related technical field and at least three years of directly related professional welding experience.
• Option 2 – Technical Credential: Technical Diploma, Certificate of Technical Studies, recognized apprenticeship completion, or comparable postsecondary credential in welding or a closely related field and at least four years of directly related professional welding experience.
• Option 3 – Occupational Experience: High school diploma or recognized equivalent and at least five years of directly related, progressively responsible professional welding experience.
• At least five years of directly related, progressively responsible professional welding experience.
• Qualifying occupational experience should demonstrate substantial hands-on welding responsibilities in industrial, commercial, construction, manufacturing, fabrication, shipbuilding, pipeline, petrochemical, energy, maintenance, repair, or a comparable professional environment.
• Demonstrate proficiency appropriate to assigned courses in the major welding processes used by the Delgado Welding Program, including SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, and GTAW.
• Thorough knowledge of welding theory, practices, processes, terminology, equipment, and applications.
• Knowledge and demonstrated proficiency in SMAW welding.
• Knowledge and demonstrated proficiency in GMAW welding.
• Knowledge and demonstrated proficiency in FCAW welding.
• Knowledge and demonstrated proficiency in GTAW welding.
• Knowledge of welding in flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead positions.
• Knowledge of groove and fillet welds and common joint configurations.
• Knowledge of plate welding and pipe welding principles and practices.
• Knowledge of oxyfuel, plasma arc, and other applicable thermal cutting processes.
• Knowledge of welding-machine setup, polarity, amperage, voltage, wire-feed speed, shielding gas selection, and other process variables.
• Knowledge of electrodes, filler metals, shielding gases, base metals, and their appropriate applications.
• Knowledge of welding metallurgy, heat input, distortion, preheat, interpass temperature, and other factors affecting weld quality.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, welding symbols, and welding procedure specifications.
• Knowledge of fabrication, layout, measurement, fit-up, and dimensional tolerances.
• Knowledge of common weld discontinuities, defects, causes, corrective actions, and visual inspection techniques.
• Working knowledge of applicable AWS welding standards and codes.
• Working knowledge of OSHA standards and accepted welding-shop safety practices.
• Knowledge of compressed gas cylinder storage, handling, and use.
• Knowledge of ventilation, fume control, fire prevention, hot-work procedures, electrical hazards, and PPE requirements.
• Ability to diagnose welding problems and explain the relationship between welding-machine settings, technique, material preparation, electrode or filler selection, and resulting weld quality.
• Ability to translate advanced welding knowledge and field experience into understandable classroom and laboratory instruction.
• Ability to demonstrate welding techniques safely, accurately, and effectively.
• Ability to explain both the theoretical principles and practical application of welding processes.
• Ability to observe student welding techniques, diagnose problems, and provide specific corrective instruction.
• Ability to develop hands-on exercises that progressively build student proficiency.
• Ability to evaluate student welds objectively against established performance criteria.
• Ability to develop lesson plans, demonstrations, instructional materials, projects, examinations, and other assessments.
• Ability to teach students with varying levels of academic preparation, welding experience, and learning needs.
• Ability to maintain effective classroom and welding-laboratory management.
• Ability to integrate industry expectations and workplace behaviors into technical instruction.
• Ability to use technology appropriately to support instruction and student learning.
• Ability to establish a laboratory culture in which safety, quality, productivity, professionalism, and accountability are continuously reinforced.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and student-development skills.
• Strong organizational, planning, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple courses, welding laboratories, projects, equipment, supplies, and deadlines.
• Ability to maintain accurate academic, safety, equipment, inventory, and industry-credential records.
• Basic computer proficiency and the ability to utilize Microsoft Office, Canvas or another learning-management system, electronic communication, and College information systems.
• Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, administrators, employers, advisory committee members, apprenticeships, unions, and community partners.
• Ability to establish effective professional relationships with students from diverse educational and occupational backgrounds.
• Ability to participate effectively in curriculum development, program review, assessment, recruitment, retention, and institutional service.
• Commitment to remaining current with advances in welding technology, welding codes, equipment, safety requirements, and industry practices.
• Commitment to student success and workforce preparation.
• Possess appropriate current welding qualifications, certifications, or documented industry credentials relevant to the welding processes to be taught, or demonstrate equivalent competency through the College's practical skills assessment.
• Obtain and maintain NCCER Craft Instructor Certification and other NCCER credentials necessary to deliver and document NCCER training within the timeframe established by the College, normally within 90 days of employment.
• Obtain OSHA 10-Hour Construction or General Industry certification within 90 days of employment if not already held.
• Obtain and maintain any additional instructor, evaluator, proctor, or credentialing authorization necessary for the College to administer NCCER, AWS SENSE, or other industry-based certifications included in the Welding curriculum.

