Iowa - Welding and Fabrication - Fabricator/Welder II

Merrill Steel; Camanche (IA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Merrill Steel is seeking a Fabricator/Welder II in Iowa to join its heavy structural fabrication team. The role focuses on flux-core welding, fabricating, laying out, aligning, and fitting parts per blueprints.

Experience with complex welding procedures and reading prints is highly preferred; certification and attention to detail are valued in our production environment. The position requires the ability to work 45–55 hours per week in a plant setting, with safety gear provided.

Qualifications

• Welding experience preferred, but training available.
• Ability to read and interpret basic blueprints and weld procedures.
• Attention to detail and quality in heavy structural fabrication.

Responsibilities

• Weld and fabricate heavy structural steel per blueprints and layouts.
• Set up and operate fabricating equipment and hand tools.
• Inspect pieces for conformance using measuring devices and standard tolerances.
• Align, position, and weld parts to form complete units or subassemblies.
• Follow safety procedures and maintain a clean, organized work area.

Skills

Welding

Job description

Iowa - Welding and Fabrication - Fabricator/Welder II

Iowa - Welding and Fabrication - Fabricator/Welder II

Date Posted: 09/25/2026

Location: Camanche, IA

Job Category: Iowa Production

Salary Interval: Hourly

Pay Range: N/A

Position Description

Position Summary

The Welder/Fabricator role is a key part of the overall production operation of heavy structural steel. The primary duties include flux-core welding, fabricating, laying out, positioning, aligning, and fitting parts for heavy structural steel products. Being AISC certified, it is crucial that the Company’s Welders/Fabricators have significant attention to detail and have the ability to focus on accuracy while checking fabricated pieces assuring quality. There are no traveling road crews. Having experience with complex welding procedures and reading complex prints is highly preferred. Welders are issued air-exchange welding helmets.

Position Requirements

Pass 5/16\" 2F horizontal fillet weld test (destructive and visual)

Able to gauge weld sizes

Able to understand written weld procedures

Able to visually identify 1/2\" multipass horizontal fillet

Able to repair understand cause(s) of defects and repair defective welds

Pass unlimited 2G weld test with backer

Pass unlimited 2G weld test with back gouge

Able to weld multiprobes flux core (FCAW) and metal core (GMAW)

Pass alloy weld test

Able to weld 3/32\" diameter wire (FCAW)

Able to backgouge with carbon arc resulting in minimal rework.

• Ability to work approximately 45 to 55 hours per week.
• Ability to receive feedback and learn from others.
• Position, align, fit, and weld parts to form complete units or subunits, following blueprints and layout specifications, and using jigs, welding torches, and hand tools.
• Verify conformance of work pieces to specifications, using squares, rulers, and measuring tapes.
• Tack-weld fitted parts together.
• Lay out and examine metal stock or work pieces to be processed to ensure that specifications are met.
• Align and fit parts according to specifications, using jacks, turnbuckles, wedges, drift pins, pry bars, and hammers.
• Locate and mark work piece bending and cutting lines, allowing for stock thickness, machine and
• welding shrinkage, and other component specifications.
• Position or tighten braces, jacks, clamps, ropes, and/or bolt straps, or bolt parts in position for welding or riveting.
• Study engineering drawings and blueprints to determine materials requirements and task sequences.
• Move parts into position, manually or by using hoists or cranes.
• Set up and operate fabricating machines such as brakes, rolls, shears, flame cutters, grinders, and drill presses to bend, cut, form, punch, drill, or otherwise form and assemble metal components.
• Hammer, chip, and grind work pieces in order to cut, bend, and straighten metal.
• Smooth work piece edges, and fix taps, tubes, and valves.
• Design and construct templates and fixtures, using hand tools.
• Straighten warped or bent parts, using sledges, hand torches, straightening presses.
• Mark reference points onto floors or face blocks and transpose them to work pieces, using measuring devices, squares, chalk, and soapstone.
• Set up face blocks, jigs, and fixtures.
• Remove high spots and cut bevels, using hand files, portable grinders, and cutting torches.

Requirements and Qualifications

• A background in welding is preferred, but we are willing to train the right candidate.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Physical Abilities Lift /Carry

Stand C (Constantly) 10 lbs or less F (Frequently)

Walk F (Frequently) 11-20 lbs F (Frequently)

Sit N (Not Applicable) 21-50 lbs O (Occasionally)

Handling / Fingering C (Constantly) 51-100 lbs O (Occasionally)

Reach Outward F (Frequently) Over 100 lbs N (Not Applicable)

Reach Above Shoulder F (Frequently)

Climb O (Occasionally)

Crawl O (Occasionally)

Squat or Kneel F (Frequently)

Bend F (Frequently)

Push / Pull

12 lbs or less N (Not Applicable)

13-25 lbs N (Not Applicable)

26-40 lbs N (Not Applicable)

41-100 lbs N (Not Applicable)

N (Not Applicable) Activity is not applicable to this occupation.

O (Occasionally) Occupation requires this activity up to 33% of the time (0 - 2.5+ hrs/day)

F (Frequently) Occupation requires this activity from 33% - 66% of the time (2.5 - 5.5+ hrs/day)

C (Constantly) Occupation requires this activity more than 66% of the time (5.5+ hrs/day)

Other Physical Requirements

Vision(Near)

Sense of Touch

Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (Welding helmet, safety glasses, metatarsal protectors, gloves,

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work in plant production environment with temperature range from 50 degrees to 100 degrees.

Can be smoke from welding fumes.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Merrill Steel is committed to equal employment opportunities in all of its policies regarding:

RECRUITING BENEFITS

EMPLOYMENT HIRING TRAINING

PROMOTIONS LAYOFF & RECALL

COMPENSATION

The above policies are administered without regard to race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, handicap, sex, marital status, sexual preference, or, except where sex is a bona fide occupational qualification. The company gives full consideration to the employment of disabled or handicapped persons for work they are qualified to do. Management pledges itself to support and sustain the beliefs and policies outlined in this statement.

The Company encourages initiative and leadership by individuals as the best means to carry out this policy. Violations of this policy will be met with appropriate action.

The Company works with selected agencies and groups to initiate and sustain this policy.

It is the responsibility of each member of management to give this policy full support. It is the duty of each employee to create a job environment conducive to this policy.

The Company considers all qualified minority group applications for all job categories. All sources of employment recruiting are advised of such. All employee job openings state that Merrill Steel is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Where deemed necessary, the Company informs appropriate minority groups and women’s organizations in making the Company’s needs known.

Merrill Steel does not maintain or tolerate facilities that are segregated on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, handicap, sex, marital status, or sexual preference, except where sex is a bona fide qualification.

Thank you for applying to Merrill Steel, have an excellent day!