Valstad ShipworksStructural Welder / Fabricator
Valstad Shipworks is hiring a Structural Welder / Fabricator in Austin, United States. It pays $60k-$75k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Valstad Shipworks.
Level's read on this job
- Level rates this role Little AI ●○○○: aI is not part of the work.
- Tools and skills the posting cites include Gmaw Welder, Fcaw Welder and Plasma Cutter.
- Level classifies it as a mid-level role.
- Level lists 9 other open roles at Valstad Shipworks.
AI in this role
Perform structural steel welding and fabrication safely alongside robotic manufacturing systems in a modern production facility.
About Valstad
Valstad is building the machine that builds the ships.
We combine industrial robotics, welding, sensing, and AI to turn 3D models into real high-mix ship structure. Our mission is to rapidly expand America's maritime output by 100x.
Our team works directly with large industrial robots and real manufacturing equipment at our Austin facility. The systems we build will ultimately be deployed across shipyards and industrial facilities throughout the country.
What to Expect
Valstad is a manufacturing technology company with a mission to rebuild America's shipbuilding capacity from the ground up. The United States has fallen from the world's leading shipbuilder to producing less than 1% of global commercial output — while demand for domestic naval and commercial vessels continues to surge.
We're closing that gap by developing autonomous robotic fabrication systems that produce precision structural ship components at unprecedented speed, quality, and scale. Our platform combines industrial robotics, machine vision, and adaptive manufacturing to do what decades of manual processes have not — deliver the throughput and consistency the industry needs to build again.
Welders at Valstad are central to our production operation. You’ll work alongside advanced robotic systems in a modern fabrication facility, producing structural steel components to exacting quality standards. We’re looking for experienced, detail-oriented welders who take pride in their craft and want to be part of something bigger.
What You’ll Do
• Perform GMAW (MIG) and FCAW welding in positions 1G, 2G, and 3G on structural steel components and assemblies
• Perform corrective welding to repair, rework, or refit fabricated components
• Read and interpret engineering drawings, weld symbols, and work instructions
• Measure and verify dimensions using tape measures, squares, and other layout tools
• Perform material handling and positioning, including lifting up to 75 lbs
• Operate hand and power cutting tools including plasma, oxy-fuel, and angle grinders
• Work safely alongside robotic welding systems on the production floor
• Maintain weld quality in accordance with AWS D1.1 and ABS Part 2 Materials and Welding requirements
• Keep your work area clean and organized
What You’ll Bring
• Required: Proficiency in GMAW (MIG) and FCAW welding
• Ability to weld out of position (vertical, overhead, and horizontal)
• Ability to read a tape measure and basic fabrication drawings
• Familiarity with thermal cutting processes (plasma, oxy-fuel, or similar)
• Familiarity with structural welding codes or quality standards (e.g. AWS D1.1 or ASME Section VIII); willingness to learn ABS Part 2
• Ability to safely lift up to 75 lbs and perform physical labor in a manufacturing environment
• Tasks may require physical strength and dexterity
• May require extensive kneeling, bending, and standing for long periods of time
• Must be able to climb ladders or stairs to reach objects; comfortable with heights
• May require working in narrow or confined work spaces for extended periods of time
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to weld quality
• Dependable, collaborative, and able to work from written and verbal work orders
Nice to Have
• SMAW (Stick) welding experience
• GTAW (TIG) welding experience
• Laser welding experience
• Robotics or cobot welding system experience
• AWS D1.1 welder qualification/certification
• Shipbuilding or heavy industrial fabrication background
How we rate this
Structural Welder / Fabricator at Valstad Shipworks rates 0 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.
Little AI. AI is not part of the work.
- ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
- ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
- ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
- ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39
Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Questions you could be asked
- Tell me about a project where welding was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where fabrication was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where structural steel was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where blueprint reading was part of your work. What did you do?
- Walk me through how you've used Gmaw Welder in your day-to-day work.
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: Welding, Fabrication, Structural Steel, Blueprint Reading, and Gmaw Welder. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
- Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
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