Senior Structural Welder & Fabrication Lead

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FULL TIME DECATUR MANUFACTURING FACILITY, Decatur, IL, US

Salary Range: $28.00 To $32.00 Hourly

Decatur, IL | Full Time | Direct Hire

Align Manufacturing is a custom industrial equipment builder located in Decatur, Illinois. We build complex machines and structural assemblies for some of the most recognized names in industry. Our work demands fabricators who can think, adapt, and take ownership of their craft from the first tack to the final inspection. We are growing and we are looking for the right person to grow with us.

This is not an entry-level position and it is not for someone looking to coast. We are looking for a Senior Fabricator who brings real structural fit up experience, a high standard for quality, and the kind of energy and attitude that makes the people around them better. If you take pride in your work, hold yourself to a high standard, and want to be part of a team that is building something worth being proud of — we want to talk.

High energy. Positive mindset. Someone who walks into a work cell, owns it, and leaves it better than they found it.

• Fabricate and weld structural steel assemblies for custom industrial equipment from engineered prints and detailed drawings.
• Perform precise fit up on complex assemblies — interpreting multi-view prints, weld symbols, and GD&T callouts with accuracy and confidence.
• Work from minimal documentation when required, using fabrication experience and mechanical judgment to produce quality work.
• Execute primary MIG welding with occasional stick welding as required by the job.
• Identify fit up issues, dimensional discrepancies, and design concerns early and communicate them to the lead or engineer before they become production problems.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work cell throughout the shift.
• Participate in quality sign-offs, in-process inspections, and continuous improvement activities.
• Support and mentor less experienced fabricators when the opportunity presents itself.

• Seven or more years of hands-on structural fabrication experience in a manufacturing environment. Experience over years — if you can do the work we want to see it.
• Demonstrated fit up experience on complex, custom, or structural assemblies. This is non-negotiable.
• Strong MIG welding proficiency. Stick welding capability is a plus.
• Ability to read and interpret complex engineering prints including weld symbols and GD&T callouts.
• Experience working from minimal documentation and making sound fabrication decisions independently.
• High energy, positive attitude, and a genuine investment in the quality of the work you produce.
• Strong attention to detail and a personal standard that does not require someone standing over your shoulder.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, custom build environment where priorities shift and problem solving is a daily expectation.

• AWS or equivalent weld certification.
• Experience in heavy structural fabrication — plate steel, structural shapes, and weldment assemblies.
• Exposure to GD&T on production prints.
• A track record of identifying and preventing quality issues before they escape.
• The kind of person who brings energy to the floor and raises the standard for everyone around them.