1st Shift Welder/Shipfitter, Level 4

Shipbuilders of Wisconsin; Manitowoc (WI); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly pay

PTO from Day 1

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with employer contribution

Life & disability insurance

EAP and LifeMart discounts

Job summary

Burger Boat Company in Manitowoc, WI is seeking Welder/Shipfitter levels 1–4 to join our Metal Fabrication team. You will weld aluminum using MIG or TIG, read drawings, and support assembly for hulls and structures.

Training progresses through skill levels with supervision and safety at the forefront. We value hands-on learners, offer competitive pay, and a path to advanced roles while contributing to shipbuilding for Lake Michigan and beyond.

Qualifications

• Must read and write in English.
• Physical strength for standing, bending, and climbing.
• Flexibility to work varying shifts.

Responsibilities

• Perform basic setup and weld preparation.
• Execute basic fillet welds-bare/primer.
• Follow safety protocols and shop practices.
• Assist senior welders with setup and material positioning.
• Read simple blueprints and welding symbols.
• Document time and QA forms.
• Work from drawings and welding prints.

Skills

English literacy

Physical fitness

Welding readiness

Education

High school or technical school

Tools

Hand tools

Job description

“No Passengers. All Crew”

Join the crew at Burger Boat Company.

We move fast, solve real problems, and build vessels that turn heads where they end up, from right here on Lake Michigan to ocean fronts all around the world. If you like a variety of work, perfecting your craft, and teaming up to deliver extraordinary, climb aboard – no egos, no shortcuts, just people who show up, step-up, and take pride in their work.

Why you’ll love it:

Weekly pay; PTO and Holiday Pay from Day 1; Associate Engagement Committee and plenty of fun events, medical, dental, vision; life & disability; 401(k) with given employer contribution, access to EAP and LifeMart discounts; opportunities to learn, grow, and level up your career.

Ready to build something extraordinary?

SUMMARY:

Welders/Shipfitters are expected to perform certified aluminum welding in all positions

with either MIG or TIG machines to classification society requirements, whether in shops or

on boats. Must be able to work from drawings, welding prints, specifications, bills-ofmaterial,

memos, other information or management instruction. Welders/Shipfitters must

be able to weld components as directed by fitters or metal fabricators: assists fitter or

performs fitter functions to position, align, and fit together properly fabricated and prepared

plates, structural shapes and weldments in preparation for assembly into the

hull/superstructure or other fabricated parts. Welders are responsible for proper cleaning,

preparation and welding of all components.

Department: Metal Fabrication

Reports to: Metals Manager

WORKING MATERIALS:

Must be able to work with various welding alloy wires, coated and uncoated sticks, inert and consumable gasses; aluminum plates and extrusions, stainless steel and occasional nonferrous

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT:

Must have the ability to safely and properly operate equipment such as: shears, presses, rolls, grinders, chippers, air-saws, jigs, fixtures, cutting equipment, welder, clamps and hand

and power tools.

Each person must directly supply their own hand tools per the attached tool list and must

have them available in the yard and in working order throughout their employment period.

SKILL LEVELS AND ADVANCEMENT:

Welder/Shipfitter employees are categorized into three different skill levels beginning with

level 1, with the highest level being 3. The advancement of an employee to a higher

skill/wage level shall be made only when the Company has a continuing need for an

employee to perform work at that level and when the employee convincingly meets the next

level’s criteria. An employee’s immediate supervisor may recommend that they be

advanced. This nomination will be reviewed by at least the Director of Manufacturing for

approval with input from the Metals Manager or Welding Coordinator.

Employees should expect that based on the ability of the person involved, they may move up

a level or stay at the current level for longer periods than others working around them. In

extremely rare cases, some may remain at their current skill level indefinitely. Although this

would not be the Company’s goal, and likely not the goal of most employees, management

does recognize that certain individuals are either unable or unwilling to learn the skills

required to attain a higher level. Some employees may learn and adapt more quickly than

others.

We are equally committed to creating an environment of continuous learning, creativity

and process improvement whereby our wealth of talent and knowledge may be grown and

developed on behalf of ourselves, Burger Boat Company and its customers.

EDUCATION:

High school or technical school where print reading, basic measurement skills and tool use

has been learned.

