The posting
The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc. (MSG) is a people focused, award-winning, full-service consulting firm that offers a wide array of services including civil and geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting, planning, landscape architecture, agriculture, surveying and construction support. Our talented staff of more than 650+ professionals deliver integrated planning, design, engineering and construction solutions.
Position Summary
The Construction Inspector / AWS Certified Welding Inspector serves as an independent field representative of a civil engineering, construction materials testing, and special-inspection firm. The inspector observes construction activities, performs and coordinates required inspections and testing, and verifies that structural steel fabrication and erection, welded connections, bolted connections, and related construction work comply with the approved contract documents, project specifications, statement of special inspections, and project-specified edition of AWS D1.1/D1.1M. The role supports a large, complex construction project through timely field coverage, accurate and traceable reporting, prompt escalation of deficiencies, and professional coordination with the firm’s project manager, contractor, fabricator, testing personnel, Engineer of Record, owner, construction manager, and authority having jurisdiction. The inspector must remain impartial and work only within the firm’s contracted scope, assigned duties, certifications, and delegated authority.
Key Responsibilities
- Review the assigned inspection scope, statement of special inspections, project specifications, issued-for-construction drawings, approved shop drawings and submittals, RFIs and responses, approved changes, inspection and testing plans, work packages, and applicable codes before performing inspections
- Review welding procedure specifications (WPSs), procedure qualification records (PQRs), welder or welding operator qualification records, material certifications, and other supporting documents applicable to the structural steel work.
- Attend preconstruction, preparatory, coordination, quality, and shift-handoff meetings as assigned to understand upcoming work, inspection hold points, testing needs, access requirements, and reporting expectations.
- Coordinate daily inspection and testing coverage with the firm’s project manager or lead inspector and authorized site contacts using contractor look-ahead schedules, inspection requests, and active work locations.
- Observe construction activities and verify that the inspected work is performed in general accordance with approved documents and applicable acceptance criteria. Document the specific work observed and do not represent unobserved work as inspected.
- Perform visual inspection before, during, and after welding, including material and member identification, joint preparation, fit-up, backing, alignment, cleanliness, preheat and interpass temperature, consumable control, welding technique, weld size and length, final profile, and visible discontinuities.
- Verify that applicable WPSs, base materials, filler metals, equipment, and welding personnel qualifications are available, current, and appropriate for the work observed.
- Inspect structural steel erection and connections for member identification, location, orientation, configuration, bearing, alignment, workmanship, and conformance with approved documents without performing survey layout or assuming the contractor’s quality-control responsibilities.
- Inspect high-strength bolting in accordance with the project specifications and applicable RCSC, AISC, building-code, and special-inspection requirements, including storage and condition of components, snug-tight condition, installation method, preinstallation verification, and required observation frequency
- Witness welder qualification, procedure qualification, bolt preinstallation verification, repair activities, or other specified testing when assigned and authorized, and accurately document the conditions and results.
- Perform or coordinate nondestructive testing only when included in the contracted scope and only when the individual performing the testing is qualified and certified for the applicable method under the employer’s written practice and project requirements.
- Coordinate with other third-party inspectors and testing technicians when structural steel work interfaces with concrete, masonry, soils, fireproofing, roofing, building-envelope, or other inspected construction. Report potential scope gaps or conflicting activities to project management.
- Verify that required inspections occur at the specified continuous or periodic frequency and notify project management promptly when work proceeds without required notice, access, documentation, or inspection coverage.
- Prepare complete daily inspection reports identifying the date and shift, inspector, weather when relevant, area and grid location, member or connection, contractor, activity observed, applicable drawing and WPS, inspection type and extent, measurements, tests, photographs, discussions, deficiencies, and disposition status.
- Enter reports, photographs, test data, and supporting records into the designated field-reporting or document-control system within required timeframes and maintain traceability to the inspected work.
