Structural Steel Welder

Frontera Space, an aerospace-focused startup, is seeking a Structural Steel Welder to join the Fabrication Department within our Production Division. Founded by Firefly Aerospace founder Tom Markusic, Frontera Space is developing next-generation aircraft and spacecraft and building the manufacturing capability required to bring those systems from concept to flight.

The Structural Steel Welder will perform structural welding, fabrication, fit-up, and assembly of steel hardware, tooling, fixtures, support structures, and production infrastructure used across aerospace development and manufacturing programs.

This role is intended for an experienced welder with strong SMAW/stick welding and structural steel fabrication skills. Candidates may come from a journeyman background or have equivalent experience gained through industrial, manufacturing, construction, aerospace, or similar environments.

The Welder will work from engineering drawings, weld symbols, procedures, and work instructions to lay out, fit, tack, and weld structural steel assemblies while maintaining dimensional accuracy, controlling distortion, and producing consistent, high-quality welds.

This is a full-time, in-person position reporting to the Director of Fabrication at Frontera Space’s North Austin, TX facility.

• Perform SMAW/stick welding and MIG/GMAW on carbon and structural steel in accordance with approved weld procedures, drawings, and production requirements.
• Fabricate and weld structural steel assemblies, frames, supports, platforms, fixtures, tooling, test infrastructure, ground-support equipment, and other welded components.
• Read and interpret engineering drawings, fabrication drawings, weld symbols, specifications, travelers, and manufacturing work instructions.
• Perform material layout, cutting, preparation, fit-up, alignment, tacking, welding, and post-weld finishing.
• Set up and operate welding machines, cutting equipment, grinders, saws, fixtures, positioners, clamps, and other fabrication tools.
• Perform structural welds in multiple positions, including flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead, as required.
• Verify material type, dimensions, joint preparation, root gaps, fit-up, alignment, and weld parameters before and during fabrication.
• Maintain dimensional accuracy and control weld distortion during fabrication of large and small structural assemblies.
• Produce welds that meet applicable structural workmanship standards, engineering requirements, and approved welding procedures.
• Inspect completed work for weld defects, dimensional accuracy, alignment, distortion, and overall workmanship.
• Perform grinding, blending, repair welding, and rework as required to bring fabricated assemblies into compliance.
• Support weld inspection and non-destructive inspection activities and correct fabrication discrepancies as directed.
• Maintain accurate production documentation, inspection records, and material traceability where required.
• Work closely with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Design Engineering, and Production personnel to resolve fabrication and fit-up issues.
• Identify opportunities to improve fabrication methods, fixtures, tooling, welding sequence, safety, quality, and production efficiency.
• Maintain welding equipment, fabrication tools, fixtures, and work areas in a safe and serviceable condition.
• Follow all company safety procedures, hot-work requirements, PPE requirements, hazardous-material controls, and manufacturing practices.
• Support prototype, development, test, facility, ground-support, and production fabrication activities as required.

Success as a Structural Steel Welder means consistently producing strong, accurate, and repeatable weldments while working safely and efficiently. The ideal candidate can interpret drawings, perform layout and fit-up, complete welding with limited supervision, maintain dimensional accuracy, control distortion, and identify fabrication issues before they affect downstream assembly, testing, or operations.

This role is suited for an experienced Welder II or equivalent, including candidates with journeyman‑level backgrounds, who can take a structural…