Lead Fabrication Mechanic
Location
Richmond, VA
Wage
$45,000 – $65,000/yr
Employment Type
Full-time
Required Skills & Certifications
MIG WeldingTIG WeldingSteelStainless SteelAluminum
Apply for This Position
Posted on October 30, 2026
Job Description
Overview
We are seeking a skilled, detail-oriented Lead Fabrication Mechanic for a contract-to-direct opportunity with a manufacturing team in Chester, VA. This hands-on position is ideal for a dependable professional with at least five years of precision sheet metal fabrication experience.
Responsibilities
- Use design software to develop sheet metal parts, accurate flat patterns, and efficient nesting layouts for CNC laser and plasma cutting systems.
- Set up, program, and operate CNC laser and plasma cutters to produce parts according to engineering drawings and specifications.
- Set up and operate manual and CNC press brakes to achieve specified dimensions, tolerances, and bend angles.
- Perform MIG, TIG, and spot welding on steel, stainless steel, and aluminum components across various material gauges.
- Interpret complex blueprints, CAD layouts, and welding symbols to measure, align, and fit components.
- Complete mechanical assemblies using fasteners, rivets, and other hardware.
- Safely operate material-handling equipment to move metal sheets, tooling, and finished assemblies throughout the shop.
- Use calipers, micrometers, tape measures, and other inspection tools to verify dimensional accuracy and finished-part quality.
- Follow shop safety procedures, required PPE practices, and applicable OSHA guidelines.
Requirements
- Minimum of five years of hands-on experience in precision sheet metal fabrication or custom metal fabrication.
- Proven proficiency setting up and operating CNC laser/plasma cutters and manual/CNC press brakes.
- Strong MIG and TIG welding skills across various metal gauges.
- Experience with sheet metal design software, flat-pattern development, and nesting layouts.
- Advanced ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, fabrication layouts, and welding symbols.
- Strong measurement, fit-up, assembly, and troubleshooting skills.
- Dependable transportation and the ability to report consistently to the Chester, VA worksite.
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, stand for extended periods, and safely handle heavy shop tooling.
Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Dental
- Vision
- 401k
- PTO
Additional Information
- Location: Chester, VA
- Work Setting: Onsite
- Employment Type: Contract-to-Direct
Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
401k
PTO
How this job compares in Richmond, VA
Pay in context
At roughly $26/hr, this posting lands within a few percent of the $25/hr median for welding jobs in Richmond, VA, whose middle half runs $24–$36/hr across 8 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 63% of the comparable postings we have wage data for. In other words it is a market-rate offer, so benefits, overtime, and shift schedule are where the real difference between this and the next posting on the list shows up.
The local market in Richmond, VA
We're tracking 15 other active welding openings in Richmond, VA right now, from 6 different employers. 3 of them were added in the last week. Across Virginia as a whole we're tracking 163 other active welding openings from 82 employers. A metro this active generally means you have real leverage — employers here are competing for the same welders. Browse every welding job in Richmond, or widen the search to Virginia.
The most active employers in Virginia at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are Innovative Refrigeration Systems, Inc. (14), General Dynamics NASSCO (10), and Atlantic Constructors, Inc. (8). 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 $40/hr, Norfolk at $30/hr, and Chesapeake at $27/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.
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 lead welder openings if you want to compare this against similar roles.
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Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Lead Fabrication Mechanic figures were last recalculated when this page was built.