Welder/Shipfitter – Skill Level 1

Employees in this level are expected to demonstrate through a positive attitude towards

their job and the company, they are anxious to learn the trade and contribute positively to

the company’s goals. They are expected to begin to formally educate themselves

technically.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Perform basic setup and weld preparation (cleaning, grinding, material handling).
2. Certified for basic fillet welds-bare/primer
3. Learn and follow safety protocols, PPE use, and shop practices, how to follow WPS’s.
4. Assist senior welders with equipment setup and material positioning.
5. Practice on scrap material to build consistency in bead placement.
6. Complete basic documentation (time, job numbers, simple QA forms).
7. Read and interpret simple blueprints, drawings, and welding symbols.
8. Any other task as Supervisor sees fit.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

1. Read and write in English
2. Use decimal or fractional tape measure
3. Physical strength to perform work standing, bending, squatting and climbing
4. Work with hands and arms overhead for extended periods
5. Possess willingness and ability to learn new jobs and take instructions
6. Be flexible and willing to work various shift schedules as required

Welder/Shipfitter – Skill Level 2

For employees to advance to this level, they are expected to demonstrate that they are

anxious to progress in the trade, have started to broaden their skills and have gained more

experience. At this level, the quality, appearance, accuracy and quantity of their work will

become key elements.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Operate common welding processes (GMAW-P (Pulse) Aluminum, GMAW (Spray Transfer & Metal Core, FCAW-G (Flux-Core) Steel and Stainless Steel) on plate with some independence.
2. Grooves and fillets-bare/primer materials
3. Perform welds on flat and horizontal positions with limited rework (100 defects or less per week).
4. Conduct pre-weld and post-weld inspections on own work.
5. Assist with fitting and measuring to prepare parts for welding.
6. Begin minor equipment troubleshooting (torch tips, liners, wire feed issues).
7. Maintain welding equipment, consumables, and work area.
8. Any other task as Supervisor sees fit.
9. Partially meets operational requirements.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

1. All skill level 1 qualifications and requirements
2. Possess a background consistent with requirements for skill level 2

Welder/Shipfitter – Skill Level 3

For employees to advance to this level, they are expected to have demonstrated that they

consistently produce high quality work in a given time frame and that they can work

independently with little or no supervision. They are further expected to have

demonstrated that they belong on top of their field and have a thorough working

knowledge of how other trades interface with their department in order to efficiently meet

our production and quality goals.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Perform complex welds across multiple positions (vertical, overhead) with limited rework on plate (30 defects or less per week).
2. Operate skilled welding processes GTAW (Tig) plate and pipe to plate with some independence.
3. Perform critical (mirror & confined spaces) or certified welds meeting industry codes (AWS, ASME, API, ABS, USCG) under supervision from class A welders.
4. Work with a range of materials (carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper nickel).
5. Interpret detailed blueprints, symbols, and specifications independently.
6. Perform quality checks using gauges and basic non-destructive testing tools.
7. Fit and fabricate components with minimal guidance.
8. Mentor level 1–2 welders in skills and safe practices.
9. Complete detailed documentation for QA, traceability, or certification.
10. Troubleshoot welding equipment and recommend repairs.
11. Any other task as supervisor sees fit.
12. Preform hull weld seams with limited rework (30 defects or less per week)
13. Meets operational requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

1. All skill level 1 and 2 qualifications and requirements
2. Possess a background consistent with requirements for skill level 3

Welder/Shipfitter– Skill Level 4

A level 4 employee is expected to have demonstrated leadership and technical skills as a

level 3 employee and is a uniquely trusted subject matter expert within the Metals

department, able to tackle our most challenging tasks and driving forward progress that

the levels prior would not be able to do on their own.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Perform critical (mirror & confined Spaces) or certified welds meeting industry codes (AWS, ASME, API, ABS, USCG) independently with limited defects (10 defects or less)
2. Master advanced processes (as the business sees fit). GTAW-Piping systemsstainless, aluminum, copper nickel, steel
3. Lead fabrication projects, from planning through completion.
4. Train and coach lower-level welders.
5. Perform inspections and sign off on quality assurance for others’ work.
6. Coordinate with engineers, supervisors, and inspectors on weld requirements.
7. Oversee safety compliance and continuous improvement initiatives.
8. Suggest process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce defects.
9. Any other task as Supervisor sees fit.
10. Meets operational requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

1. All skill level 1 through 3 qualifications and requirements
2. Possess a background consistent with requirements for skill level 4

Monday - Thursday, 6:00am - 3:30pm, Friday 6:00am - 10:00am

Overtime available for qualified candidates.