Manager, Welding Engineering
at Seaspan

Job Description

The Manager, Welding Engineering oversees all welding engineering activities in support of vessel construction activities at Vancouver Shipyards (VSY). This includes Joint Support Ship for Royal Canadian Navy, future Coast Guard vessels including Polar Icebreaker new build work. The role of Manager, Welding Engineering requires significant internal (welding/steel trade manager, stage of construction managers, and project managers) and external (regulatory bodies, applicable statutory agencies, and customers) communication. The position also requires benchmarking standard methodologies and ensures that desired weld procedures are certified, and the most productive processes and technologies are employed in production to meet quality requirements and labour hours targets. This role is one of a production productivity and operational continuous improvement focus. It will lead the Welding Engineering team in lockstep support of operational performance needs in the shipyard. In addition, this role will support the Welding Centre of Excellence (COE) activities to improve productivity and quality. The Manager, Welding Engineering directly reports to Sr. Manager, Welding Engineering and Welding Quality for Seaspan Shipyards

Note: Due to business needs, this position is required to be fully on-site based at 50 Pemberton Avenue, North Vancouver, BC.

What you'll do

• Support the needs of Production
• Provide ongoing opportunities for improving welding productivity in the shipyard.
• Work as the technical counterpart with the Operations Steel and Welding Managers.
• Handle developing and qualifying welding procedures as required to ensure weld quality requirements and expected productivity are met.
• Ensure all welding procedures and consumables in use meet the contract requirements.
• Ensure that all projects are fully supported to the degree vital aid in meeting production schedules commitments.
• Plan, organize, and supervise welding engineering projects from start to finish. This includes setting project landmarks, handling resources, supervising progress, and ensuring accurate completion within budgetary constraints. Adhering to project schedules and coordinating with other departments or collaborators as required.
• Investigate new and existing equipment, consumables, technologies, and techniques, with the aim of ensuring the most efficient processes are being deployed by Seaspan.
• Support new construction model/drawing reviews from a welding engineering perspective and provide supports to Operations/Design/Engineering teams.
• Supply and support a variety of Research and Development projects.
• Provides comprehensive leadership expertise by reviewing proposals, and scopes of work.
• Communicate department issues and central initiatives to the Sr. Manager.
• Maintain a resource and capability plan for their area of responsibility.
• Make informed and timely decisions based on available information and considering the impact on project timelines, budgets, and quality. Be able to assess risks, evaluate alternatives, and communicate decisions optimally.
• In support of the Technical Authority ensure engineering efforts (including EGBC requirements) and project/product safety are planned and driven in accordance with company policies, procedures, processes, and best practices.
• Establish relationships with suppliers, customers and Classification societies and liaise with other departments.
• Maintain awareness of welding issues and changes within projects and communicate as necessary to the Sr. Manager.
• Provide mentoring and technical advice to subordinate resources in the department in support of departmental replacement and succession planning.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

• A degree in Welding Engineering, or Metallurgy (or equivalent)
• Minimum 5 years of post-secondary experience in welding engineering in a large manufacturing environment, preferably in the shipbuilding industry.
• Minimum 4 years supervision of subordinates.
• Must have demonstrable experience in working for trade-based Operation functions.
• Must have demonstrable experience in Continuous Improvement functions.
• Must have demonstrable experience in leading change outside of direct reporting lines.
• Eligibility for EGBC P.Eng. status is preferred.
• Applicable knowledge of shipbuilding welding processes including at a minimum shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), flux cored arc welding (FCAW), metal cored arc welding (MCAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), submerged arc welding (SAW), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), and stud welding.
• Knowledge of International, Class and Canadian material, welding and testing codes, rules, and standards (e.g., CSA, Lloyds, DNV, ASME, ISO and AWS)
• Knowledge of non-destructive weld test processes and procedures including, but not limited to, visual, radiographic, ultrasonic, and magnetic particle inspection.
• Demonstrate strong ethical standards and promoting a culture of integrity within the welding engineering team.
• Be flexible and adaptable in a dynamic and changing work environment. Respond effectively to unforeseen challenges or shifts in project requirements. Encourage the team to embrace change and adapt
• Strong technical writing skills including the ability to produce and present clear, detailed written technical specifications, procedures, and reports.
• Ability to read and interpret specifications, drawings, and 3D models.
• Interpersonal skills including conflict resolution and problem solving.
• Sophisticated technical knowledge and engineering skills.
• Continuous improvement skills.
• Demonstrate effective leadership and influencing skills and practices.
• Demonstrates ability to work independently to develop solutions to complex technical problems.
• Strong analytical skills to capture and analyze/synthesize data, confirming its accuracy and adequacy as an integral part of the collective analysis/synthesis process.
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills.
• Computer proficiency required. Working knowledge of basic Microsoft Office software suite (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint).
• Ability to obtain Industrial Security.

• This is a full-time, permanent position. With multiple operations and long-term projects, Seaspan employees enjoy job stability as we look ahead to build ships for decades to come.
• In addition to an annual bonus and pension plan matching, this role provides you a very competitive salary in line with the successful candidate's experience.
• We also provide a best-in-class health and wellness benefits package for this position, including such things as full health care (e.g. unlimited physiotherapy), dental, vision, life insurance, medical leave coverage, parental leave coverage, childcare benefit partnership, wellness/fitness reimbursement for memberships or registration fees, and an Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP).
• Free on-site gym
• Parking is included and to assist those that are using transit, we operate a complimentary shuttle bus Monday through Friday with various pick up and drop off points around North Vancouver.

The estimated salary for this position is $121,500-$148,500. In determining final salary, Seaspan considers many factors including the successful Candidate's skillset and experience as well as position location and internal equity. The final base salary offer will be at the Company's sole discretion and presented as part of a competitive total compensation package.