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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Welder Fitter

💰 $ - $

ManufacturingFabricationConstructionMaintenanceWelding

🎯 Role Definition

The Welder Fitter is a skilled tradesperson responsible for assembling, fitting, and welding metal components to precise tolerances in shop and field environments. This role requires the ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and welding symbols, set up and operate welding equipment (MIG, TIG, SMAW, FCAW), perform fit-up and alignment of structural and pipe systems, and ensure that all work complies with applicable welding procedures (WPS), codes and standards (e.g., ASME, AWS, CWB, API). The Welder Fitter plays a central role in fabrication, installation, quality control, and continuous improvement initiatives while maintaining a strong safety mindset and accurate production records.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Apprentice Welder / Welding Trainee
  • General Fabricator / Production Welder
  • Mechanical Assembler or Pipe Fitter Helper

Advancement To:

  • Senior Welder Fitter / Lead Welder
  • Welding Supervisor / Shop Foreman
  • Welding Inspector (CWI) / Quality Assurance Technician
  • Pipe Welding Specialist / Pressure Vessel Fabricator

Lateral Moves:

  • Boilermaker
  • Pipefitter / Plumber (industrial piping)
  • Sheet Metal Fabricator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Read, interpret and apply engineering drawings, welding symbols, dimensional tolerances and bills of materials to plan and execute fit-up and welding of structural steel, plate, and pipe assemblies according to project specifications and WPS documents.
  • Perform precision fit-up, tack welding and final welding of weldments using SMAW (stick), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW) and FCAW processes while selecting appropriate filler metals, shielding gas, and preheat/post-heat parameters per welding procedure specifications.
  • Set up, align and clamp large assemblies and sub-assemblies using jigs, fixtures, C-clamps, chain hoists and rigging to meet positional and dimensional tolerances and to ensure straightness, alignment and squareness prior to final welding.
  • Execute complex pipe fitting tasks including cutting, bevelling, bevel preparation, fit-up, alignment and welding of carbon steel, stainless steel and alloy piping systems for high-pressure and process applications.
  • Carry out non-destructive testing (NDT) support activities such as coordinating and preparing components for visual inspection (VT), magnetic particle testing (MT), dye penetrant (PT) and ultrasonic testing (UT), and act on inspector feedback to correct defects.
  • Prepare surfaces for welding by cleaning, grinding, sandblasting or thermal cutting to remove mill scale, rust and coatings and ensure proper weld fusion and penetration.
  • Maintain accurate welding logs, travel cards, weld maps and quality documentation including inspection reports, WPS references, material traceability and heat treatment records according to company QA/QC procedures.
  • Interpret and apply code requirements (e.g., ASME Section IX, AWS D1.1, API 1104, CWB) to ensure welds meet structural and pressure containment standards in both shop and field environments.
  • Operate cutting equipment including plasma cutters, oxy-fuel torches, band saws and grinders to cut and prepare plate and pipe to specified profiles and bevels for edge preparation.
  • Conduct dimensional checks and use precision measuring tools (calipers, micrometers, straight edges, levels, tape measures and optical levels) to verify fit-up, alignment and tolerances prior to welding.
  • Perform tack weld procedures to control distortion and maintain correct geometry; sequence welds and apply back-step or stitch welding techniques to minimize residual stress and distortion in assemblies.
  • Install and secure fabricated components into final positions on structures, vessels or pipe racks, coordinating with rigging, crane operators and site crews during lifts and installations.
  • Troubleshoot weld defects (incomplete fusion, porosity, undercut, cracks) and implement corrective actions, including grinding out and re-welding, applying proper preheat or interpass temperatures and adjusting welding parameters.
  • Carry out scheduled post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) or stress-relief processes when required, coordinating with metallurgical and QA personnel to meet metallurgical property requirements.
  • Perform fit-up and welding of pressure vessels, tanks and heat exchangers to meet pressure test (hydrostatic) and leak test acceptance criteria.
  • Comply with all site and shop safety protocols including PPE usage, confined space entry procedures, hot work permits, fire watch responsibilities and hazardous materials handling.
  • Maintain welding equipment and consumables: perform routine maintenance on MIG/TIG/SMAW machines, replace tips, liners and nozzles, inspect leads and ground clamps, and ensure gas regulators and hoses are in safe working condition.
  • Fabricate brackets, stiffeners, baseplates and custom metal components by marking out, cutting and forming using press brakes, shears, rollers and other bench tools as needed to meet assembly requirements.
  • Collaborate with engineers, supervisors and quality inspectors to review design changes, suggest manufacturability improvements and provide input on welding procedures to reduce rework and increase throughput.
  • Mentor and train junior welders and apprentices in welding techniques, safe equipment operation, blueprint reading and company quality standards to build team capability and succession.
  • Perform on-site installations and field repairs, including working at heights, in confined spaces and in variable environmental conditions while ensuring alignment and weld integrity under site constraints.
  • Participate in continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives by identifying bottlenecks, suggesting process changes, implementing standardized work and tracking defect-reduction metrics.
  • Follow environmental and waste-disposal procedures for slag, spent abrasives and hazardous welding by-products, and contribute to maintaining a clean, organized and safe workspace.
  • Assist with lifting, staging and material handling activities, using forklifts, overhead cranes and dollies to move heavy components safely and efficiently to production or assembly areas.

