Maintenance Technician

W3Global; Northvale (NJ); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

W3Global in Northvale, New Jersey is seeking a Fabricator - Tier 4 (Senior Specialist) to design, fabricate, modify, and install stainless-steel components for food processing operations. The role works with Engineering and Maintenance to improve production efficiency and ensure food safety compliance, serving as the plant's technical authority on sanitary welding and fabrication standards.

Responsibilities include reading blueprints, performing TIG and MIG welding on sanitary materials,

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; welding certificate, trade school, or apprenticeship preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of hands-on fabrication and welding experience, including 3 years in sanitary manufacturing.
• AWS D1.6 or ASME Section IX certification is a strong plus.
• Sanitary tube and fitting experience (Tri-Clamp, weld ferrules, butt welds); orbital welding experience preferred.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, weld symbols, and P&IDs.

Responsibilities

• Fabricate, modify, install, and repair stainless-steel equipment, structures, and piping systems per drawings and scope.
• Perform TIG and MIG welding on stainless steel for sanitary applications with quality welds.
• Document all work in the CMMS and turnover completed tasks to Engineering.

Skills

TIG welding

MIG welding

Sanitary fabrication

Blueprint reading

Field documentation

Collaboration

Education

High school diploma or GED

Welding certificate / apprenticeship

Tools

CMMS

P&IDs reading

Job description

Job Title: Fabricator - Tier 4 (Senior Specialist)

Department: Engineering / Maintenance

Reports To: Engineering Manager

Location: Northvale, New Jersey

Hours: M-F 6:00AM - 3:30PM (30-minute break)

The Fabricator - Tier 4 (Senior Specialist) is responsible for the design, fabrication, modification, and installation of stainless-steel components, equipment, and systems used in food processing operations. This role works closely with the Engineering and Maintenance teams to improve production efficiency, ensure food safety compliance, and support capital and continuous improvement projects. As a Tier 4 position, the Fabricator is expected to work independently from concept through installation and to serve as the plant's technical authority on sanitary welding and fabrication standards.

TASKS

• Fabricate, modify, install, and repair stainless-steel equipment, structures, and piping systems throughout the plant, working from engineering drawings, field measurements, and verbal scope.
• Possess expert hands-on knowledge of sanitary welding and stainless-steel fabrication, with the ability to take a project from concept and layout through cutting, welding, finishing, installation, and turnover.
• Complete assigned work orders and project tasks, and document all work performed, materials used, and labor in the CMMS.

Principal Responsibilities - Core Competencies

Fabrication and Welding

• Fabricate, assemble, and install stainless-steel structures, platforms, guarding, hoppers, chutes, tables, piping, tanks, conveyors, and other processing equipment used in food manufacturing.
• Perform high-quality TIG (GTAW) and MIG (GMAW) welding on stainless steel and other food-grade materials, including thin-gauge and sanitary applications, producing continuous, smooth, crevice-free welds.
• Lay out, cut, form, drill, grind, polish, passivate, and finish stainless steel, aluminum, and carbon steel using shears, brakes, band saws, plasma and abrasive cutting equipment, and hand tools.
• Read and interpret blueprints, weld symbols, schematics, P&IDs, and engineering drawings, and build components to specification and tolerance.
• Produce shop sketches and as-built drawings for parts fabricated from field measurements, and turn them over to Engineering for the equipment file.

Engineering and Project Support

• Collaborate with Engineering to design and implement modifications that improve equipment performance, throughput, sanitation, and operator safety.
• Support capital improvement projects including equipment installation, relocation, platform and mezzanine work, utility tie-ins, and commissioning.
• Fabricate replacement parts and wear components in-house to reduce downtime and lead time when OEM parts are unavailable or long-lead.
• Support preventive maintenance and equipment upgrades, and troubleshoot and repair fabricated equipment as needed.
• Coordinate with outside fabrication vendors and on-site contractors on scope, drawings, and quality of work, and report deficiencies to the Engineering Manager.

Food Safety, Quality, and Compliance

• Apply sanitary and hygienic design principles: continuous welds, ground and polished contact surfaces, no hollow bodies or crevices, no flat horizontal ledges, self-draining surfaces, and correct material selection (304 / 316L).
• Use only approved food-grade materials, fittings, gaskets, and lubricants, and maintain material traceability documentation for product-contact fabrication.
• Control fabrication debris, weld spatter, and metal shavings in production areas; follow the plant's foreign material control procedure, and complete cleanup and verification before releasing an area back to Production.
• Ensure all work meets company quality, food safety (GMP), sanitation, and applicable regulatory requirements, including GFSI/SQF expectations.

Safety

• Follow safety procedures including hot work permits and fire watch, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), confined space entry, fall protection, and ventilation requirements, and comply with OSHA and company safety standards.
• Wear and maintain required PPE, including welding helmet, jacket, gloves, cut-resistant protection, and respiratory protection where applicable.
• Maintain the fabrication shop, tooling, welding machines, and compressed gas cylinders in safe, organized, and inspection-ready condition, including proper cylinder storage, securing, and separation.

Documentation and Continuous Improvement

• Maintain accurate documentation of work performed and materials used, and log labor, parts, and equipment history in the CMMS.
• Participate in continuous improvement and safety initiatives within the plant, and bring forward fabrication-based solutions to recurring problems.
• Serve as a technical resource and mentor to junior fabricators and maintenance technicians on welding technique, layout, and sanitary fabrication standards.
• Available to attend to work on requested weekends and shutdowns, based on the needs of the organization.

Skills And Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; welding certificate, trade school, or completion of a welding/fabrication apprenticeship preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of hands-on fabrication and welding experience, including at least 3 years in a food, beverage, dairy, pharmaceutical, or other sanitary manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated proficiency in TIG and MIG welding of stainless steel, including thin-gauge and sanitary applications; certification to AWS D1.6 or ASME Section IX is a strong plus.
• Sanitary tube and fitting experience (Tri-Clamp, weld ferrules, butt welds); orbital welding experience preferred.
• Skilled in layout, cutting, grinding, polishing, and finishing stainless steel materials.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, weld symbols, and P&IDs.
• Familiarity with sanitary design principles, food-grade fittings, and CIP (clean-in-place) systems.
• Basic mechanical aptitude and familiarity with plant utilities (compressed air, steam, water, glycol, natural gas) preferred.
• Powered industrial truck, scissor lift, and aerial lift certification is a plus; must be able to obtain.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to work closely with Engineering, Maintenance, and Production.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Self-motivated, organized, and able to prioritize multiple tasks and projects with limited supervision.
• Able to work in wet, cold (freezer), and hot environments, at heights, and in confined areas.