Shipyard Welder - Hands-on, Travel‑Ready Role

Chouest; Houma (LA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Chouest in Houma, LA is seeking a skilled welder to join our shipyard operations. You will weld structural components, read blueprints, and operate arc welding equipment, ensuring proper bead size and fusion. You will perform flat, vertical, horizontal, overhead, and diagonal welds and comply with safety protocols.

Requirements include 3–5 years of welding experience, ability to pass 3G and 4G groove weld tests, and experience welding with 100% CO2 on 1 in. plate.

Qualifications

• Must be able to read and write alphabetically and numerically.
• 3-5 years of welding experience is required.
• Must be able to pass company specified performance or standards tests. May be designated according to type of testing qualified to: stick welder (plate), stick welder (pipe), flux-cored arc welder (open butt), flux-cored arc welder (fillet), flux-cored arc welder (fillet butt), short arc welder, heli arc welder, and flux-cored arc welder (pipe).
• Must be able to pass 3G (Vertical) and 4G (Overhead) groove welding test.
• Must have experience welding with 100% CO2 and working with 1" plate.
• Must be able to provide verifiable references of past work history.

Responsibilities

• Determines proper weld procedure either by blueprints, drawings, work order, or by oral instruction from supervisor.
• Uses electric or fuel burning arc welding equipment.
• Selects proper electrode wire and inserts into rodholder or gun. Sets welding unit to proper amperage or voltage.
• Strikes arc which generates heat to melt and deposit metal from electrode or electrode wire to workpiece to join components together. Manually guides electrode along weld line, maintaining length of arc and speed of movement to form specific depth of fusion and size of bead.
• Welds in flat, vertical, horizontal, overhead, and diagonal positions. Examines weld for proper bead size and characteristics.
• May clean weld joint or workpiece using wire brush, portable grinder, air chipper, needle scaler, or chemical bath. May preheat workpiece using hand torch or heating unit. May remove excess metal in preparation of part to be welded by using arc gouger.
• May cut metal plates or structural shapes for assembly using hand torch, metal shear, or metal saw. May position and clamp workpieces together or assemble them on a jig or other type fixture. May tackweld assemblies together prior to final welding.
• Visually examines welds for adherence to specifications. May grind welds or deformities on or in welds prior to completion of work.
• Performs other incidental tasks such as transporting tools, welding leads, structural parts, and welding supplies. May also operate overhead cranes and company vehicles.

Skills

Welding experience

Reading & writing

Passing tests

CO2 welding

Arc welding

Tools

Arc welder

Stick welding

Flux-cored arc welding

GMAW (CO2)

Job description

Chouest in Houma, LA is seeking a skilled welder to join our shipyard operations. You will weld structural components, read blueprints, and operate arc welding equipment, ensuring proper bead size and fusion. You will perform flat, vertical, horizontal, overhead, and diagonal welds and comply with safety protocols.

Requirements include 3–5 years of welding experience, ability to pass 3G and 4G groove weld tests, and experience welding with 100% CO2 on 1 in. plate.