Fabricator Welder

Gilder Search Group; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 39,950 - 55,104; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Competitive pay

Full-time schedule

Job summary

Gilder Search Group is seeking an experienced Fabricator Welder in San Diego, CA to join a growing shop supporting U.S. Navy ship and submarine modernization and commercial fabrication.

The role involves taking ownership of projects from raw material to finished parts, reading drawings, and working with MIG, TIG, flux core, and stick welding in a busy open-air shop. Competitive hourly pay and full benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience in metal fabrication including cutting, forming, fit-up, and welding.
• Ability to read shop drawings and blueprints to spec.

Responsibilities

• Fabricate and weld metal components used to upgrade Navy ships and submarines 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 without step-by-step direction.
• 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.

Skills

Metal fabrication

Blueprint reading

Welding (MIG TIG Flux Core Stick)

Independence

Navy/shipyard experience

Education

HS diploma

Tools

Press brake

Shear

Lathe

Milling machine

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