Fitter​/Welder III

Welder / Fitter 3

Capitol Engineering is hiring a Welder / Fitter 3 for our Phoenix fabrication shop. This is the senior-level role on the welding and fit-up career path - the highest standard of skill, technical knowledge, and craftsmanship on the shop floor. It performs complex, high-quality welds across all positions and all processes (MIG, Flux-Core, Stick, and TIG) on the full range of products we build, including structural steel, tanks, ducting, mining and wear equipment, and other custom fabrications in carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and abrasion-resistant (AR) plate.

This role is a complete craftsman on both sides of the trade: performing advanced structural fit-up and layout, reading and interpreting full engineering blueprints, executing the shop's most demanding assignments with full independence, and serving as a technical resource and mentor to the welders and fitters coming up behind them.

What You'll Do

• Advanced Welding - Multi-Process, Multi-Material
• Perform GMAW (MIG), FCAW (Flux-Core), SMAW (Stick), and GTAW (TIG) welding in all positions (1F-4F, 1G-4G) on the full range of products and materials the shop produces.
• Handle the most complex and critical weld assignments in the facility - multi-pass welds, heavy plate, tank seams, pressure-retaining joints, wear-liner installation, and out-of-position work - with consistent quality and full procedure compliance.
• Weld on carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and AR plate, selecting and verifying appropriate filler metals, shielding gases, and pre/post-weld procedures for each material.
• Verify all pre-weld conditions before every assignment: fit-up accuracy, joint cleanliness, material identification, applicable WPS, and any special product requirements.
• Advanced Fit-Up, Layout & Assembly
• Perform advanced fit-up and layout on large, multi-member assemblies - structural weldments, tank shells and heads, equipment frames, and custom fabrications - using blueprints as the reference.
• Establish datums, lay out component locations, and verify squareness, plumb, level, and dimensional accuracy across entire assemblies, accounting for material-specific distortion behavior during welding.
• Identify and resolve fit-up issues, joint-preparation deficiencies, and material discrepancies; escalate conflicts to the Shop Lead or Shop Foreman with a precise description when needed.
• Blueprint Reading & Material Knowledge
• Read and interpret full engineering blueprints - fabrication drawings, weld symbols, dimensional tolerances, material specifications, bills of material, and general notes - and extract everything needed to complete an assignment.
• Apply working knowledge of weldability, filler-metal requirements, joint preparation, and fume/safety considerations for each material.
• Recognize and mitigate material-related quality risks such as heat distortion on light gauge, carbide precipitation in stainless, and burn-through on aluminum; flag drawing errors or conflicts before work proceeds.
• Mentorship & Quality Leadership
• Provide hands-on technical guidance to Welder / Fitter 1 and 2 and apprentice personnel on welding technique, WPS application, fit-up methods, material handling, and quality standards.
• Serve as a shop-floor point of reference for welding procedure, WPS application, and quality questions; set the standard through consistent personal example.
• Perform detailed self-inspection of all completed work and support formal Quality Control inspections; communicate non-conformances to the Shop Lead and QC immediately and with specificity.
• Communicate observations about skill gaps and development needs to the Shop Lead and Welding Training & Qualification Specialist.
• Safety, Equipment & Housekeeping
• Lead by example in all matters of safety, PPE compliance, lockout/tagout, fume extraction, and housekeeping; enforce material-specific safety requirements and address unsafe conditions immediately.
• Operate welding equipment, cutting tools, and associated tooling proficiently and safely; perform pre-use checks and report issues promptly.
• Maintain work areas to the highest standard of organization and safety at all times.
• Perform other related duties as assigned in support of production and quality operations.

What We're Looking For

Required

High school diploma or equivalent; vocational welding certification, technical degree, or completed apprenticeship strongly preferred.

8+ years of production welding and/or fabrication experience across multiple product types and materials in a custom fabrication environment.

Full-position welder performance qualifications (1F-4F, 1G-4G) in GMAW (MIG), FCAW (Flux-Core), SMAW (Stick), and GTAW (TIG) per applicable welding code or company WPS, current and documented.

Demonstrated ability to weld on carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and AR plate.

Demonstrated ability to perform advanced structural fit-up and layout using layout and measuring tools.

Ability to read and interpret full engineering blueprints, weld symbols, and fabrication…