Fabricator Welder

Advastar, Inc; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 39,950 - 55,104; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

Life Insurance

401(k) with match

PTO

EAP

Job summary

Advastar, Inc. is seeking an experienced Fabricator Welder in San Diego to take ownership of projects from raw material to finished parts. You will work on naval ship and submarine modernization components, as well as commercial fabrication, with minimal supervision in a busy shop environment.

The role emphasizes hands-on fabrication across steel, stainless steel, and aluminum, with opportunities to lead projects and grow within a tight-knit team. Competitive pay and full benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Welding certification preferred; must pass U.S. government background check.
• Valid driver's license with clean record.
• 5–7+ years in hands-on metal fabrication (not welding alone).
• Ability to complete start-to-finish projects: cutting, forming, fit-up, welding.

Responsibilities

• Fabricate and weld metal components (steel, stainless steel, aluminum) for naval and commercial projects.
• Take a project from raw material through cutting, forming, fit-up, and final weld with minimal oversight.
• Read shop drawings and blueprints to build parts to spec.
• Operate manual and semi-automated fabrication equipment (press brake, shear, lathe, mill, saws, welding stations).
• Shift between weld processes and project scope as work moves between jobs; may work on multiple tasks per day.
• Contribute to commercial fabrication projects alongside defense-related work.

Skills

MIG welding

Flux core welding

Stick welding

TIG welding

Blueprint reading

Fabrication

Quality control

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Press brake

Shear

Lathe

Mill

Saws

Welding stations

Job description

#jobalert | DIRECT PLACEMENT | FABRICATOR WELDER | San Diego, CA

A long-standing, stable metal fabrication company is hiring an experienced Fabricator Welder to join a growing shop that supports U.S. Navy ship and submarine modernization work, along with commercial fabrication projects. This opening is for someone who can take ownership of a project from raw material to finished part with minimal oversight. The shop is busy, growing, and looking for someone ready to become a key player on a small, tight-knit team. This role offers steady, full-time work, a strong pay range for the region, and a real path to become one of the most trusted fabricators in the shop.

• Anticipated $29-$40 hourly, based on experience
• Full suite of benefits: Medical/Dental/Vision, Life Insurance, 401(k) with match, PTO, EAP
• Full-time, Monday-Friday, 8-hour shift

Overview:

• Fabricate and weld metal components (steel, stainless steel, aluminum) used to upgrade U.S. Navy ships and submarines, from small brackets to large equipment foundations
• Take a project from raw material through cutting, forming, fit-up, and final weld, completing the majority of each job independently
• Read shop drawings and blueprints to build parts to spec without step-by-step direction
• Operate manual and semi-automated fabrication equipment: press brake, shear, lathe, mill, saws, and welding stations
• Shift between weld processes and project scope as work moves from job to job, sometimes more than once in a day
• Contribute to commercial fabrication projects alongside defense-related work

Preferred Skills/Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Welding certification(s) preferred; must be able to pass a U.S. government background check
• Valid driver's license and clean driving record
• 5-7+ years of hands-on metal fabrication experience - not welding alone
• Proven ability to complete a project start-to-finish: cutting, forming, fit-up, and final weld
• Working knowledge of MIG, flux core, and stick welding; TIG welding experience strongly preferred
• Experience fabricating with steel, stainless steel, and aluminum (thin and thick gauge)
• Ability to lift up to 70 lbs and work in an open-air shop environment (seasonal heat/cold)
• Ability to work independently while following established shop processes

Keywords: metal fabrication, fabricator, welder, TIG welding, MIG welding, flux core welding, stick welding, stainless steel fabrication, aluminum fabrication, sheet metal fabrication, blueprint reading, shop drawings, press brake, shear, structural fabrication, Navy shipyard, submarine fabrication, defense manufacturing, fit-up, fabrication technician, precision metal fabrication, welding certification, quality fabrication, custom metal fabrication

EEO