Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Rig Welder

🎯 Role Definition

The Rig Welder is a skilled tradesperson responsible for performing high-quality welding, cutting, fitting and fabrication work on drilling rigs, production platforms, pipelines and onshore heavy equipment. This role requires strong knowledge of welding processes (SMAW, GTAW, FCAW, GMAW), welding codes (AWS, ASME, API), safety and quality controls, and the ability to work in challenging environments such as offshore platforms, confined spaces, and at height. Rig Welders deliver compliant welds for pressure-containing systems, structural components and mechanical assemblies and maintain accurate weld documentation for QA/QC and regulatory compliance.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Apprentice Welder or Welding Fabricator
Structural Ironworker or Pipefitter helper
Military welding/metal trades experience

Advancement To:

Lead Rig Welder / Senior Welder
Welding Supervisor or Foreman
Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) / Welding Engineer
Rig Maintenance Supervisor / Mechanical Supervisor

Lateral Moves:

Pipefitter / Pipe Welder (field & shop)
Offshore Mechanic / Fitter
NDT Technician or QA/QC Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform stick (SMAW), MIG/GMAW, flux-cored (FCAW) and TIG/GTAW welding on carbon steel, stainless steel, duplex, and alloy materials on rig structural components, pipe spools, tanks and pressure-containing systems according to approved welding procedures (WPS/PQR) and code requirements (AWS D1.1, ASME Section IX, API 1104).
Execute fit-up and alignment of pipe and structural members using jacks, clamps, fixtures and rigging gear, ensuring correct tolerances, bevel geometry and root gap prior to welding; document fit-up measurements and corrective actions.
Read, interpret and apply blueprints, piping isometrics, weld maps, material specifications and heat treatment instructions to complete assigned welds with full traceability.
Uphold QA/QC recordkeeping: complete weld logs, traveler documentation, procedure qualification records (PQRs), welding consumable lot tracking and post-weld inspection reports for regulatory and client audits.
Conduct pre-weld inspections and ensure proper preheat, interpass temperature control and post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) where required; set up and monitor heating blankets, induction heating and thermocouple checks.
Perform non-destructive testing (NDT) support such as visual inspection, assist radiographers (RT), magnetic particle testing (MT) and liquid penetrant testing (PT), and respond to NDT findings with necessary weld repairs per repair procedure.
Execute hot work safely by obtaining and following hot work permits, ensuring fire watches, ventilation and effective gas monitoring in confined spaces and offshore modules.
Cut, bevel and prepare pipe ends using oxy-fuel, plasma cutting, beveling machines and mechanical tools; grind weld toes and prepare surfaces to specified cleanliness and chamfer for root and cap passes.
Apply temporary and permanent welding repairs on drilling equipment, cranes, substructure, sub-sea splitters and drill pipe components to maintain rig availability and minimize downtime.
Maintain and inspect welding equipment and tooling — grinders, wire feeders, torches, hoses, regulators, welding machines — perform minor repairs and arrange service or replacement to preserve safe, consistent operations.
Set up, monitor and calibrate welding machines and parameters (amperage, voltage, travel speed, shielding gas flow) for each joint type and material, adjusting for spool length and environmental conditions such as wind and moisture.
Collaborate with the rig maintenance team, supervisors and third-party inspectors to schedule welds during planned turnarounds or shutdown windows, ensuring minimal impact to drilling operations.
Execute complex welding sequences for high-pressure piping systems, valves and pressure vessels, ensuring proper root penetration, fusion, and layered deposition rates that meet client and code requirements.
Perform grinding, chipping and finishing of welds to meet dimensional tolerances and surface quality requirements for painting, coating and corrosion protection systems.
Contribute to welder qualification tests and assist with welder qualification builds including test coupon preparation, marking, testing and submission of records for certifying bodies.
Implement and enforce site safety, PPE compliance (welding helmets, respirators, FR clothing), lockout/tagout, fall protection and permit-to-work systems during all welding activities on the rig.
Support welding material logistics by verifying material certificates (MTRs), matching filler metals to base material and managing inventory of rods, wires, gas and fluxes to ensure continuous work flow.
Perform emergency welding repairs in variable conditions—night shifts, inclement weather and confined offshore spaces—while adhering to documented repair procedures and safety protocols.
Train and mentor junior welders and apprentices in best practices for welding technique, safety, code requirements and documentation, improving team capability and consistency.
Participate in pre-job safety and technical briefings (JSA/JHA), identify hazards, create mitigation plans and report near-miss or unsafe conditions to supervisors immediately.

