Robotic Welder

Robotic Operator / Welder

Built on experience. Built for skill. Built for you.

Keel was formed by bringing together three industry leaders combining generations of hands-on expertise in steel fabrication, shipbuilding, aerospace, and defense manufacturing. That means when you join Keel, you're joining a team backed by decades of proven craftsmanship and real-world results. We build ships, defense systems, aerospace components, and heavy steel structures that serve critical missions — and we do it with pride.

Your mission:

As a Robotic Operator / Welder with Keel Midwest, you will be responsible for utilizing established programs to weld various fabrications under the supervision of senior robotics team members. This position will communicate with team members and management regarding job status and quality issues requiring programmer attention and will display an understanding of specific robot safety concerns and protocols associated with both industrial and collaborative robots. On the job training will be provided as required.

Available shifts:

Day Shift: Monday - Friday, 6:00 am to 4:30 pm

Night Shift: Monday - Thursday 5:00 pm to 5:30am (shift differential does apply for night shift)

Explore the depth of the role:

• Load and unload fabrications in various cells and fixtures.
• Jog robot when necessary for tip or wire change.
• Select and run correct programs from teach pendant, as well as clearing simple faults and restarting cycles as directed.
• Pre-weld, repair, and clean up weldments after robotic welding programs as necessary utilize hand-welding techniques and processes.
• Recognize and communicate quality/weld issues to programmers when needed.
• Understand and utilize WPS documents.
• Check to ensure correct filler metal and shield gas is being used.
• Keep up basic maintenance and cleanliness of robotic equipment and surrounding area, including monitoring coolant levels, contact tips, nozzles, fixturing clamps, and hold-downs.
• Uses overhead cranes as need to move, load, and upload fixtures, materials, and robots as required.
• All other related duties as assigned.

Requirements:

Mission readiness:

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Must have basic computer skills.
• Basic welding knowledge required.
• At least one (1) year of welding experience and robotics experience required.
• Must be self-motivated, able to work alone or as part of a team.
• Good communication skills, attention to detail, and safety awareness in a shop environment, especially in robotic cells, makes for an ideal candidate.
• Must be comfortable with shop equipment such as overhead cranes, lifting devices, and impact wrenches.

Physical requirements:

• May be required to stand, walk, sit, reach/pull/push with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop or kneel regularly.
• May lift or carry 50lbs. Weights exceeding 50lbs will require mechanical means to maneuver.

Become a part of our builders and you too can...

• Uphold safety and quality standards
• Embody team spirit
• Relentless customer focus
• Convey integrity, trust, and professionalism
• Execute with excellence and velocity

What Keel will build for you:

• Comprehensive benefit package
• Competitive pay
• 401(k) match
• HSA/FSA
• Paid holidays
• Paid time off
• Internal referral bonus opportunities
• Shift differentials
• Overtime potential
• Paid on the job training
• Certification sponsorship opportunities
• Committed to individual career growth
• We do fun things, plus more!

Need assistance?

If you require a reasonable accommodation at any stage of the employment process, please email View email address on click.appcast.io with details about your request and your contact information. Accommodation requests are reviewed individually on a case-by-case basis. Please note that this email address is monitored only for inquiries related to reasonable accommodation requests.

Equal opportunity employer / individuals with disabilities / protected veterans

What we build, builds us.