Final answer:
Welding engineers have several duties including providing engineering support, developing new welding procedures, performing periodic reviews of welding practices, and preparing critical documents such as WPSs and WPDSs to ensure compliance and consistency in welding operations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The duties of the welding engineer are diverse and essential to the integrity and safety of welding operations. They include providing engineering support to ensure welding operations are efficient and meet all quality standards. A welding engineer also plays a crucial role in the development of new welding procedures, which involves researching and testing to find better, safer, and more cost-effective ways of joining metals.
Moreover, these engineers conduct periodic reviews of welding practices to maintain compliance with industry standards and improve processes. This helps in identifying any irregularities or potential areas for improvement. The preparation of Welding Procedure Specifications (WPSs) and Welding Procedure Data Sheets (WPDSs) is also a critical responsibility of a welding engineer. These documents outline the method and standards for welding activities and ensure that each welding job is performed consistently and according to regulatory requirements.