Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Welder

🎯 Role Definition

We are seeking a skilled Welder to perform high-quality welding and metal-fabrication work across manufacturing, construction, and maintenance environments. The Welder will interpret blueprints and welding symbols, prepare and assemble metal components, execute MIG/TIG/stick welding and related processes, and maintain safety and quality standards per AWS and OSHA guidelines. Ideal candidates are experienced with structural steel, pipe, plate and mechanical assemblies, demonstrate strong fit-up and finishing skills, and can troubleshoot weld defects and process variables.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Welding Apprentice or Trainee
Metal Fabricator / Fabrication Technician
Maintenance Technician or Industrial Mechanic

Advancement To:

Lead Welder or Senior Welder
Welding Supervisor or Shop Foreman
Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) / Welding Engineer
Fabrication Manager or Project Manager

Lateral Moves:

Pipefitter / Pipe Welder
Boilermaker
Structural Steel Fitter
Maintenance Technician or Millwright

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Read, interpret and apply engineering drawings, blueprints, schematics, and welding symbols to plan welding and fabrication tasks; verify dimensions and tolerances before welding to ensure assemblies meet specifications and quality standards.
Perform MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW), stick (SMAW), and flux-core (FCAW) welding on carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum and other alloys for components, assemblies, piping, and structural elements while selecting proper filler metals and shielding gases.
Prepare metal surfaces by cutting, beveling, grinding, chamfering, and fitting parts for weld joint fit-up using cutting torches, plasma cutters, band saws and grinders; ensure square, plumb and correct root gaps for sound welds.
Execute tack welding and complex multi-pass welds, ensuring proper penetration, sidewall fusion and minimal distortion on plate, pipe and tubular sections to meet project codes and customer requirements.
Set up and operate welding equipment, including wire feeders, TIG torches, welding power sources, positioners and fixtures; perform routine calibration and basic troubleshooting of equipment to maintain productivity.
Perform pipe welding on schedule, following positional welding techniques (vertical, horizontal, overhead) and maintain consistent bead profile to meet dimensional and NDT acceptance criteria.
Conduct pre-weld and post-weld inspections including visual examinations, dimensional checks, and prepare parts for non-destructive testing (NDT) such as dye penetrant, magnetic particle, ultrasonic or radiographic testing as required.
Apply welding procedures and adhere to Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS), Procedure Qualification Records (PQR) and material traceability documentation; complete weld logs, inspection reports and job cards accurately.
Repair and rework weld defects such as porosity, lack of fusion, cracks or undercut through grinding, gouging and re-welding following root cause analysis and corrective action procedures.
Use jigs, fixtures, clamps and CNC/automatic positioners to maintain alignment and control distortion for high-volume or precision fabrication work.
Fabricate and assemble metal structures, frames, brackets and components by tack-welding, welding, grinding and finishing to meet design requirements and cosmetic standards when specified.
Collaborate with engineers, fabricators, and quality inspectors to resolve design or fit-up issues, recommend joint designs or preheat/post-heat requirements and implement continuous improvement suggestions to processes.
Follow and enforce safety protocols, PPE usage, hot work permits, lockout/tagout and shop housekeeping; identify and report hazards and maintain compliance with OSHA and company safety policies.
Apply preheating and post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) techniques for controlled cooling and stress relief when working on high-carbon steels or critical assemblies to prevent cracking.
Estimate material needs, cut lists and time requirements for assigned jobs; assist in inventory control by reporting consumable usage and maintaining welding supplies.
Operate and maintain ancillary equipment including grinders, shears, presses, and plasma/oxy-fuel cutting equipment, ensuring safe operation and basic preventive maintenance.
Train and mentor apprentices and junior welders on techniques, safety, best practices and shop standards to build team capability and reduce rework.
Interpret and follow customer specifications, industry codes (AWS, ASME, API), and internal quality standards to deliver welds that pass third-party inspections and certifications.
Ensure dimensional accuracy and final finish by performing grinding, blending, and cosmetic finishing and by verifying assemblies meet weld reinforcement, toe radius and clearance criteria.
Coordinate with production planners and project managers to meet deadlines, staging, and shipping requirements; adapt sequencing to minimize bottlenecks and maintain throughput.
Maintain weld samples, coupons and documentation necessary for quality audits and to support process qualification activities for new parts or materials.
Utilize metallurgy knowledge to select appropriate base metal handling techniques, filler metals, shielding gases and interpass temperature controls to achieve required mechanical properties.
Monitor consumable inventory (electrodes, wire, gas) and report equipment or tooling needs to supervisors to reduce downtime and support continuous operation.

