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Job Description

Overview

Whirlwind Steel is a premier metal building manufacturer specializing in the design, fabrication, and delivery of top-quality metal structures. The structural welder is responsible for welding parts and material using FCAW, ensuring welds meet visual and ultrasonic testing standards in accordance with AWS D1.1.

Responsibilities

  • Read and interpret shop details to determine specific welding requirements.
  • Adjust the welding unit to obtain amperage and voltage as specified by Whirlwind Standard.
  • Manually guide electrode or gun along weld line, maintaining length of arc and speed of movement.
  • Weld in flat, horizontal, and vertical positions using FCAW.
  • Visually examine weld for bead size and other specifications.
  • Identify finished parts using Qualifies Welder’s Identification number.
  • Back gouge to sound metal all flanges and connection plates splices.
  • Weld to pass a visual inspection test in accordance with AWS D1.1 welding code.
  • Adhere to safety protocols and guidelines to prevent accidents.
  • Collaborate with team members, supervisors, and quality control personnel.
  • Strive to maximize productivity and minimize downtime.
  • Meet or exceed daily production goals.

Requirements

  • High school diploma or equivalent.
  • Must possess a current welding certification.
  • Minimum 2 years welding experience.
  • Experience operating an overhead crane.
  • Ability to accurately read and interpret welding detail drawings.
  • Must be able to apply an acceptable weld to pass visual test in accordance with AWS D1.1.
  • Must be able to apply an acceptable Complete Joint Penetration weld to pass Ultrasonic test in accordance with AWS D1.1.
  • Familiarity with welding equipment and tools.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  • Attention to detail and a commitment to producing high-quality products.
  • Knowledge of safety procedures and willingness to follow them rigorously.

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • 401k
  • PTO

Benefits

Health Insurance
401k
PTO
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How this job compares in Houston, TX

Pay in context

This employer didn't publish a rate. For reference, welding jobs in Houston, TX currently run a median of $25/hr in our index, with the middle half of them falling between $22–$32/hr across 60 postings with published pay. That median is a reasonable floor to anchor on when a recruiter asks what you're looking for.

The local market in Houston, TX

We're tracking 209 other active welding openings in Houston, TX right now, from 123 different employers. 9 of them were added in the last week. Across Texas as a whole we're tracking 914 other active welding openings from 519 employers. A metro this active generally means you have real leverage — employers here are competing for the same welders. Browse every welding job in Houston, or widen the search to Texas.

Whirlwind Steel Buildings and Components currently has 1 other opening live in Texas, which is usually a sign of either steady growth or steady turnover — worth asking which in the interview.

The most active employers in Texas at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are Welding Shop in Houston, TX (21), Zachry Group (20), and Austin Industries (20). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within Texas, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Pasadena at $82/hr, Dallas at $35/hr, and La Porte at $32/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

What you'll be running

This posting calls for Flux-Core. Flux-cored (FCAW) runs a hollow wire filled with flux, combining MIG-like deposition rates with the outdoor tolerance of stick. It is the workhorse on heavy structural steel and shipbuilding, where thick sections and long welds reward speed.

Certifications this posting mentions

  • AWS D1.1 — the American Welding Society's Structural Welding Code for steel. It governs almost all building and structural steel work in the US, so a D1.1 qualification is the baseline credential for construction and ironworking.

Read straight from this posting's text. Confirm the exact qualification the employer wants before you test — requirements vary by shop even under the same code.

Similar openings near Houston, TX

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Welder figures were last recalculated when this page was built.