Structural MIG & ARC Welder – Steel Fabrication

About the Role

Celestix Industries is looking for an experienced, hands-on Structural MIG & ARC Welder / Fabrication Welder to support our structural steel fabrication and industrial manufacturing operations.

The selected candidate will be responsible for independently performing MIG welding (GMAW) and ARC/Stick welding (SMAW) on structural steel components, fabricated assemblies, frames, supports, brackets and other industrial metal fabrication products.

The position requires strong practical knowledge of structural welding, welding and fabrication, engineering drawings, welding symbols, joint preparation, welding parameters, consumable selection, Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS) and weld quality inspection.

We need a skilled welder who can understand a fabrication drawing, prepare joints correctly, select appropriate welding settings and produce strong, consistent welds that meet approved quality requirements.

The most important requirement is the ability to independently perform MIG and ARC welding while maintaining proper weld penetration, correct weld size, dimensional accuracy and consistent workmanship.

This is a hands-on production welding role, not a welding inspection or desk-only fabrication supervision position.

Key Responsibilities

1. MIG Welding & ARC Welding Operations

• Independently perform MIG welding and ARC/Stick welding on structural steel components.
• Weld fabricated assemblies, frames, brackets, supports and structural members according to approved drawings.
• Perform fillet welds, butt welds and other specified welding joints.
• Work with different steel thicknesses and joint configurations.
• Perform welding in the required positions according to job requirements and demonstrated welding qualifications.
• Follow approved welding sequences and procedures.
• Maintain correct weld size, bead profile, penetration and workmanship.
• Monitor welding conditions and adjust parameters within approved limits.
• Complete assigned production work according to manufacturing schedules.
• Maintain consistent weld quality and productivity across production batches.

2. Structural Steel Fabrication & Assembly

• Work on structural steel fabrication and industrial welded assemblies.
• Understand component positioning, alignment and fit-up requirements.
• Coordinate with fabricators and fitters during assembly.
• Perform tack welding to hold components in position before final welding.
• Check joint alignment and dimensional requirements.
• Maintain component geometry during welding.
• Follow approved welding sequences to minimize distortion.
• Coordinate grinding, cleaning and finishing where required.
• Ensure welded assemblies are ready for quality inspection and subsequent fabrication operations.

3. Engineering Drawing Interpretation & Welding Symbols

• Read and interpret structural steel fabrication drawings and engineering drawings.
• Understand basic welding symbols and weld-location requirements.
• Identify weld type, weld size and specified welding lengths.
• Understand fillet welds, butt welds, joint preparation and weld sizing.
• Interpret component dimensions, tolerances and assembly requirements.
• Identify welding locations and correct joint configurations.
• Follow approved fabrication instructions.
• Clarify drawing discrepancies with Production or Engineering before welding.

The candidate should be able to read a fabrication drawing and independently understand the required welding work.

4. Material Preparation & Joint Preparation

Proper joint preparation is essential for producing reliable welds.

Responsibilities include:

• Prepare welding joints through grinding, cleaning and deburring.
• Remove oil, rust, paint, moisture and other contaminants before welding.
• Inspect material surfaces and joint conditions.
• Prepare bevels, root openings and joint gaps according to approved requirements.
• Verify component fit-up and alignment.
• Use clamps, fixtures and positioning equipment.
• Perform tack welding where required.
• Ensure joint preparation follows approved drawings and applicable WPS requirements.
• Identify joint preparation problems before starting final welding.

5. Welding Parameters & Process Control

The candidate must understand how welding parameters affect weld quality, penetration and productivity.

Responsibilities include:

• Select approved welding settings according to material thickness, joint type and welding process.
• Understand welding current, voltage and travel speed.
• Set MIG wire feed speed and shielding gas flow as applicable.
• Select appropriate welding wire and electrodes according to approved procedures.
• Understand welding polarity and consumable requirements.
• Maintain correct welding technique and electrode or torch positioning.
• Monitor weld bead formation and penetration.
• Identify incorrect welding conditions and make adjustments within approved WPS limits.
• Maintain consistent welding performance during production.

