Becoming a welder typically starts with technical training, which combines hands-on experience with classroom learning, allowing individuals to earn while they learn. Training programs can range from 6 to 18 months, depending on the pathway chosen. The American Welding Society projects 320,500 new welding professionals will be needed by 2029, with a median annual salary of $45,190. In Norfolk, VA, welders earn an average of $1,700 per week, with experienced professionals often exceeding $55,000 annually. Trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeships offer pathways to this skilled trade, leading to a career with strong earning potential and diverse specialization opportunities.
MHI Ship Repair & Services is a major marine repair and conversion contractor serving the U.S. Navy, Military Sealift Command, Maritime Administration and Commercial ship owners and operators worldwide. Our shipyard is conveniently located in the Mid-Atlantic region at the port of Hampton Roads, Norfolk Virginia. MHI is hiring experienced Welders. Depending on skill level, duties may include the following: • Analyzes job from start to finish ensuring proper and safe work methods used. • Cleans and prepares surfaces to be welded. • Joins, fabricates, and repairs metal and other material by applying appropriate welding techniques and following safety procedures. • Inspects completed welds to ensure visual acceptance. • Notifies supervisor of any safety or equipment issues. MHI offers competitive wages and an excellent benefit package. Some of the available benefits include medical/HRA, dental, vision, company paid life insurance, short/long term disability, accident, critical illness, FSA, Pet insurance, and 401(k) with match and profit sharing. MHI is an Affirmative Action/EOE Employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
See More Details >>The Shipfitter and Welder must possess knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to assemble, modify, layout, fabricate, repair, and install plates, shapes, and/or pipe to be used to form a part of a structural assembly in connection with ship alteration and repair. Responsibilities: • Weld together metal components of products, as specified by layout, blueprints, diagram, work order, welding producers, or oral instructions, using electric arc-welding equipment • Prepare all material surfaces to be welded, ensuring that there is no loose or think scale, slag, rust, moisture, grease, or other foreign matter • Positions align, fit, and welds parts to form complete units or subunits, following blueprints and layout specifications, and using jigs, welding torches, and hand tools. • Weld completion in flat, horizontal, vertical, or overhead positions • Operate manual or semi-automatic welding equipment o fuse metal segments, using processes such as gas tungsten arc, gas metal arc, flux-cored arc, plasma arc, shielded metal arc, resistance welding, and submerged arc welding • Manually apply filler rod to supply weld metal • Clean or degrease weld joints or work piece, using wire brushes, portable grinders, or chemical bath. May repair broken or cracked parts and fill holes • Set up and operate welding equipment and select proper electrodes according to metals to be joined or as instructed • Perform grinding and joint preparation for NDT processes • Flux-cored inner shield and dual shield welding along with oxy-acetylene torching, air-arc, weld-wire gas, stick, and pipe flange • Locates and marks work-piece bending and cutting lines, allowing for stock thickness, machine and welding shrinkage, and other component specifications. • Construct or repair metal products by joining parts either manually (using a variety of welding methods including electric arc, MIG and TIG welding, or oxy-acetylene welding) or by machine • Read and understand the Chemist and Competent Persons reports and determine if job sites, particularly those involving combustible material, are safe for personnel and hot work • Sets up and operates 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. • Mark or tag material with the proper job number, piece marks, and other identifying marks as required • Will be required to wear personal protective equipment hard hat, safety glasses, steel toe boots/shoes, and when necessary, a respirator • Other duties as assigned Qualifications: • Must be able to demonstrate ability to perform multi-pass, all position fillet and butt welds using SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding), GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding), and FCAW (Flux Cored Arc Welding) • Knowledge of welding techniques (oxygen-acetylene, electric arc, and TIG), tools, and equipment • Knowledge of and ability to use hand tools and instruments associated with the trade • Comprehend blueprints, sketches, and templates • Enter and move through manholes to reach and work in internally confined spaces • DBIDS eligibility is a PLUS • ***Major Plus if held loftsperson position or completed lofting vocational training *** Company DescriptionSince 1992, Tidewater Staffing, Inc. (TSI) has been providing unrivaled workforce solutions for our clients in the ship repair, warehousing, and light industrial/manufacturing industries. Through the years, we’ve dedicated ourselves to solving staffing challenges efficiently, economically, and with integrity by embodying our mission statement: “Put people to work. Do the right thing every day.”
See More Details >>Position Location: Norfolk, VA Summary: Using welding/cutting equipment and various power and hand tools, the welder performs a variety of shop and shipboard welding trade functions. These functions include the repair and/or removal of old structural materials, the installation of new structural materials and complete fabrication of complex structural, mechanical and equipment foundations. Works under direct supervision and performs related work as required. Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned. • Applies basic welding processes to join, surface, fabricate, or repair parts of metal or other weldable materials. • Qualified in basic Shielded Metal Arc (SMAW) for various combinations of steel in all positions or Gas Metal Arc (GMAW) for aluminum (spray and pulsed transfer) • Works from blueprints, engineering sketches, and specification requirements to determine materials and construction process required to fabricate component parts to develop a complete unit as designed; • May position pieces to be welded into jigs, holding fixtures, guides, and steps using measuring instruments and hand tools; • Knowledge of the processes and procedures necessary for the proper removal of old equipment and foundations with minimal damage to surrounding materials. • Maintain certification in the welding procedure(s) as required by Quality Assurance Manager. • Fill out Objective Quality Evidence (OQE) forms • Follow Quality Assurance welding procedures • Performs all work in accordance with established safety procedures. • Participates in special projects as required. Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Language Ability: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Math Ability: Requires basic math skills such as adding, subtracting, multiplying, division and fractions Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Computer Skills: Must possess basic computer skills to enter data into different data basis. Education/Experience: • Typically requires 1-5 years related experience. • High School Diploma or GED, plus technical/vocational training or the equivalent combination. • Experience working in the marine welding/fitter trade gained through a formal apprenticeship or equivalent training is preferred. • Thorough knowledge of welding standards of SMAW, GMAW, GTAW and/or FCAW welding procedures. • Skill to make complete penetration and complete fusion welds. • Read and understand blueprints and specifications. Certificates and Licenses: Must be able to successfully pass a criminal background check and obtain and maintain a security badge for all military installations and civilian shipyards as needed. Equipment: • General Hand Tools • Welding Machines • Precision Measuring Instruments • Pneumatic and Electric Hand Tools • Knowledge, Skills and Other Abilities: • Must have the ability to read and interpret blueprints, sketches, written technical instructions and manuals. • Must possess working knowledge of welding procedures and tools. • Knowledge of welding shrinkage, welding techniques and physical properties of metal. • Ability to qualify using welding procedures on plate and/or pipe. • Must be able to pass Workmanship Inspection training. • Must be able to read and understand material safety data sheets (MDS). • Able to follow safety procedures. Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required on a regular basis to stand, walk, sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, talk and/or hear. Frequently the employee is required to carry objects that might weigh up to 50 pounds. The employee must be able to pass the vision test. Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be working in a shipboard environment. The employee is occasionally exposed to work near moving mechanical parts or working in a confined space. The employee is regularly exposed to fumes or airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
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