Secondary Functions

Support maintenance planning by estimating welding labor, materials and consumables for repair scopes, contributing to work orders and cost estimates.
Assist QA/QC and NDT teams during inspections and corrective action follow-ups, including reworks and weld repairs as directed by inspection reports.
Maintain a clean and organized work area, stowing tools and consumables correctly and supporting inventory control initiatives.
Communicate equipment and structural deficiencies to rig management and propose feasible repair options with associated safety and code considerations.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives for welding processes, welding procedure updates, and lessons learned documentation after major repairs or failures.
Support emergency response teams with metal cutting, fabrication of temporary braces and structural stabilization during incident recovery.
Contribute to environmental compliance by handling welding fumes, waste grinding material and used consumables according to company environmental procedures.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficient in SMAW (Stick), GMAW/MIG, FCAW and GTAW/TIG welding processes across carbon and stainless steels.
Strong experience with welding codes and standards: AWS D1.1, ASME Section IX, API 1104, API RP and client-specific standards.
Skilled in pipe fit-up, beveling, tack welding, root passes, multi-pass deposition and post-weld finishing for pressure piping and structural assemblies.
Practical knowledge of preheat, interpass temperature control and post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) requirements and methods.
Experience with non-destructive testing interfaces: assisting RT, MT and PT and interpreting basic NDT findings relevant to weld quality.
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, isometrics, weld maps, material test reports (MTRs) and welding procedure specifications (WPS).
Competent in using welding and cutting equipment: power arc welders, wire feeders, plasma cutters, beveling machines, oxy-fuel torches and grinders.
Welding documentation and recordkeeping: weld logs, traveler completion, filler metal traceability and welder qualification paperwork.
Familiarity with offshore rig constraints: confined space entry, working at heights, lifting and rigging coordination, and dynamic safety plans.
Certified or eligible for welder qualification tests under ASME/ AWS frameworks; experience completing welder performance qualifications (WPQ).

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and quality orientation with the ability to execute consistent, repeatable welds under inspection.
Excellent situational awareness and commitment to safety protocols in hazardous, noisy, and high-pressure environments.
Good communication skills — ability to liaise with supervisors, inspectors, rig crews and engineering staff to coordinate repairs and schedules.
Problem-solving mindset: diagnose weld defects and propose effective corrective actions quickly to reduce downtime.
Reliable adaptability — able to perform under shift work, night operations, offshore rotations and changing environmental conditions.
Team player and mentor — capable of training apprentices and coordinating with multi-discipline craft teams.
Time management and organizational skills for tracking multiple repair tasks and maintaining accurate documentation.
Resilience and physical stamina for demanding manual labor, climbing, confined space work and prolonged standing.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED; acceptable combination of training and demonstrated welding experience.

Preferred Education:

Technical certificate or diploma in Welding Technology, Metal Trades or Pipe Welding from an accredited trade school.
Additional certifications in offshore safety or rig-specific training (BOSIET, HUET) where applicable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Welding Technology / Welding Engineering
Mechanical / Industrial Trades
Metallurgy / Materials Science

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–12+ years of hands-on welding experience; most roles prefer 3–7 years for field rig welding with proof of code welding and field repairs.

Preferred:

5+ years of rig or offshore welding experience, demonstrable track record of welding to AWS/ASME/API standards, and documented welder qualifications (WPQ) or CWB/CWI support.
Experience in high-pressure piping systems, pressure vessel weldments and emergency repair welding on drilling/production rigs.

Certifications often requested by employers: AWS certification (preferred), ASME welder qualification, API welding familiarity, CWI or NDT technician qualifications, H2S, BOSIET/FOET, First Aid/CPR, confined space and hot work permit training.