Job Description

Overview

The Welder I is responsible for managing the torch and gases used to solder PDC cutters into bit bodies efficiently and according to quality and bit documentation. This role involves TIG welding techniques, rebuilding drill bits, maintaining product integrity and ensuring compliance with safety and quality procedures. Ulterra is the #1 PDC drill bit partner in North America, delivering superior drilling technology worldwide.

Responsibilities

  • Manage acetylene and oxygen torches to solder PDC cutters into bit bodies.
  • Remove cutters from damaged areas of the drill bit and prepare the bit for repair.
  • Utilize the TIG welding process to rebuild bits to specifications.
  • Measure and verify gage size to determine if a rebuild is required.
  • Prepare pockets and polish blades to ensure proper fit and finish for cutters.
  • Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment by following company standards for housekeeping and safety.
  • Follow all safety and quality policies, ensuring compliance with operational guidelines.
  • Perform all tasks and procedures as instructed by bit documentation and management.
  • Operate typical shop tooling and hoists efficiently and safely.
  • Perform other shop duties as required or assigned.

Requirements

  • Proficiency in operating an acetylene and oxygen torch for soldering tasks.
  • Ability to operate TIG welding equipment for precision rebuilds.
  • Familiarity with typical shop tooling and hoists.
  • Good physical ability, including bending, stooping, sitting, and walking, to perform various tasks.
  • Finger dexterity and visual acuity to handle precision work and maintain high-quality standards.
  • Ability to lift, push, and pull up to 50 lbs. and stand for extended periods.
  • Strong commitment to maintaining a clean and safe work environment.
  • Willingness and availability to work overtime when needed.
  • High School Diploma or GED.

Additional Information

  • The typical work environment will be in the shop or field which will require exposure to outdoor weather conditions, loud noise, working near moving mechanical parts, electrical energy, construction equipment, vibration, fumes, chemicals, and airborne particles.

How this job compares

Pay in context

This employer didn't publish a rate. For reference, welding jobs across Texas currently run a median of $28/hr in our index, with the middle half of them falling between $23–$35/hr across 488 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

This posting doesn't specify a city. Across Texas as a whole we're tracking 1,424 other active welding openings from 737 employers. 506 of them were added in the last week. Browse welding jobs across Texas.

Patterson-UTI currently has 2 other openings 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 Zachry Group (26), Welding Shop in Houston, TX (25), and Austin Industries (23). 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 $40/hr, San Angelo at $39/hr, and Midlothian at $38/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

What you'll be running

This posting calls for TIG. 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.

Similar openings

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