Welder​/Fabricator; Development and Fabrication Technician

What You Will Do

This position will be filled at either Development and Fabrication Technician 3 or Development and Fabrication Technician 4, depending on the skills of the selected candidate(s). Additional job responsibilities, outlined below, will be assigned if the candidate is hired at the higher level. The Prototype Fabrication Manufacturing Group (PF‑MFG) is seeking a skilled welder/fabricator to join our team of machinists, inspectors, programmers, welders, and metal fabricators.

Working in a team environment the successful candidate will provide design input and fabrication services for a variety of customers both internal and external to the Laboratory related to nuclear weapons programs. Our shop specializes in one‑off precision prototype products to include welding, fabrication, and machining of common and exotic materials. Projects range in scope from small bench‑top to large‑scale assemblies and weldments.

Reporting to the Main Shop Supervisor, your job duties will include welding, fabrication, machine tool operation, and interpretation of mechanical fabrication drawings. This will require you to organize and prepare the required materials/supplies/parts that will be processed using various tools, machinery, and equipment. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to identify and execute proper welding processes (including GTAW and GMAW) for various parts, assemblies, and configurations.

Metal fabrication duties will include roll forming, press brake operation, and laser/plasma cutting.

In addition to what was outlined above, at this level you will:

• Perform precision welding in standard and exotic metals utilizing processes to include GTAW, GMAW, and torch brazing.
• Interpret advanced mechanical fabrication and assembly drawings.
• Operate manual mills and lathes, CNC press brake and laser/plasma cutting machines.
• Interface with customers to provide design input for assemblies and weldments. Knowledge of computer aided design software.
• Complete tasks with little or no direction.
• Develop new fabrication techniques, principles, and concepts to improve the manufacturability of complex parts and assemblies.

• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of welding and fabrication in a prototype shop environment.
• The successful candidate must have the ability to gain multiple welding certifications quickly in materials such as steel, stainless steel, and aluminum utilizing welding processes such as GTAW and GMAW.

• Ability to read and interpret drawings and sketches to determine design factors such as size, shape, position and arrangement of features and parts comprising assemblies.
• Must have the ability to interpret drawings and specifications to ensure end product meets design requirements.

• Provide excellent customer service by creating manufacturing drawings or sketches for the production of hardware while also reviewing customer‑provided drawings and providing recommendations for revision to ensure manufacturability.
• Ability to communicate effectively with customers to extract design intent.

• Demonstrated effectiveness in communication and teaming with peers and customers as appropriate to achieve or negotiate work requirements.
• Ability to follow policies and procedures for working safely in an industrial manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated record of dependability, reliability, and commitment to the long‑term needs of the job duties and programmatic goals of the organization.

• Knowledge and experience in welding exotic metals such as titanium, Inconel, and aluminum, on projects where tight tolerances and strict specifications are required.
• Knowledge and experience in welding dissimilar metals, including copper, brass, and stainless steel.
• Advanced knowledge interpreting mechanical fabrication and assembly drawings.
• Demonstrated ability to…