What are the responsibilities and job description for the Structural Welder (TIG) position at LEAD Staffing?
Structural Specialty Welder
Location: San Diego, CA (Shipyard & Shop Operations) Position Type: Full-Time / Journeyman Industry: Marine Staffing & Ship Repair
Position Overview
We are seeking a highly skilled Journeyman Structural Specialty Welder to support mechanical repairs, structural modifications, and modernization projects across marine vessels, including US Naval, Military Sealift Command (MSC), and commercial ships.
In this role, you will be responsible for welding pipe and structural components of various metals on-board ships or within the shop environment. As a journeyman, you will also be expected to provide clear direction, mentorship, and safety oversight to assigned welding helpers and fire watches.
Key Responsibilities & Work Tasks
- Production Welding: Perform high-quality welding on pipe and structural components utilizing various metals. Maintain a thorough understanding of SMAW, FCAW, and GMAW theory.
- Area Preparation & Safety: Inspect and prepare work areas for hot work. Ensure gas-free certifications and lock-out/tag-out (LOTO) procedures are accurate, up to date, and strictly enforced before striking an arc.
- Quality & Documentation: Inspect your own welds for defects and provide Objective Quality Evidence (OQE) as required by technical specifications. Document daily conditions and unexpected deficiencies using written Condition Found Reports (CFRs), including recommended corrective actions.
- Team Leadership: Provide daily task direction and safety guidance to assigned pipe welding helpers and Fire Watches.
- Site Management: Maintain a clean, orderly, and safe work environment throughout the shift, complying fully with OSHA standards and shipyard safety best practices.
Required Qualifications & Experience
- Experience: Minimum of four (4) years of marine pipe and structural welding experience in a shipyard or heavy industrial marine environment.
- Weld Test Requirements: Must be able to successfully pass specialized Alum, CuNi, Stainless, or TIG weld tests.
- Technical Certifications: Must be able to certify in P-3 joints with permanent backing rings and P-14 socket weld joints using:
- SMAW
- GTAW (TIG)
- FCAW OR Silver Brazing
- Blueprint Reading: Ability to comprehend, interpret, and work from complex blueprints, drawings, technical specifications, and Navy/MSC/ABS standard items and manuals.
- Marine Knowledge: Working knowledge of ship repair terminology, ship compartment naming conventions, and structural layouts.
- Math Skills: Proficiency in basic math, including adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing whole numbers, fractions, and decimals using both US customary and metric systems.
- Tools: Proficiency in operating, troubleshooting, and caring for welding equipment, portable power tools, and standard trade hand tools.
Physical Demands & Work Environment
Shipyard work is physically demanding and takes place in a dynamic, heavy-industrial environment. Candidates must be physically and medically capable of meeting the following demands:
- Environmental Conditions: Comfort working in a variety of environments, ranging from normal shop conditions to outdoor docks and interior ship compartments that may be smoky, hot, cold, or have low illumination.
- Confined Spaces & Heights: Ability to access tight work areas through 18” x 36” manhole openings and work in confined spaces or at heights above 12 feet (from ladders, scaffolding, and manlifts).
- Physical Strength: Ability to lift, push, or pull up to 75 lbs occasionally, and up to 20 lbs frequently.
- Mobility: Ability to stand for prolonged periods (2-3 hours), bend, squat, crawl, kneel, climb, and maintain good balance on uneven surfaces.
- PPE Compliance: Full medical and physical capability to wear all required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) under OSHA standards, including hard hats, steel-toe boots, safety glasses, respirators, safety harnesses, and flotation gear.
Employment Policies
We are a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. All personnel are expected to comply with the Company’s Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy, ensuring a professional, businesslike workplace free of bias, prejudice, and harassment.
“At LEAD, your career is our top priority. As a leading recruiting partner, we're dedicated to connecting talented job seekers with exciting opportunities and rewarding careers across a variety of dynamic industries. Our team takes the time to understand our employee's unique skills, experience, and professional goals. We then leverage our extensive network and industry expertise to match them with the perfect fit - whether that's a short-term project, long-term contract, or a permanent role. Employee's don't just settle for just any job - they partner with LEAD and unlock a world of rewarding possibilities for themselves. Apply today and let us help you find the perfect fit.”