6. MIG Welding Knowledge

The candidate should have practical MIG welding experience, including:

• MIG/GMAW machine setup
• Welding wire selection
• Wire feed speed
• Voltage and current settings
• Shielding gas selection and flow
• Torch angle and travel speed
• Welding technique
• Fillet and butt welds
• Weld penetration
• Spatter control
• Defect prevention

The welder should understand how to adjust appropriate machine settings to obtain consistent weld quality.

7. ARC / Stick Welding Knowledge

The candidate should have practical ARC/Stick welding (SMAW) experience, including:

• Electrode selection
• Electrode diameter
• Welding current
• Polarity
• Arc length
• Electrode angle
• Travel speed
• Slag removal
• Multi-pass welding where applicable
• Weld quality and penetration
• Welding defect prevention

The candidate should be comfortable using both MIG and ARC welding processes according to production requirements.

8. Weld Quality & Defect Prevention

Ensure completed welds meet approved fabrication drawings, WPS and applicable quality requirements.

The candidate should understand and identify common welding defects, including:

• Porosity and gas pockets
• Undercut
• Overlap
• Incomplete fusion
• Inadequate penetration
• Excessive spatter
• Irregular weld profiles
• Cracks
• Slag inclusions
• Distortion
• Incorrect weld size

Responsibilities include:

• Conduct visual checks during and after welding.
• Inspect weld bead appearance and continuity.
• Monitor weld size and visible workmanship.
• Identify defects and coordinate approved corrective actions.
• Minimize welding rejection, rework and material wastage.
• Maintain consistent weld quality across production.
• Coordinate with Quality personnel when inspection or rework approval is required.
• Prevent repeated defects through better joint preparation and welding practices.

9. Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) Compliance

• Read and understand applicable Welding Procedure Specifications.
• Follow approved welding processes and sequences.
• Use specified welding consumables and parameter ranges.
• Follow required joint preparation and welding position requirements.
• Maintain welding procedures consistently during production.
• Report discrepancies between actual site conditions and approved procedures.
• Coordinate with Production and Quality when technical clarification is necessary.
• Ensure welding work follows approved fabrication and quality requirements.

10. Welding Distortion Control & Dimensional Accuracy

• Understand the effects of welding heat on structural steel components.
• Follow suitable tack welding and welding sequences.
• Maintain component alignment during welding.
• Use fixtures and clamps appropriately.
• Monitor distortion and dimensional variations.
• Avoid excessive heat input where it could affect component accuracy.
• Coordinate with fabricators to maintain assembly dimensions.
• Identify and report distortion-related problems.
• Support corrective actions approved by Production or Engineering.

11. Welding Consumable Management

• Verify welding wire, electrode and shielding gas requirements.
• Use consumables according to approved specifications.
• Monitor welding wire and electrode consumption.
• Avoid unnecessary wastage.
• Maintain proper consumable handling and storage.
• Identify damaged, contaminated or unsuitable consumables.
• Report shortages to the Production Supervisor.
• Support accurate recording of material and consumable usage where required.

12. Production Planning & Productivity

• Complete assigned welding jobs according to daily production schedules.
• Review drawings and job instructions before starting work.
• Ensure materials, tools and consumables are ready.
• Coordinate with fabricators and fitters regarding work availability.
• Maintain consistent production output.
• Reduce avoidable rework and excessive grinding.
• Minimize unnecessary machine downtime.
• Report production delays and quality problems.
• Maintain accurate job completion records.
• Support improvements in welding efficiency and fabrication processes.

13. Welding Equipment Maintenance & Troubleshooting

• Perform routine welding machine checks.
• Inspect welding cables, torches, electrode holders and connections.
• Check MIG wire feeding systems and welding consumables.
• Inspect gas supply connections and hoses where applicable.
• Identify abnormal welding machine operation.
• Maintain equipment and work-area cleanliness.
• Report electrical, mechanical or equipment faults promptly.
• Coordinate with Maintenance for repairs and preventive maintenance.
• Follow approved procedures for machine shutdown and storage.

