| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Production |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | Production Supervisor |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | 1 to 6 years in welding or fabrication |
Welder job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Welder
Department: Production
Reports to: Production Supervisor
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Welder joins metal parts by arc, MIG or TIG welding to drawing and weld symbol. They prepare the joint, set the machine, weld to the required size and quality, and check the weld for defects. The role reports to the Production Supervisor or Fabrication In-Charge. A good welder produces sound, correctly sized welds that pass inspection, works safely with fumes and sparks, and keeps rejection and rework low on fabricated parts.
Key responsibilities
- Read the drawing and weld symbols to understand the joint, weld size and process required.
- Prepare the joint by cleaning, grooving and fitting up the parts to the correct gap.
- Set the welding machine current, voltage and wire or gas for the material and joint.
- Weld by arc, MIG or TIG to the required size, penetration and profile.
- Check welds for undercut, porosity, cracks and spatter, and grind or rework as needed.
- Control distortion by using the correct sequence, tacking and clamping.
- Segregate defective work and inform the supervisor when a joint fails inspection.
- Use safety gear for eyes, skin and lungs, and follow fire and fume rules at all times.
- Maintain the welding machine, torch and cables, and report faults for repair.
- Record welded quantity and rejection on the job card each shift.
Requirements
- ITI in Welder trade
- Welding certification or trade test is an advantage
- Ability to read weld symbols
- 1 to 6 years in welding or fabrication
KRAs and KPIs for a Welder
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Weld quality | Welds passing visual inspection on at least 97 percent of joints each month |
| Rework | Weld rework held below the monthly target percentage |
| Output | Daily welding quantity met on at least 90 percent of shifts |
| Distortion control | Fabricated parts within the flatness or dimension limit after welding |
| Consumable use | Electrode, wire and gas consumption kept within the standard per job |
| Safety | No burn, eye or fire incident recorded in the month |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: MIG and TIG welding machine, Arc welding set, Angle grinder, Welding gauges, Clamps and jigs.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior Welder, Welding Inspector, Fabrication Supervisor
Interview questions for a Welder
- What is the difference between MIG and TIG welding and when do you use each?
- How do you read a weld symbol that calls for a fillet weld of a given size?
- What causes porosity in a weld and how do you prevent it?
- How do you control distortion when welding a long seam?
- What safety gear and precautions do you use while welding?
- Tell me about a difficult weld job and how you got it to pass inspection.
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What does a welder do?
A welder joins metal parts by arc, MIG or TIG welding to a drawing and weld symbol. They prepare and fit up the joint, set the machine, weld to the required size and penetration, and check the weld for defects such as undercut, porosity and cracks. They control distortion and work safely with sparks and fumes.
What is the difference between MIG and TIG welding?
MIG welding feeds a wire electrode continuously and is faster, so it suits thicker parts and higher output. TIG welding uses a non consumable tungsten electrode and a separate filler, giving finer control and a cleaner weld, so it suits thin sections and materials like stainless steel and aluminium. A welder chooses based on the job.
What qualifications do you need to be a welder?
Most welders hold an ITI in the welder trade, and a welding certification or a trade test on the process helps for skilled and project work. Employers look for the ability to read weld symbols, prepare joints, set parameters, produce sound welds that pass inspection, and follow strict safety practice around sparks and fumes.