Job Description

Combo Pipe/Plate Fitter/Welder Gulf Copper is seeking a skilled Combo Pipe/Plate Fitter Welder to join our team at the Corpus Christi yard. In this role, you will be responsible for fabricating, fitting, and welding complex piping systems and structural plate components for marine vessels and offshore structures. The ideal candidate brings strong dual-craft expertise, precision cutting and fitting skills, and a commitment to high-quality code welding. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: This position is responsible for the following: Other duties may be assigned.Layout, fabricate or repair metal plate, structural parts and/or pipe and brace them in position within hull of ship for riveting or welding according to specifications Locates and marks reference lines, such as center, buttock, and frame lines Select pipe and/or plate sizes and types and related materials, such as supports, hangers, and hydraulic cylinders, according to specifications Measure, mark, and install pipe and/or plate for cutting and/or threading per specifications, using tools such as saws, cutting torches, and pipe thread and benders May prepare molds and templates for fabrication of nonstandard parts Remove high spots and cut bevels, using hand files, portable grinders and cutting torches Fit and weld pipe and/or plate in the repair and/or construction of marine vessels and industrial components using gas welding, brazing, arc welding, wire fed welding, or tig welding process and procedures May roll, bend, flange, cut, and shape plates, beams, and other heavy metal parts, using shop machinery, such as plate rolls, presses, bending brakes, and joggle machines Select and set up welding equipment, execute the planned welds, and examine the welds to ensure that they meet standards or specifications Welds components in flat, vertical, or overhead positions Required Education & Experience: High School Diploma and/or one year certificate from college or technical school preferred Industrial and/or marine fitting/welding experience: 1st Class 3-5 years 2nd Class 1 – 3 years Must pass an ABS, or ASME weld test Pass the Gulf Copper written pipe fitter and/or hands-on pipe and plate fitter test when applicable NCCER card preferred Working Conditions: Open-air conditions such as noisy, hot, cold, etc Must wear hearing, eye, head protection and proper PPE Some climbing (100 feet) and lifting (50 lbs.) involved Traverse gangways and scaffolding at varying heights while wearing fall prevention equipment Working with hot and sometimes hazardous materials Aboard ships, both on and offshore as well as confined spaces Must be able to stand and operate equipment up to four continuous hours The work requires long periods of sitting in awkward positions, standing on a variety of surfaces and at differing angles, bending over, crouching, and climbing up and over obstructions such as scaffolding, ladders, and internal barge and boat structural members Necessary Equipment Operation: Squares, levels, and hand & power tools Blow torches- Motorized cutting torches; Pattern cutting torches; Welding torches Gas welding, brazing, or cutting apparatus- Brazing equipment; Heliarc welding equipment; Oxyacetylene equipment; Portable gas operated arc welders Manlift or personnel lift- hydraulic truck lifts; Swing stages Weld masks- Hand shields; Welding shields Special Skills: Ability to work under deadlines and schedule pressures Ability to read and interpret blueprints, sketches, drawings, and technical manuals Perform basic mathematical functions Excellent interpersonal and communication skills High performance and a strong team player Commitment to company values and safety program Trained to work with a wide variety of materials, such as titanium, aluminum, or exotic metals, in addition to steel Fitter/Welder Position Basic Requirements: Combo Fitter Welder-Pipe & Plate/Structural (COFW) – Fitter welder capable of fitting & welding Pipe, Plate and Structural with knowledge of reading and interpreting drawings. * An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. Know Your Rights. If you’d like to view a copy of the company’s affirmative action plan or policy statement, please email: hrcorp@gulfcopper.com.  If you have a disability and you believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please e-mail: hrcorp@gulfcopper.com.

How this job compares in Corpus Christi, TX

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 395 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 Corpus Christi, TX

We're tracking 10 other active welding openings in Corpus Christi, TX right now, from 8 different employers. 2 of them were added in the last week. Across Texas as a whole we're tracking 1,256 other active welding openings from 562 employers. A metro this active generally means you have real leverage — employers here are competing for the same welders. Browse every welding job in Corpus Christi, or widen the search to Texas.

Gulf Copper currently has 3 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 Austin Industries (34), Welding Shop in Austin, TX (27), and Zachry Group (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 $36/hr, Dallas at $35/hr, and Midlothian at $35/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.

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

Certifications this posting mentions

  • ASME Section IX — the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code qualification. It covers welding on pressure-retaining equipment — boilers, vessels, and process piping — where a failed weld is a safety incident rather than a rework ticket.

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 Corpus Christi, TX

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