Specialized electrical and equipment repairs must be performed by authorized personnel.

14. Welding Safety & Workplace Discipline

• Follow approved welding safety procedures.
• Wear appropriate welding helmets, gloves, protective clothing and safety footwear.
• Use welding curtains and screens where required.
• Follow safe handling procedures for welding equipment and gas cylinders.
• Maintain suitable welding fume-control arrangements.
• Follow fire-prevention and applicable hot-work procedures.
• Ensure combustible materials are properly controlled around welding work.
• Maintain clean and organized welding workstations.
• Follow 5S and factory housekeeping standards.
• Report unsafe conditions and damaged equipment immediately.

15. Continuous Improvement & Quality Awareness

• Identify recurring welding defects and their possible causes.
• Suggest practical improvements to joint preparation and welding sequences.
• Reduce unnecessary consumable usage.
• Improve consistency and workmanship.
• Support improvements in fixtures and workpiece handling.
• Coordinate with supervisors and Quality regarding defect prevention.
• Participate in welding process improvement activities.
• Maintain a quality-focused and disciplined approach to production.

Required Experience

• 3–7 years of practical MIG and ARC welding experience.
• Experience in structural steel fabrication, industrial fabrication or similar manufacturing operations.
• Ability to independently perform MIG welding and ARC/Stick welding.
• Practical knowledge of fillet welds, butt welds and different joint configurations.
• Experience preparing welding joints through cleaning, grinding and beveling.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and basic welding symbols.
• Understanding of welding current, voltage, wire feed speed, travel speed and shielding gas.
• Knowledge of welding wires, electrodes and consumables.
• Ability to identify common welding defects.
• Understanding of Welding Procedure Specifications and welding sequences.
• Ability to maintain consistent weld quality and productivity.
• Knowledge of welding safety and equipment handling.

Preferred Experience

• Structural steel fabrication
• Industrial machinery fabrication
• Steel frames and supports
• Heavy fabrication
• MIG/GMAW welding
• ARC/SMAW welding
• Welding fixtures and assembly fit-up
• Multi-pass welding
• WPS-based fabrication work
• Manufacturing quality inspection
• Production welding in an industrial fabrication workshop

Experience working in a manufacturing environment with defined welding quality and production requirements will be preferred.

Qualifications

• ITI Welder preferred.
• Relevant welding trade certification or vocational training is an advantage.
• Equivalent practical welding experience may also be considered.

Practical welding capability, engineering drawing understanding and weld quality are more important than the exact educational qualification.

Key Technical Skills

• MIG Welding
• ARC / Stick Welding
• Structural Steel Welding
• Welding and Fabrication
• Engineering Drawing Interpretation
• Welding Symbols
• Joint Preparation
• Fillet and Butt Welding
• Welding Parameters
• WPS Compliance
• Weld Quality Inspection
• Welding Defect Prevention
• Distortion Control
• Welding Safety

Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone who can independently receive a structural fabrication drawing, understand the welding requirements and complete the welding operation with consistent quality.

For example, when given a fabricated steel assembly requiring multiple fillet and butt welds, the candidate should be capable of:

• Reading the engineering drawing and welding symbols.
• Identifying weld locations, sizes and joint requirements.
• Preparing and cleaning the material.
• Checking component fit-up and alignment.
• Selecting approved welding consumables.
• Setting MIG or ARC welding parameters within WPS limits.
• Performing tack welding and final welding.
• Controlling distortion and maintaining dimensional accuracy.
• Inspecting the completed weld for visible defects.
• Coordinating necessary corrections according to approved procedures.

The strongest candidates will have practical MIG and ARC welding experience, structural fabrication knowledge, accurate drawing interpretation, good joint preparation techniques and the ability to produce consistent, high-quality welds without constant supervision.

We are not looking for someone who only knows how to operate a welding machine. We need an experienced fabrication welder who understands how preparation, parameters, welding technique and inspection affect the final welded component.