Secondary Functions

Assist with layout, marking and template creation for small-batch or custom parts to speed up fit-up and fabrication.
Help support fabrication planning by providing feedback on cycle times, weld sequence, and cost-saving opportunities.
Participate in root cause investigations for recurring defects and contribute to corrective action and process improvement initiatives.
Support facility maintenance tasks that require welding expertise, such as repair of shop fixtures, ladders, rails and material handling equipment.
Contribute to safety meetings, training sessions, and documentation updates related to hot work, respiratory protection and local safety procedures.
Provide occasional shop floor coverage for related trades (grinder operator, cutter) to ensure production continuity during peak demand.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficient in MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW), and Stick (SMAW) welding processes for carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminum.
Experience with Flux-Core (FCAW) welding and positional multi-pass welding on plate and pipe.
Strong blueprint reading skills, including interpretation of welding symbols, tolerances and geometric dimensions and tolerances (GD&T).
Familiarity with welding codes and standards: AWS, ASME Section IX, API, and job-specific WPS/PQR implementation.
Competence with oxy-fuel cutting, plasma cutting, band saws, grinders and metal finishing tools.
Ability to perform fit-up, tack-welding, root passes and finishing passes with consistent bead shape, penetration and minimal distortion.
Knowledge of metallurgy basics, filler metal selection, preheat/interpass temperature control, and post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) principles.
Experience performing or preparing parts for non-destructive testing (NDT) methods: dye-penetrant, magnetic particle, ultrasonic, radiographic.
Strong use of measurement tools: tape, calipers, micrometers, weld gauges, protractors and squares for verification and inspection.
Documentation and record-keeping experience: weld logs, material traceability, job cards and inspection checklists.
Basic welding equipment setup, calibration and maintenance skills, including power sources, wire feeders, torches and gas systems.
Familiarity with CNC welding positioners, jigs and fixtures used to control complex assemblies and reduce distortion.
OSHA and shop safety knowledge: hot work permits, LOTO procedures, PPE selection and hazard communication.

Soft Skills

Attention to detail with a strong quality-first mindset to deliver defect-free welds and assemblies.
Effective communication skills to collaborate with engineers, quality inspectors and team members.
Problem-solving and troubleshooting aptitude for diagnosing weld defects and equipment issues.
Time management and organizational skills to meet production schedules and support multiple priorities.
Teamwork and mentorship: ability to train apprentices and support crew coordination.
Adaptability to shifting production needs, new materials or updated welding procedures.
Reliability and strong work ethic: punctuality, consistent attendance and ownership of work quality.
Safety leadership and the ability to promote a culture of safe work practices.
Customer-focused orientation when supporting custom fabrication and on-site welding needs.
Continuous improvement mindset: willingness to adopt new welding technologies and process optimizations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:
High school diploma or GED; demonstrated welding experience and apprenticeship or on-the-job training.

Preferred Education:
Vocational certificate or diploma in Welding Technology, completion of a recognized apprenticeship program, AWS Certified Welder or other industry-recognized certifications (e.g., CWI, NDT certifications).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Welding Technology / Welding Engineering Technology
Metal Fabrication / Fabrication Technology
Industrial Maintenance or Mechanical Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of hands-on welding and fabrication experience for entry-level to mid-level roles; 5+ years preferred for senior/lead positions.

Preferred:
3–7 years of demonstrated welding experience in structural steel, plate and pipe fabrication, or industrial maintenance settings; experience with AWS/ASME code work, pressure vessel or certified weld procedures is highly desirable.