- Immediately communicate rejected, deficient, or potentially nonconforming work through the established project escalation path. Issue or support field observation, discrepancy, deficiency, or nonconformance records as required by project procedures.
- Observe and document approved repairs and corrective work and perform required reinspection or coordinate retesting. Do not close a deficiency unless objective evidence satisfies the applicable acceptance criteria and authorized closeout process.
- Maintain a current log of open deficiencies, missed inspections, pending documentation, reinspection needs, and unresolved technical questions for assigned areas.
- Promptly notify project management of changed conditions, out-of-scope requests, additional inspection frequency, excessive reinspection, standby time, restricted access, schedule shifts, or staffing constraints that may affect cost, coverage, or contract compliance.
- Maintain assigned gauges, temperature devices, lighting aids, NDT equipment, and other inspection instruments in serviceable condition with current calibration or certification records.
- Follow the firm’s quality management system, project health and safety plan, ethics and independence requirements, client confidentiality obligations, and record-retention procedures.
- Perform related construction inspection, testing coordination, documentation, and closeout duties within the employee’s qualifications, certifications, contracted scope, and written authorization.
Authority and Responsibility
The inspector observes, tests, documents, and reports only the construction activities and locations actually covered within the firm’s contracted scope. Third-party inspection provides independent verification and does not relieve the contractor, subcontractors, fabricators, or installers of responsibility for quality control, code compliance, workmanship, sequencing, or correction of deficiencies. Unless expressly authorized in writing, the inspector does not direct construction means or methods; supervise contractor personnel; control production or site safety; perform survey layout; approve shop drawings, design changes, substitutions, deviations, or repairs; waive inspection or testing requirements; accept nonconforming work; certify unobserved work; stop work; or commit the firm to additional services. The inspector may advise the designated project representative of observed conditions and applicable requirements. Unsafe access, missed inspections, work concealed before inspection, suspected nonconformance, conflicting documents, and out-of-scope requests must be documented and promptly escalated through the established project chain of communication.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods; bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and reach while performing inspections
- Ability to climb ladders, stairs, scaffolding, and structural steel and to work at heights while properly using personal fall-arrest equipment.
- Ability to access confined or restricted work areas where permitted and properly trained
- Document the specific work observed and do not represent unobserved work as inspected
- Perform visual inspection before, during, and after welding, including material and member identification, joint preparation, fit-up, backing, alignment, cleanliness, preheat and interpass temperature, consumable control, welding technique, weld size and length, final profile, and visible discontinuities
- Verify that applicable WPSs, base materials, filler metals, equipment, and welding personnel qualifications are available, current, and appropriate for the work observed.
- Inspect structural steel erection and connections for member identification, location, orientation, configuration, bearing, alignment, workmanship, and conformance with approved documents without performing survey layout or assuming the contractor’s quality-control responsibilities.
- Inspect high-strength bolting in accordance with the project specifications and applicable RCSC, AISC, building-code, and special-inspection requirements, including storage and condition of components, snug-tight condition, installation method, preinstallation verification, and required observation frequency
- Witness welder qualification, procedure qualification, bolt preinstallation verification, repair activities, or other specified testing when assigned and authorized, and accurately document the conditions and results
- Perform or coordinate nondestructive testing only when included in the contracted scope and only when the individual performing the testing is qualified and certified for the applicable method under the employer’s written practice and project requirements.
- Coordinate with other third-party inspectors and testing technicians when structural steel work interfaces with concrete, masonry, soils, fireproofing, roofing, building-envelope, or other inspected construction. Report potential scope gaps or conflicting activities to project management.
- Verify that required inspections occur at the specified continuous or periodic frequency and notify project management promptly when work proceeds without required notice, access, documentation, or inspection coverage
- Prepare complete daily inspection reports identifying the date and shift, inspector, weather when relevant, area and grid location, member or connection, contractor, activity observed, applicable drawing and WPS, inspection type and extent, measurements, tests, photographs, discussions, deficiencies, and disposition status.
