Welding Instructor

General Description

SUNY Niagara is seeking a dedicated and skilled Welding Instructor to join our expanding Business & STEM Division. This is an exciting opportunity in a program that is experiencing tremendous growth and momentum.

Our Welding program is housed in a state-of-the-art, 4,500 sq. ft. Welding & Metal Fabrication Shop located on SUNY Niagara's main campus. This modern facility provides students and faculty with cutting-edge instructional space, advanced equipment, and an environment designed for hands-on learning and workforce preparation. With lab sections capped at just 10 students per faculty member, instructors are able to provide meaningful individualized instruction and mentorship that supports student success.

This position will be responsible for delivering high-quality theoretical and hands-on instruction across various welding processes, contributing to curriculum development, maintaining shop safety, and participating in the broader academic community of the college.

The Instructor will teach undergraduate-level courses and practical lab sessions, which may include Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), blueprint reading, metallurgy, and fabrication. The successful candidate will foster a supportive, inclusive learning environment, utilize diverse pedagogical strategies to engage students, and maintain rigorous academic and industry standards to prepare students for the modern workforce.

As a full-time faculty member, the Instructor will provide instruction within the department, manage laboratory facilities and equipment, engage in committee work, and demonstrate a steadfast commitment to student success through teaching and learning excellence.

In addition to the base salary, there are many ways to increase the salary further by teaching overload, teaching summer courses, doing special assignments etc. There is a tenure track pathway for promotion to higher level salaries of Assistant , Professor, Associate Professor and Professor.

The start date of the position will be August 27, 2026.

Typical Work Activities

• Instructional Delivery: Teach a full-time course load (typically 18 credits or equivalent contact hours per semester) in classroom and welding laboratory environments, utilizing on-campus, online, or hybrid formats as required.
• Curriculum Development: Design, review, and update course materials, syllabi, and assessments to ensure alignment with American Welding Society (AWS) standards, industry demands, and student learning outcomes.
• Lab Management & Safety: Oversee the welding shop operations, ensuring all machinery, ventilation, and safety equipment are properly maintained and that students strictly adhere to OSHA and institutional safety protocols.
• Student Support: Maintain regular office hours to provide academic advisement, technical mentorship, and career guidance to students.
• Administrative Reporting: Track attendance, complete census reports, and submit final grades in accordance with college deadlines.
• Assessment: Develop and report on student learning outcomes (SLOs) to support institutional accreditation, industry certifications, and continuous program improvement.
• Institutional Engagement: Attend and actively participate in department and divisional meetings, college-wide committees, and professional development opportunities.
• Community & Industry Relations: Assist in building and maintaining partnerships with local manufacturing, construction, and trade industries to enhance student internship, apprenticeship, and career placement opportunities.

Essential Functions

• Ability to teach and mentor a diverse student population with varying levels of academic and mechanical preparation.
• Exceptional public speaking, technical presentation, and hands-on instructional demonstration skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with students, colleagues, administration, and industry partners.
• Physical stamina to stand for extended periods, demonstrate proper welding techniques, and safely handle tools and materials common to the welding trade.
• Ability to physically perform the duties of the position on campus with or without reasonable accommodation

Required Qualifications

• Associate degree in Welding Technology, Industrial Technology, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated teaching experience (formal or informal/on-the-job training) combined with significant hands-on industry work experience as a professional welder or fabricator.
• Valid AWS (American Welding Society) Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) or Certified Welding Educator (CWE) designation, or the ability to obtain it within a specified timeframe.

Desirable Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Industrial Education, Engineering Technology, Career and Technical Education (CTE), or a related discipline.
• Prior teaching experience at the community college or vocational-technical level.