Welder (3rd shift)
Location
San Diego, CA
Posted on July 31, 2026
Location
San Diego, CA
Posted on July 31, 2026
Job Description
What’s it like working for an innovative company that takes on some of the world’s most important challenges? Rewarding. Being a welder at BAE Systems means taking pride in the work you do in helping in the repair and modernization of the U.S. Navy vessels and knowing you make a difference every day. Right now we are looking for a Welder join our Maritime Solutions team in San Diego.
Here, you’ll grow your career through training and development opportunities and the support of a knowledgeable team. We are commitment to excellence with the products we make and by providing an environment where our employees feel valued. Enjoy a career where you can feel safe, be rewarded, and proud of the work you do.
As a Welder, You Will
Weld structural steel in all positions Weld stainless steel and carbon steel and possibly other alloys Examine work pieces for defects and measure work pieces with straightedges or templates to ensure conformance with specifications Operate and maintain the machines that fabricate and repair metal structures, equipment and machinery Obtain the following welding certifications (at a minimum): SMAW plate, SMAW Pipe, GTAW Pipe
Required Education, Experience, & Skills
High School Diploma or GED or equivalent experience.
Requires a minimum of 3 years related experience in craft.
Ability to accomplish welding processes aboard vessels and shops.
Able to pass a hands-on welding practical test on SMAW, FCAW and GMAW-P (5XXX Aluminum) by way of x-ray NDT. Welding test will consist of full penetration butt weld test plates in three positions each; overhead (4G), vertical (3G) and horizontal position (2G). Full penetration welds 2G and 3G with ceramic backing, 4G with permanent backing.
Ability to interpret and understand NAVSEA drawings/blueprints. Able to understand, read and interpret welding symbols based on the requirements of Military Standard 22-D and have working experience with Military Standard 1689, DM 10-623B and CG-47 Crack Repair Manual.
Able to use hand tools and power tools safely and efficiently.
Able to read, write and comprehend simple instructions
Able to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions in written, oral or diagram form.
Able to calculate and understand units of measure, including fractions and decimals.
Able to accurately use tape measure for measurements.
Able to obtain DBIDS credential/Government clearance to enter US Navy Vessels.
Physical Requirements
Able to wear appropriate protective equipment, including respirator.
Able to physically perform essential job duties with or without accommodations.
Able to work at heights, in confined spaces and have the ability to climb staircases and ladders of varying sizes and grades.
Able to carry personal tool bag weighing up to 50 lbs.
Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills
Highly skilled and experienced in 5XXX aluminum process, to include Process Control Procedure (PCP) work.
Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $61360 - $93662
Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.
Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.
About BAE Systems Platforms & Services
BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it’s what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts – defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team—making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you’ll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference.
The Platforms & Services (P&S) sector under BAE Systems, Inc does the big stuff: the armored combat vehicles, naval guns, missile launchers, and naval ship repair…just to name a few. Our employees take pride in the work they do and why they do it. They are on the front lines every day, building our products to protect the lives of those who serve. We may be biased, but we think P&S does some of the coolest work around, and we think you will too.
This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.
This employer didn't publish a rate. For reference, welding jobs in San Diego, CA currently run a median of $36/hr in our index, with the middle half of them falling between $33–$40/hr across 19 postings with published pay. That median is a reasonable floor to anchor on when a recruiter asks what you're looking for.
We're tracking 20 other active welding openings in San Diego, CA right now, from 16 different employers. None of them were added in the last week, so this is a slower-moving market. Across California as a whole we're tracking 399 other active welding openings from 207 employers. A metro this active generally means you have real leverage — employers here are competing for the same welders. Browse every welding job in San Diego, or widen the search to California.
The most active employers in California at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are SpaceX (20), Aerotek (17), and Volt (16). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.
Within California, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Santa Ana at $48/hr, Los Angeles at $38/hr, and Hawthorne at $36/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.
This posting calls for MIG, TIG, Stick, and Flux-Core work. MIG (GMAW) feeds a continuous wire electrode through a shielding-gas nozzle. It lays down metal fast and is forgiving on clean material, which is why it dominates production and light fabrication work. TIG (GTAW) uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode with filler added by hand, giving the operator the most control of any process. It is slow, demanding, and the standard for stainless, aluminum, and anything where the bead has to look as good as it holds.
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.
Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Welder (3rd shift) figures were last recalculated when this page was built.