Nice To Haves

• Associate degree or higher in Welding Technology, Welding Engineering Technology, Industrial Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, or a related discipline.
• Technical Diploma or Certificate of Technical Studies in Welding.
• NCCER Welding credentials.
• NCCER Craft Instructor Certification.
• American Welding Society Certified Welding Educator (AWS CWE) certification.
• American Welding Society Certified Welding Inspector (AWS CWI) certification.
• Current AWS welder performance qualifications.
• OSHA 30-Hour Construction or General Industry certification.
• Experience with AWS SENSE curriculum and credentialing.
• Experience with NCCER Welding Levels 1 and 2 curriculum and credentialing.
• Experience welding structural steel, plate, and pipe.
• Experience with SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, and GTAW in multiple positions.
• Industrial pipe welding experience.
• Experience in shipbuilding, petrochemical, refinery, energy, manufacturing, structural fabrication, or industrial construction environments.
• Knowledge of applicable AWS and ASME welding codes and standards.
• Experience with welding inspection and quality-control practices.
• Experience as a lead welder, welding supervisor, foreman, welding inspector, fabrication supervisor, or similar position.
• Experience training apprentices, employees, or other welding personnel.
• Teaching experience at a community college, technical college, apprenticeship program, high school CTE program, union training center, or industry training organization.
• Experience teaching adult learners and/or dual enrollment students.
• Experience administering industry-based credentials and welding performance tests.
• Experience with curriculum development, assessment of student learning outcomes, and program review.
• Experience with Canvas or another learning-management system.

Responsibilities

• Teach assigned welding lecture, laboratory, and related technical courses.
• Provide classroom instruction, hands-on demonstrations, and supervised laboratory experiences in areas including welding and shop safety, welding fundamentals, various welding processes (SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW), thermal cutting processes, weld positions, joint preparation, blueprint interpretation, metallurgy, consumables, and inspection.
• Integrate NCCER curriculum, competencies, module examinations, performance profiles, and credentialing requirements into instruction.
• Incorporate AWS SENSE standards and other applicable industry standards into course delivery and student skill assessment.
• Demonstrate proper setup, adjustment, operation, troubleshooting, shutdown, and maintenance of welding machines and related equipment.
• Demonstrate safe use of grinders, saws, cutting equipment, compressed gas systems, ventilation equipment, hand tools, power tools, and other welding and fabrication equipment.
• Maintain strict compliance with College safety procedures, OSHA requirements, hot-work practices, personal protective equipment requirements, and applicable industry standards.
• Establish and enforce welding-laboratory safety procedures and immediately address unsafe practices or conditions.
• Develop laboratory exercises and fabrication projects that require students to demonstrate measurable welding competencies.
• Evaluate student welds based upon appropriate visual and dimensional criteria and provide specific corrective feedback.
• Prepare students for applicable NCCER, AWS SENSE, employer, apprenticeship, and industry certification or qualification examinations.
• Assess student performance through written examinations, laboratory assignments, welding performance tests, projects, demonstrations, and other appropriate methods.
• Maintain accurate student attendance, grades, performance records, credentialing documentation, and other required academic records.
• Maintain scheduled office hours and provide academic, technical, and career advising to students.
• Assist students in developing workplace competencies including attendance, punctuality, safety, productivity, teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and professional conduct.
• Maintain the welding laboratory in a clean, safe, organized, and industry-appropriate condition.
• Regularly inspect welding machines, leads, torches, regulators, cylinders, ventilation systems, booths, PPE, and other equipment and remove unsafe equipment from service.
• Maintain accurate inventories of welding machines, tools, equipment, gases, electrodes, filler metals, consumables, PPE, and instructional supplies.
• Assist with specifications, selection, purchasing, installation, and replacement of welding equipment and laboratory technology.
• Monitor consumable usage and assist with development of annual laboratory supply and equipment budgets.
• Participate in curriculum development, program review, student learning outcomes assessment, credential alignment, and continuous program improvement.
• Maintain currency in welding technologies, materials, processes, equipment, codes, safety requirements, and industry practices.
• Develop and maintain relationships with welding contractors, fabricators, shipyards, manufacturers, industrial facilities, construction companies, unions, apprenticeship programs, and other employers.
• Participate in Welding Advisory Committee activities and incorporate relevant employer feedback into program improvement.
• Assist with internships, apprenticeships, work-based learning, employer demonstrations, job placement, and other student employment activities.
• Participate in student recruitment, career fairs, welding demonstrations, SkillsUSA or similar activities, open houses, and other College outreach events.
• Participate in departmental, school, faculty, and College meetings and committees as assigned.
• Complete required professional development and College training.
• Utilize Canvas and other College-designated instructional and administrative technologies.
• Perform other duties consistent with the responsibilities of full-time faculty.

Benefits

• Retirement
• Multiple medical insurance options
• Supplemental insurances (dental, term life, disability, accident, vision, etc.)
• Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan (saves tax dollars on some child care and medical expenses)
• Holidays (14 per year, typically includes longer break at Christmas)
• Generous annual (vacation) and sick leave benefits
• Employee Assistance Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree