Fabrication Welder

Salary: $43.31 - $45.48 Hourly
Location : Tacoma, WA
Job Type: Classified
Job Number: 5310-26
Department: City of Tacoma - CITY WIDE LIST
Opening Date: 07/30/2026
Closing Date: 8/17/2026 5:00 PM Pacific


Position Description


The City of Tacoma is currently recruiting for an experienced Fabrication Welder and establishing an eligible list for future vacancies. Fabrication Welder's perform a variety of skilled welding tasks including maintenance, fabrication, construction and repair welding.

Responsibilities Include:

• Weld a variety of metals such as steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, brass and cast iron with oxyacetylene, electric or heli arc equipment
• Design, layout and fabricate metal parts, tools, fixtures, frames, guards, trailer hitches and pieces of equipment; perform or assist in special projects as assigned
• Construct, alter, repair and maintain a variety of metal surfaces including vehicles and heavy equipment, plant equipment, containers, doors, fences, posts, gates and applicable surfaces
• Heat and straighten parts of truck frames, motorcycle frames, bent tools and parts of machinery
• Burn metals with flame and plasma.
• Maintain and repair various welding tools and equipment including grinders and saws
• Operate a variety of equipment and machinery such as welders, torches, grinders, presses, lathes, mills, saws, punches, shears, sheet metal breaks, rolls and various hand tools; operate City vehicles such as trucks and forklifts as required

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school or GED AND

An equivalent combination to:

• Completion of a recognized welding apprenticeship program and 1+ year(s) experience as a journey-level fabrication welder OR
• 5+ years of full-time paid employment as a fabrication welder

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Valid Washington State driver's license
• First aid card with CPR, flagging and forklift certification by the end of probation, and maintenance thereafter
• American Welding Society (AWS) Certified Welder (CW)

Knowledge & Skills

• Ability to perform a variety of welding processes and procedures: OAW; OHW; OFC-A; OFC-P; TB; ; TS; INS; ; AAW; SMAW; GMAW; GTAW; FCAW; SW; AAC; PAC; EASP; FLSP.
• Ability to interpret in-depth blueprints for fabrication and assembly of parts.
• Demonstrable experience welding copper and aluminum electrical bus work, stainless steel, brass, bronze, cast iron and carbon steel parts.
• Knowledge of Blacksmithing and Flame Straightening and forming and wrinkle bending.
• Knowledge of welding fabricating tolerances and requirements for electric production equipment and other critical infrastructure systems.
• Operating and maintaining a variety of tools common to the trade including plasma cutter, drill press, band saws, TIG & MIG welders, stick welder, grinders, overhead cranes, air tools, and hydraulic press equipment.
• Occupational hazards and safety precautions of the trade.
• Records keeping techniques.
• Understanding and following oral and written directions.
• Lift objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy.
• Maintain an organized and tidy shop work environment.
• Work independently with little direction.

Selection Process & Supplemental Information
This recruitment is being managed by Kye Merritt, if you would like to be notified of similar opportunities or stay connected with things going on at Tacoma Public Utilities and the City of Tacoma, connect with me on !

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Details:


Annual Salary: $90,084.80- $94,598.40
Tacoma Power
is an almost 100% hydroelectric, municipally-owned public power utility, located in Tacoma. We serve approximately 180,000 customers as one of the three operating divisions of Tacoma Public Utilities, alongside Tacoma Water and Tacoma Rail. As one of the most livable, walkable cities in the country, you'll find that Tacoma is a great fit for all interests with places to bike, run, hike, and explore, the perks of a big city, and the charm of a small town. We welcome you to take a look at our website and discover how the City of Tacoma can make your next career move part of our combined destiny:
City of Tacoma's Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

A Commitment to Equity & Diversity
At the City of Tacoma, we're on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve. We actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.

The Community

Tacoma is centrally located just 32 miles south of the city of Seattle and 31 miles north of the state capital, Olympia. The City of Tacoma is also home to the Port of Tacoma, which is among the largest container ports in the United States. Like most cities in the northwest, Tacoma is surrounded by beautiful nature, offering residents many opportunities for outdoor adventures.

Largely suburban in nature with a small, but dense, urban core, Tacoma is home to numerous institutes of higher learning that attract students from across the country. The University of Washington Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, a satellite campus of the Evergreen State College, three community/technical colleges, and several trade and business schools are within Tacoma's geographic area. Downtown's Cultural District is the site of the Washington State History Museum, Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, and America's Car Museum.

With its affordable housing and distinctive neighborhoods and business districts, the city has been recognized numerous times as a best city to live in the nation. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTube Video!

View this exciting video to learn more about the City of Tacoma:

Application Process

Interested individuals should apply online by completing the application and attaching a resume and cover letter by the closing date and time listed on the job announcement. Applications received without attaching the required materials may not progress in the selection process. Applicants who have the strongest backgrounds related to the responsibilities of this position may be invited to participate in the interview process, which may include a work problem. Appointment is subject to passing a background check.


Get Assistance

For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at View phone number on click.appcast.io by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement.

For technical difficulties using the NEOGOV system, call the applicant support line at View phone number on click.appcast.io between 6:00a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.

Communication with the City of Tacoma

We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from Tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.

Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice
The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.

Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.

Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.

Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.

Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.

Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.

Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.

Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at or by calling View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Other Employment Information

Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.

Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.

Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.

Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.
01


Do you have a high school diploma or equivalent?

• Yes
• No

02


Do you have an equivalent combination of completion of a recognized welding apprenticeship program and have 1+ year(s) experience as a journey-level fabrication welder OR have 5+ years of full-time paid employment as a fabrication welder?

• Yes
• No

03


What, if any, experience do you have on manual mills and lathes? What are some jobs that you have machined?
04


What welding environment do you prefer? Why?
05


Do you have your AWS Certified Welder certification? When did you attain the certification? Is it still current? When is your recertification due?
06


Please indicate in which welding processes and procedures you are able to perform (check all that apply).

• OAW
• OHW
• OFC-A
• OFC-P
• TB
• TS
• INS
• AAW
• SMAW
• GMAW
• GTAW
• FCAW
• SW
• AAC
• PAC
• EASP
• FLSP
• None of the above

07


Describe your project experiences as a Fabrication Welder. Describe your sequence when it applies to fabrication of a complex assembly.
08


Provide an example of a team project that you have worked on recently. What was your responsibilities as part of the welding fabrication team? What were the challenges while working on this project? And what actions did you take to overcome those challenges?
09


What was the most exciting welding/fabricating project that you have worked on? Why?
10


What interests you about this position?
11


One of the City's Principles that guides us is Equity. Describe what equity means to you and describe an experience you have working with diverse groups of people.
12


Please tell us how you learned about this job opening.

• Job Interest Card notification
• Internet search
• Professional organization
• Community organization
• Military organization
• Union job posting
• City of Tacoma employee
• Online job board posting
• Word of mouth
• Linkedin
• Indeed
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Government Jobs
• NWPPA
• Other

13


Where did you first learn about this job?
Required Question