Secondary Functions

  • Support project scheduling by providing realistic time estimates for fit-up and welding activities and by reporting progress to supervisors and project managers.
  • Assist procurement and inventory control with tracking welding consumable usage (electrodes, wire, shielding gas) and reporting low-stock items to reduce production downtime.
  • Perform light mechanical assembly tasks, bolt-up, torque to specification and final finishing (grind, paint touch-up) to prepare products for customer delivery or site handover.
  • Participate in toolbox talks, safety meetings and continuous training sessions to stay current with new welding technologies, codes and company policies.
  • Document and escalate recurring quality or equipment issues to maintenance and QA teams and help coordinate temporary workarounds until permanent fixes are implemented.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Proficient welding with SMAW (Stick), GMAW (MIG), GTAW (TIG) and FCAW processes on carbon steel, stainless steel and specialty alloys.
  • Strong blueprint reading skills including interpretation of welding symbols, section views, tolerances and bills of materials.
  • Experience with welding codes and standards such as ASME Section IX, AWS D1.1/D1.3, API 1104 and CWB procedures.
  • Pipe fitting and fabrication skills including cutting, beveling, tack-up, alignment and welding of butt and branch connections.
  • Familiarity with non-destructive testing methods: Visual Testing (VT), Magnetic Particle (MT), Dye Penetrant (PT) and Ultrasonic Testing (UT) support and acceptance criteria.
  • Ability to set up and use jigging, fixturing, clamps, chain hoists and rigging for precise alignment and welding fit-up.
  • Proficient use of metalworking machinery such as press brakes, shears, rollers, band saws, grinders and plasma cutting systems.
  • Competent in dimensional inspection using calipers, micrometers, levels, squares and tape measures to verify compliance to prints.
  • Knowledge of welding procedure specifications (WPS), procedure qualification records (PQR) and welder qualification records (WQR).
  • Ability to maintain accurate documentation and quality records: weld maps, travel cards, material certificates and inspection reports.
  • Experience with post-weld heat treatment (PWHT), stress relief and metallurgical considerations for weld integrity.
  • Basic mechanical assembly skills, torqueing bolted connections to spec and performing final assembly checks.
  • Familiarity with shop and site safety systems: hot work permitting, confined space entry, lockout/tagout and PPE compliance.
  • Experience working with lifting equipment: overhead cranes, hoists and forklift operations (may include valid forklift certification).

Soft Skills

  • Strong attention to detail and a commitment to producing high-quality, code-compliant welds.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills to diagnose welding defects and implement corrective actions.
  • Good communication skills for working with engineers, QA inspectors and multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Time management and ability to prioritize tasks to meet production schedules and project milestones.
  • Team-oriented mindset with experience mentoring apprentices and collaborating on complex assemblies.
  • Adaptability to work in shop or field environments, under varying weather and site conditions.
  • Strong work ethic, reliability and a safety-first attitude.
  • Continuous improvement orientation and willingness to adopt new processes and technologies.
  • Physical stamina and dexterity for sustained manual work, lifting, bending, and working in constrained positions.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High School Diploma or equivalent; experience-based qualifications accepted.

Preferred Education:

  • Technical diploma or certificate in Welding Technology, Fabrication, Mechanical Trades or related apprenticeship certification.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Welding Technology / Welding Engineering
  • Mechanical Fabrication / Industrial Mechanics
  • Metallurgy / Materials Science
  • Pipefitting / Boilermaking

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 2 to 7 years of progressive welding and fitting experience in a commercial, industrial or construction fabrication environment.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years of experience in structural and/or pipe welding with demonstrated competency across multiple welding processes and certified weld tests.
  • Certifications such as AWS Certified Welder, CWB, or employer-specific welder qualifications; valid tickets for rigging, forklift, confined space or scaffolding are an asset.
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