Welder

1st Shift Welder

Job Description

This role works in a custom job shop welding environment, joining metal parts according to layouts, blueprints, and work orders. You will set up your own welding equipment, select appropriate wire size based on material thickness and grade, perform high-quality welds, and inspect your work before it moves to the next step in the production process.

Responsibilities

• Interpret and follow layouts, blueprints, and work orders to complete custom welding projects.
• Set up and adjust welding machines, including selecting proper wire size according to material thickness and grade.
• Perform MIG welding on a variety of materials, including mild steel and sheet metal.
• Carry out fit-up welding, ensuring parts are properly aligned and prepared prior to welding.
• Use basic shop math to measure and mark materials accurately, including adding and subtracting down to 1/16 or 1/32 of an inch.
• Read and understand blueprints for custom projects to determine weld locations, dimensions, and specifications.

Essential Skills

• Proficiency in MIG welding, including setup and operation of MIG welding equipment.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints for custom welding and fabrication projects.
• Experience with fit-up welding and basic fitting practices.
• Ability to perform basic shop math, including adding and subtracting measurements down to 1/16 or 1/32 of an inch.
• Knowledge of working with mild steel and sheet metal in a fabrication environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with TIG welding and stick welding in a fabrication or custom job shop environment.
• Familiarity with shop math beyond the basics, supporting more complex layouts and measurements.
• Ability to read and apply AWS welding standards in daily work.
• AWS D1.1 welding certification or the ability and willingness to obtain it.
• Prior experience in a custom job shop or similar environment handling one-off or small batch projects.
• Willingness to learn and be trained on fitting and fabrication processes to meet shop needs.

Why Work Here?

You will join a shop that supports your growth with training in fitting and fabrication while offering a comprehensive benefits package. Employees enjoy health, vision, and dental coverage, along with paid time off to support work-life balance. The operation emphasizes reasonable hours and a predictable schedule, helping you maintain stability both at work and at home.

Work Environment

This position is based in a custom job shop welding environment focused on a variety of unique and custom metal fabrication projects. The role operates on a first-shift schedule, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with occasional additional time on the back end of the shift, typically not extending past 4:30 p.m. You will work with MIG welding equipment, cored wire for heavy plate welding, and common fabrication tools while handling materials such as mild steel and sheet metal. The environment is hands-on and production-focused, with an emphasis on safety, quality, and collaboration in a traditional shop setting.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Rockford, IL.

The pay range for this position is $18.00 - $25.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Rockford,IL.

This position is anticipated to close on May 29, 2026.

About Aerotek

We know that finding work is hard, and finding meaningful work is harder. Aerotek connects 180,000+ light industrial and skilled trades workers with 14,000+ employers each year, helping our workers navigate an evolving labor market and find jobs that meets their goals, skills and interests. Since 1983, we have provided a variety of career opportunities across North American industry – from short-term assignments at Fortune 500 companies where you can build your skills, to long-term opportunities where you can play a vital role solving for companies’ construction, manufacturing and maintenance challenges. Our 1,500+ experienced recruiters across 250+ offices work relentlessly to put our workforce in a position to thrive. Let us rise to meet your challenges and put our people-are everything spirit to the test as your career continues to grow.

Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.