QC Manager

About the Role: The Quality Control Manager leads the quality assurance and quality control program within a structural steel fabrication and heavy manufacturing environment. This role oversees inspection processes, welding quality standards, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives to ensure fabricated steel products meet engineering specifications, industry standards, and customer requirements. The Quality Control Manager collaborates with production leadership, engineering teams, and external inspectors to maintain AISC compliance, manage welding certification programs, and drive manufacturing quality excellence.Responsibilities:Manage and oversee the plant-wide quality control program to ensure fabricated structural steel meets engineering specifications, customer requirements, and delivery schedules.Lead quality assurance activities including weld inspections, dimensional inspections, coating verification, material verification, and fastener compliance.Administer AISC quality management standards, ensuring documentation accuracy, employee compliance, and readiness for AISC certification audits.Supervise and mentor Quality Control Inspectors, conduct performance reviews, provide technical training, and enforce quality procedures.Collaborate with production management and project management teams to ensure fabrication processes follow established quality procedures and regulatory requirements.Manage welder qualification and certification programs, ensuring welders are qualified according to WPS, PQR, and customer specifications.Coordinate inspections with DOT inspectors, customer engineers, and third party testing agencies while maintaining accurate project documentation and inspection records.Oversee internal and outsourced non-destructive testing programs including magnetic particle testing, visual inspection, ultrasonic testing, and related NDT processes.Maintain and update the Quality Control Manual and implement continuous improvement initiatives aligned with Lean Manufacturing and quality management principles.Participate in plant leadership meetings to support operational planning, quality improvement strategies, and cross-functional manufacturing initiatives.Qualifications:Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification required.Minimum 5 years of experience managing or leading quality control functions in heavy manufacturing, steel fabrication, or industrial production environments.Strong knowledge of welding processes, structural steel fabrication, coatings, and non-destructive testing methods such as VT, MT, or UT inspections.Experience with AISC quality standards, fabrication inspection procedures, and regulatory compliance within manufacturing operations.Ability to read and interpret blueprints, fabrication drawings, engineering specifications, and welding procedure specifications.Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.Proficiency with computer applications including spreadsheets, quality reporting systems, and statistical analysis tools.Desired Qualifications:ASNT Level II Visual Testing (VT) certification or additional NDT certifications such as MT or UT Level II.NACE or SSPC Level I coating inspection certification or ability to obtain certification within a defined timeframe.Bachelor's degree in Quality Management, Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related technical field.Experience working with DOT inspectors, bridge fabrication projects, or transportation infrastructure manufacturing.Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement methodologies, and manufacturing quality systems.