American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) · 14 hours ago
Engineer, Senior II, Technology
Houston, TX, United States
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
7+ years expAmerican Bureau of Shipping (ABS) is a leading Classification Society focused on promoting safety and environmental preservation in the maritime and offshore industries. The Senior Materials Engineer will lead research and development initiatives involving advanced robotics for welding applications, while also providing expertise on materials degradation mechanisms to support various technology projects.
EnergyMarine TransportationNon ProfitRenewable EnergyShipping
Responsibilities
Identify, define, and propose Technology programs and projects in your technical area (materials, welding, and robotics), and recommend priorities for projects within the Technology department
Lead investigations into the requirements, standards, and qualification processes associated with the use of humanoid and other robotic systems for shipyard welding, including: (1) Developing and assessing welding procedures for robotic welding applications. (2) Defining data requirements and acceptance criteria for weld quality based on sensor and process data from robots. (3) Evaluating methods to qualify robotic welding systems and operators and to qualify the resulting welds
Plan and manage assigned programs and projects, including scoping, budgeting, scheduling, execution, and reporting, ensuring delivery on time and within budget
Serve as technical lead or key member of multidisciplinary project teams addressing robotics, welding, structural integrity, and digital technologies (e.g., sensors, data analytics, digital twins)
Provide subject‑matter expertise on materials behavior and degradation mechanisms (e.g., corrosion, fatigue, fracture, embrittlement) in marine and offshore environments to support Technology and Engineering projects
Contribute to the development of ABS rules, guidance notes, and best practices related to robotic welding, weld quality, and material performance
Ensure high‑quality service delivery and maintain strong relationships with internal and external customers, including shipyards, owners, OEMs, and technology providers
Stay actively informed of technical, regulatory, and business developments related to materials, welding, robotics, and digitalization, and promptly communicate relevant insights to management and project teams
Actively promote ABS’s services and capabilities in your areas of expertise throughout the maritime and offshore technical and business community
Author and present technical papers, reports, and presentations related to materials, welding, robotics, and structural integrity for internal and external audiences
Provide day‑to‑day leadership, mentoring, and technical guidance to Technology and Engineering staff in your areas of expertise
Ensure that all ABS Health, Safety, Quality, and Environmental Management System requirements and ABS Quality System requirements are fulfilled within your areas of responsibility
Qualification
Required
Minimum of seven (7) years of relevant engineering experience in a shipyard, maritime‑related industry, research organization, robotics/welding automation environment, or classification society preferred
B.S. degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture, Civil/Structural Engineering, Ocean Engineering, or other closely related discipline; an advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) with emphasis on materials or welding is preferred
Strong foundation in materials science and engineering, with emphasis on metallic materials used in marine and offshore structures
Hands‑on experience with welding processes (e.g., SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, SAW) in shipyard or heavy‑fabrication environments, including welding procedure development, weld quality determination, and non‑destructive testing (NDT/NDE)
Familiarity with welding automation or robotic welding systems (including programming, process monitoring, or integration with production workflows); experience with humanoid or collaborative robots is a plus
Understanding of materials degradation mechanisms relevant to marine and offshore applications, including corrosion, fatigue, fracture, and related structural integrity considerations
Ability to interpret and apply relevant codes and standards (e.g., AWS, ASME, ISO, and/or comparable classification society requirements) related to materials, welding, and inspection
Experience using data from sensors, monitoring systems, or digital platforms to assess weld quality, structural condition, or material performance is highly desirable
Demonstrated ability to lead project bidding and execution, either independently or as part of a multidisciplinary team
Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical topics in clear, concise, and practical terms to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively and build strong working relationships across functions and organizations
Ability to perform under pressure and deliver results in a dynamic, fast‑paced work environment
Proven technical writing skills and experience preparing formal reports, proposals, and/or technical papers
Working knowledge of the ABS Health, Safety, Quality, and Environmental Management System (or similar HSE/quality frameworks)
Preferred
Experience developing or implementing digital tools related to welding and materials (e.g., data analytics, digital twins, or predictive models for weld quality or degradation)
Proficiency in Python or similar programming languages for data analysis, automation, or integration with robotic systems
Prior experience working with or within shipyards, offshore construction yards, or robotic system suppliers in the maritime or heavy‑industry sectors
Benefits
Medical insurance (PPO and HD)
Dental and vision insurance
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Flexible Savings Account (FSA)
Life insurance
Accidental death and dismemberment insurance
Disability leave programs
Parental leave program
Paid holidays
Paid vacation time
Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)
401K plan with a generous company match
Company
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
Since its founding in 1862, ABS has been committed to setting standards for safety and excellence as one of the world’s leading ship classification organizations.
5001-10000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (12)
2024 (11)
2023 (9)
2022 (19)
2021 (16)
2020 (27)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Patrick Ryan
Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer
Stamatis Fradelos
VP of Regulatory Affairs
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