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Job Description

Overview

Gravitics is seeking a highly skilled welder/fabricator to build primary structures for human-rated spaceflight hardware. The role involves precision welding and fabrication of mission-critical structures while collaborating with engineering and maintaining high-quality standards.

Responsibilities

  • Weld primary structure for human-rated space hardware; perform Class A quality aluminum and steel welds.
  • Fit, form, clean parts, and set up welding equipment for production; fabricate tooling to support production.
  • Cut, form, and weld from engineering drawings and technical instructions.
  • Inspect fabricated parts for geometry acceptance and weld conformance; diagnose defects and recommend corrective actions.
  • Operate manufacturing equipment (CNC mills, water jets, bandsaws) and precision tools (torque wrenches, micrometers, calipers).
  • Operate cranes, forklifts, and other heavy equipment as needed.
  • Work with X-ray technicians and support other NDT processes.
  • Collaborate with engineering on tooling improvements, build issues, and design feedback.
  • Set and uphold a high bar for first-article quality and process discipline.
  • Own equipment configuration and capacity for your work area; forecast bottlenecks and remove blockers.
  • Implement machine maintenance schedules and manage spares.
  • Ensure shop processes have accessible, correct documentation.
  • Support vendor fabrication/machining when it unblocks development or a process transfer.
  • Think creatively and question the status quo while following documentation and quality standards.
  • Build and maintain a clean, safe, organized work area and follow OSHA safety standards.

Requirements

  • 5+ years of Class A TIG welding experience (or equivalent from another industry).
  • 5+ years of fabrication/forming experience.
  • Hands-on welding experience with MIG/TIG/Laser systems for steel and aluminum.
  • Ability to read and interpret engineering blueprints/technical drawings.
  • Familiarity with NDT processes (X-ray, Eddy Current, Ultrasound, or similar).
  • Automated or robotic welding experience.
  • Ability to lift up to 50 lbs; sit/stand for extended periods.
  • Willingness to work evenings/weekends to support critical milestones; travel up to 25%.

Benefits

  • 401k
  • Health Insurance
  • PTO

Benefits

401k
Health Insurance
PTO
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How this job compares in Seattle, WA

Pay in context

At roughly $40/hr, this posting sits about 21% above the $33/hr median for welder fabricator jobs across Washington — toward the top of a $30–$35/hr middle band drawn from 24 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 88% 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 Seattle, WA

We're tracking 10 other active welding openings in Seattle, WA right now, from 8 different employers. 4 of them were added in the last week. Across Washington as a whole we're tracking 93 other active welding openings from 62 employers. A metro this active generally means you have real leverage — employers here are competing for the same welders. Browse every welding job in Seattle, or widen the search to Washington.

The most active employers in Washington at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are Welding Shop in Seattle, WA (13), Parker Hannifin (5), and All American Marine (4). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within Washington, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Seattle at $35/hr, Bremerton at $34/hr, and Bellingham at $30/hr. Seattle 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.

Similar openings near Seattle, WA

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