Principal Quality Control Engineer – Mechanical / Piping / Welding Inspector

Principal Quality Control Engineer – Mechanical / Piping / Welding Inspector

COMPA Industries is searching for qualified candidates for a Principal Quality Control Engineer – Mechanical / Piping / Welding Inspector position supporting DOE/NNSA operations in Aiken, SC.

Pay: $110–$120/hr
Location: Aiken, SC
Citizenship: US Citizenship Required
Clearance: Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE "Q" clearance

Mandatory Experience Requirement – Read Before Applying

Candidates must have prior DOE work experience and prior experience working under an ASME NQA-1 quality program.

Applicants without direct mechanical, piping, and welding quality control experience will not be considered competitive for this role. Candidates with AWS CWI or prior SNT-TC-1A VT Level II certification are highly preferred.

Impact

• As a Principal Quality Control Engineer – Mechanical / Piping / Welding Inspector, you will play a critical role in ensuring construction and maintenance activities meet rigorous quality, safety, code, specification, and nuclear quality assurance requirements.
• Your work will directly support compliant construction execution, inspection readiness, subcontractor quality oversight, non-conformance resolution, and safe delivery of mission-critical DOE/NNSA projects.
• Responsibilities and Duties
• Quality Control Leadership & Oversight
• Supervise and direct quality control engineers assigned to perform inspections and surveillance in support of project work and maintenance activities.
• Provide quality control support to construction management and direct personnel to implement quality requirements and accurately status inspection results.
• Establish priorities that support construction and operations needs.
• Coordinate with internal and external departments to resolve complex quality issues.
• Provide leadership that supports safe work habits, efficient performance, timely information exchange, and commitment to site policies.
• Participate in contract discussions related to quality activities.
• Prepare comprehensive status reports for construction quality activities.
• Subcontractor Quality & Compliance
• Review and approve subcontractor quality procedures.
• Monitor subcontractor adherence to approved quality procedures.
• Coordinate assigned QC engineers and construction departments to ensure construction activities comply with site specifications, standards, codes, and project quality requirements.
• Review product and process compliance with drawings, specifications, codes, standards, supplied materials, and equipment requirements.
• Quality Procedures, Training & Personnel Qualification
• Prepare quality procedures to ensure proper inspection, testing, and surveillance activities are being performed.
• Provide effective quality training programs.
• Ensure assigned personnel are qualified to perform assigned inspection and surveillance tasks.
• Support performance evaluations of assigned personnel.
• Mechanical / Piping / Welding Inspection Focus
• Develop, revise, and perform peer reviews of Quality Control Inspection Plans related to mechanical, piping, and welding.
• Perform field inspections in accordance with approved Quality Control Inspection Plans.
• Document inspection results on applicable inspection records.
• Issue Non-Conformance Reports as required.
• Verify compliance with design output documents, drawings, specifications, codes, standards, supplied materials, and installed equipment.
• Support a work environment that promotes safety, quality, openness, trust, communication, teamwork, and customer satisfaction.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline and 8–10 years of practical experience in construction inspection or related areas
• OR Associate degree and 10–12 years of practical experience
• OR High school diploma and 12–16 years of practical experience
• Required Skills
• Education / Experience
• Bachelor's degree, associate degree, or high school diploma with the required equivalent experience outlined above.
• Practical construction inspection, quality control, or related field experience.
• Certification in areas of responsibility is required, with ongoing programmatic training per project quality program requirements.
• Core Technical Skills
• Prior DOE work experience.
• Prior experience working under an ASME NQA-1 quality program.
• Mechanical, piping, and welding quality control experience.
• Experience performing construction inspection and surveillance activities.
• Ability to develop, revise, and peer review Quality Control Inspection Plans.
• Ability to perform field inspections in accordance with Quality Control Inspection Plans.
• Ability to document inspection results and issue Non-Conformance Reports.
• Ability to review drawings, specifications, codes, standards, supplied materials, and equipment for compliance.
• Experience reviewing and approving subcontractor quality procedures.
• Experience coordinating QC activities with construction management, subcontractors, and project teams.
• Strong understanding of inspection, testing, surveillance, quality records, and construction quality documentation.
• Leadership & Communication
• Well-developed organizational and supervisory skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to supervise and direct QC engineers or inspection personnel.
• Ability to resolve complex quality issues across internal and external organizations.
• Ability to prepare quality status reports and communicate inspection results clearly.
• Commitment to safety, quality, teamwork, openness, communication, and customer satisfaction.

Preferred Skills

• AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI).
• Prior SNT-TC-1A VT Level II certification.
• Practical field experience in mechanical, piping, and welding quality control within the past 16 months.
• Active or recent DOE "L" or "Q" clearance within the past two years.
• Prior SRS or SRNS experience.
• Experience supporting DOE, NNSA, nuclear, federal, industrial, or large capital construction projects.
• Experience with subcontractor quality program oversight.
• Experience preparing NCRs, quality procedures, inspection records, and quality status reports.
• Security Requirements
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE "Q" clearance.
• Subcontractor must have an active eFOCI registration and approved Facility Level Clearance with DOE/NNSA.
• Work Environment
• Onsite – Aiken, SC
• Field inspection work required.
• Must be able to support construction and maintenance activities in active industrial, nuclear, or project environments.
• Must follow all site safety rules, obtain required safety training, and stop work if unsafe conditions are identified.

Work Schedule

• 40-hour work week.
• SRNS may utilize schedules including 5/8s, 4/10s, and 9/80s.
• Overtime may be required at times to meet deliverables and will be utilized at the manager's discretion.

Why Work at COMPA Industries?

We don't just offer jobs—we build careers. COMPA Industries supports mission-critical DOE programs with best-in-class engineering, quality, construction, and technical services.

Join a team where your quality expertise directly supports national security, nuclear safety, construction excellence, and DOE/NNSA mission success.

COMPA Industries is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
No C2C. No third-party agencies.

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