- Experience performing independent third-party construction inspection, special inspection, quality assurance, or construction materials testing on commercial, industrial, infrastructure, mission-critical, or similarly complex projects
- Working knowledge of structural steel erection, welding processes, base and filler metals, joint design, welding symbols, weld discontinuities, high-strength bolting, inspection tools, and applicable acceptance criteria
- Ability to read and apply construction drawings, shop drawings, project specifications, approved submittals, RFIs, approved changes, WPSs, PQRs, qualification records, inspection matrices, and statements of special inspections
- Ability to recognize required inspection points, distinguish continuous from periodic inspection, define the limits of work observed, and communicate when required coverage has not occurred.
- Ability to prepare accurate, timely, factual, and defensible electronic field reports with clear locations, photographs, measurements, test references, deficiencies, and follow-up status.
- Ability to maintain independence, recognize contractual scope boundaries, and use formal communication and escalation protocols in a multiemployer construction environment.
- Strong written and verbal communication, organization, situational awareness, and ability to work across multiple active work areas and changing schedules.
- Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record where travel to project sites or fabrication facilities is required.
Work Environment and Schedule
Work is performed at fabrication facilities and on a large, active construction site with multiple contractors, simultaneous operations, restricted-access areas, evolving work fronts, heavy equipment, cranes, steel erection, noise, dust, welding fumes, weather exposure, and uneven surfaces. The position may be assigned to a dedicated project team for an extended duration and may require travel, early starts, nights, overtime, rotating shifts, or schedule changes to match fabrication, erection, and testing activities. Inspectors may be required to work extended hours, including shifts of up to 10 hours per day, and may frequently be required to work weekends to maintain required inspection coverage or catch up on inspections affected by project scheduling, access, or construction progress. The inspector must complete project badging, orientation, drug and alcohol screening, background checks, site-specific training, and other access requirements where applicable. Required personal protective equipment and the project health and safety plan must be followed at all times.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Minimum Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED; technical education in welding, engineering technology, construction inspection, construction materials testing, or a related field is preferred.
- Current AWS Certified Welding Inspector credential in good standing and current visual-acuity documentation meeting applicable AWS certification requirements.
- Demonstrated experience applying the project-specified edition of AWS D1.1/D1.1M during structural steel fabrication and field erection.
Preferred Qualifications
- AWS D1.1 endorsement or equivalent documented structural welding inspection experience.
- ICC Structural Steel and Bolting Special Inspector certification where required by the authority having jurisdiction or statement of special inspections.
- ASNT, ACCP, or employer-based Level II certification in applicable nondestructive testing methods, such as ultrasonic testing (UT), magnetic particle testing (MT), or liquid penetrant testing (PT), in accordance with the employer’s written practice
- Additional ICC special-inspector, ACI, NICET, or materials-testing certifications relevant to the firm’s contracted services are beneficial
- Experience with large, multiyear construction programs involving multiple contractors, simultaneous work fronts, phased turnover, extended shifts, and formal quality-management systems.
- Experience using electronic inspection-request, field-reporting, photograph-management, deficiency-tracking, and document-control platforms.
Benefits
The base salary range for this role is indicated in the posting. This range reflects the company’s good faith estimate of the compensation for this position at the time of posting. Final compensation will be determined based on factors such as experience, skills, qualifications, internal equity, and geographic location.
Included benefits are as follows:
- 401(k) w/ company match
- Health insurance w/ HSA option, Vision, Dental, Life
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Tuition reimbursement
- Catalytic Coaching - Employees draft a development plan aimed at improving contributions in their current job and increasing the potential for other opportunities. MSG is all about bringing out the best in people at work!
It is the policy of our company to follow equal employment opportunity procedures in compliance with federal, state and local criteria. We will provide all applicants for employment, and all employees, with equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, marital status, arrest record, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military or veteran status, and/or any other protected classes covered by any local, state and federal laws.
