Precision Metal Fabricator, Maritime

Location

Santa Ana, CA

Wage

$41.35 – $54.81/hr

Employment Type

Full-time

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Posted on October 6, 2026

Job Description

Overview

Anduril’s Maritime Manufacturing Technology Team is seeking an experienced Precision Metal Fabricator to work in a cutting-edge production environment focused on developing and implementing manufacturing technologies for defense hardware. The role involves hands-on collaboration with the engineering team to fabricate high-quality parts and support production.

Responsibilities

  • Read and interpret technical drawings and CAD models.
  • Program/set-up/operate manual, semi-automated and CNC plate rollers, hydraulic presses, and shears.
  • Design/spec out and lead implementation of various work holding and fixture methods.
  • Act as SME on the rolling/forming/contouring fabrication of pressure vessels, alloys, or varying materials.
  • Troubleshoot issues and make adjustments during the manufacturing process.
  • Perform quality control both during and at completion of the manufacturing process.
  • Lead the organization, machine maintenance, and cleanliness of the work area.
  • Collaborate with the Quality and Engineering teams to identify and implement safety policies and procedures.
  • Help build, supervise, and mentor the fabrication team on rolling, forming, contouring, safe handling, etc.

Requirements

  • 8+ years' experience as a metal forming technician.
  • Proven experience in setting up and operating plate rolling machines to form cylinders, cones, and other curved shapes of various metal thicknesses (up to 4-6”).
  • Extensive experience in operating hydraulic press brakes for forming and bending.
  • High level of familiarity with various alloys, metals, etc.
  • Knowledgeable in Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
  • Proficient in using precision measuring tools (calipers, micrometers, protractors, tape measures).
  • Can own the completion of an assigned manufacturing task from start to finish.
  • Ability to flex between R&D fabrication and production tasks.
  • Able and willing to jump in on production assembly integration tasks as needed.
  • Ability to lift up to 50 lbs unassisted.
  • Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.

How this job compares in Santa Ana, CA

Pay in context

At roughly $48/hr, this posting sits about 27% above the $38/hr median for welding jobs in Santa Ana, CA — toward the top of a $29–$55/hr middle band drawn from 9 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 56% of the comparable postings we have wage data for. Pay that far above local median usually comes attached to something: a harder cert requirement, travel, night shift, or overtime that isn't really optional. Worth establishing which before you accept.

The local market in Santa Ana, CA

We're tracking 10 other active welding openings in Santa Ana, CA right now, from 5 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 433 other active welding openings from 204 employers. A metro this active generally means you have real leverage — employers here are competing for the same welders. Browse every welding job in Santa Ana, or widen the search to California.

The most active employers in California at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are SpaceX (29), Honeywell Aerospace (17), and Aerotek (17). 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 Long Beach at $43/hr, El Segundo at $43/hr, and Torrance at $43/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

Similar openings near Santa Ana, CA

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