Welder

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Welder

Job Description

This role focuses on repairing barges and tugboats along the river, with a strong emphasis on stick welding and structural fabrication. You will use your welding and fitting skills to restore and maintain marine vessels so they remain safe, reliable, and ready for operation in a demanding environment.

Responsibilities

• Perform high-quality stick welding on barges and tugboats, with approximately 95% of daily work involving stick welding processes.
• Carry out basic fabrication tasks, including cutting, fitting, and assembling metal components, which make up about 5% of the workload.
• Use MIG welding techniques when required to support fabrication and repair activities.
• Interpret and work from blueprints and technical drawings to ensure accurate repairs and fabrication of structural components.
• Measure and mark materials using a tape measure and other layout tools to prepare components for cutting, fitting, and welding.
• Operate torch cutting equipment to cut, remove, or modify metal sections on barges and tugboats as needed.
• Perform grinding operations to clean, smooth, and prepare welds and surfaces for inspection, finishing, or further fabrication.
• Inspect welds and completed work visually to confirm quality, accuracy, and adherence to specifications and safety standards.
• Work safely in and around barges and marine structures, maintaining awareness of surroundings, equipment, and co-workers.
• Adapt to working outdoors in varying weather conditions while maintaining a high standard of workmanship and safety.

Essential Skills

• Proven welding experience with strong proficiency in stick welding, including structural and repair work.
• Hands-on experience with MIG welding in a fabrication or repair environment.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints and technical drawings accurately.
• Demonstrated skill using a tape measure and layout tools for precise measurement and fit-up.
• Experience with torch cutting equipment for cutting and removing metal components.
• Proficiency in grinding to prepare and finish welds and metal surfaces.
• Previous exposure to shipyard, barge, or marine repair environments is strongly preferred.
• Relevant welding certificates or credentials that demonstrate technical competency.
• Ability to work effectively in outdoor conditions, including wind, rain, snow, and heat.
• Strong attention to detail, safety awareness, and commitment to producing quality work.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in a shipyard or barge repair setting, including familiarity with marine structures and materials.
• Experience in fabrication, including cutting, fitting, and assembling metal structures.
• Comfort working at varying heights and on uneven or moving surfaces typical of barge environments.
• Ability to collaborate with other welders, fitters, and technicians to complete complex repairs.
• Strong problem-solving skills to identify repair needs and determine effective welding and fabrication solutions.

Why Work Here?

You will join a hands-on, skilled trades environment where your welding expertise directly contributes to the safety and reliability of critical marine operations. The role offers consistent, structured hours and the opportunity to develop and refine advanced welding and fabrication skills in a specialized marine setting. You will work alongside experienced professionals who value craftsmanship, safety, and teamwork, while gaining exposure to unique barge and tugboat projects that keep each day engaging and challenging.

Work Environment

This position is based in a barge and marine repair setting, working primarily on barges and tugboats along the river. The schedule follows a first-shift style afternoon and evening timeframe from 2:30 PM to 11:00 PM. The work takes place largely outdoors, and you must feel comfortable working in changing weather conditions, including wind, rain, snow, and heat. You will regularly use welding equipment, MIG and stick welders, torch cutting tools, grinders, and standard fabrication tools, including tape measures and layout instruments. The environment is industrial and physically demanding, requiring adherence to safety procedures, use of appropriate personal protective equipment, and readiness to work around heavy equipment, steel structures, and active marine operations.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of St. Louis, MO.

The pay range for this position is $20.00 - $30.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

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 St. Louis,MO.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 1, 2026.

Aerotek® Inc. provides staffing and services solutions in manufacturing, logistics, construction, aviation, facilities and maintenance. We provide the expertise, solutions and people required to rise to the challenges of North American industry. Headquartered in Hanover, Md., Aerotek operates a unified network of over 200 offices across North America, supporting more than 18,000 clients each year. Aerotek is an Allegis Group company, the global leader in workforce and business solutions. To learn more, visit: Aerotek.com | 1-888-AEROTEK.

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.

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 meet 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 in solving 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.

Company Description

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 meet 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 in solving 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.