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Job Description

Overview

TST Fab & Machine is a veteran-owned fabrication shop in Norfolk, VA, specializing in high-spec metal fabrication for defense, maritime, and industrial sectors. They are seeking experienced MIG/TIG welders to perform precision welds on complex components in a quality-focused environment.

Responsibilities

  • Perform advanced MIG and/or TIG welding on metal components according to project specifications.
  • Read and interpret complex fabrication blueprints and technical documentation.
  • Select and set up appropriate welding equipment based on material type and project requirements.
  • Cut, grind, and prepare materials for layout and fit-up using precision tools.
  • Align and clamp components to ensure precise weld placement.
  • Weld in multiple positions while ensuring consistent quality and appearance.
  • Conduct in-process weld inspections and participate in quality control procedures.
  • Ensure welds meet all quality standards and documentation requirements.
  • Collaborate with shop leads to support job flow and meet production schedules.
  • Mentor and support junior welders as needed.
  • Follow all safety protocols and maintain a clean work environment.
  • Maintain welding tools and equipment in safe, working condition.

Requirements

  • Minimum of 5 years MIG and/or TIG welding experience in a fabrication or manufacturing environment.
  • Ability to manage own workload with minimal oversight.
  • Skilled in mentoring and supporting junior welders.
  • Experience with additional welding processes is a plus.
  • Demonstrated ability to work with carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.
  • Proven experience working to NAVSEA, NNS, and/or MIL-SPEC standards.
  • Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and welding symbols.
  • Proficient in the use of layout and power tools.
  • Understanding of weld tolerances and quality documentation practices.
  • Exceptional attention to detail and adherence to safety protocols.
  • Completion of a welding trade school, apprenticeship, or relevant military training required.
  • AWS certification or current NAVSEA/NNS qualification strongly preferred.
  • Excellent time management, communication, and collaboration skills.
  • High school diploma or equivalent.

Benefits

  • 401k
  • Health Insurance
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • PTO

Additional Information

  • Location: Norfolk Plant
  • Schedule Options: Monday–Thursday Day Shift | 4x10

Benefits

401k
Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
PTO
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How this job compares in Norfolk, VA

Pay in context

At roughly $29/hr, this posting comes in about 11% below the $32/hr median for welding jobs in Norfolk, VA, where the middle half runs $29–$38/hr across 20 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 25% of the comparable postings we have wage data for. That gap is worth raising directly — in a market this size there is normally room to negotiate toward the median, particularly if you already hold the certifications the posting asks for.

The local market in Norfolk, VA

We're tracking 37 other active welding openings in Norfolk, VA right now, from 17 different employers. 17 of them were added in the last week. Across Virginia as a whole we're tracking 141 other active welding openings from 75 employers. A metro this active generally means you have real leverage — employers here are competing for the same welders. Browse every welding job in Norfolk, or widen the search to Virginia.

TST Fab & Machine currently has 1 other opening live in Virginia, which is usually a sign of either steady growth or steady turnover — worth asking which in the interview.

The most active employers in Virginia at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are General Dynamics NASSCO (11), Mission Technologies, a division of HII (7), and Colonna's Shipyard (7). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within Virginia, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Newport News at $34/hr, Norfolk at $32/hr, and Chesapeake at $28/hr. Norfolk is among them.

What you'll be running

This posting calls for MIG and TIG 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.

See all welder fabricator openings if you want to compare this against similar roles.

Certifications this posting mentions

  • NAVSEA — the Naval Sea Systems Command welding standards used on US Navy shipbuilding and repair. Qualification is yard-specific and typically comes with a background check.

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 Norfolk, VA

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Experienced MIG/TIG Welder – Defense & Industrial Fabrication figures were last recalculated when this page was built.