MIG Welder​/Fabricator Defence Manufacturing; Armoured Steel

Position: MIG Welder/Fabricator – Defence Manufacturing (Armoured Steel)
MIG Welder/Fabricator – Defence Manufacturing (Armoured Steel)

Stockport | £19.97 per hour | Permanent

A long-established UK defence engineering manufacturer with over a century of innovation is growing its North West Centre of Excellence — and recruiting skilled MIG Welder/Fabricators to be part of it.

The business is globally recognised for delivering high-integrity military systems on long-term defence programmes, and operates at the very forefront of what defence manufacturing looks like today. You’ll be working with ARMOX 500Z armoured steel on mission-critical assemblies in a modern, safety-driven production environment. Both welding and fabrication capability are essential — this role demands confidence and competence across both disciplines.

The Role

Working from engineering drawings, WPS documentation and work instructions, you’ll fabricate and weld complex armoured steel assemblies to strict quality, dimensional and safety standards.

• Health & Safety Compliance — Working safely at all times in full accordance with SHE policies, regulations and 5S standards

• Fabrication — Marking out, cutting, forming and assembling armoured steel components ahead of welding

• Welding Preparation — Planning welding activities, identifying hazards and preparing materials and equipment

• Armoured Steel Welding — Welding ARMOX 500Z assemblies to BS EN ISO 5817, including pre-weld heat treatment and controlled handling

• Dimensional Accuracy — Ensuring weld seam and fabrication accuracy in line with engineering drawings throughout

• Quality Inspection — Carrying out visual and non-destructive inspections to confirm compliance with specifications

• Crane & Lifting Operations — Performing lifting tasks safely and in line with authorised procedures

• Material Preparation — Removing defects, dressing welds and preparing surfaces using manual and powered tools

• Post-Weld Dressing — Removing bracings, strong-backs and run-on/run-off tabs and restoring work areas to standard

• Consumable Control — Monitoring, adjusting and returning consumables appropriately

• MRP/SAP Booking — Completing production documentation and booking hours accurately via SAP

• Qualification Tests — Completing and maintaining certification and qualification requirements as required

What We’re Looking For

• Minimum NVQ Level 3 or equivalent — essential

• At least 12 months’ welding and fabrication experience in heavy manufacturing or defence-grade environments

• Strong MIG/MAG welding capability — TIG desirable

• Confident fabrication skills across marking out, cutting, forming and assembly

• Ability to weld to BS EN ISO 5817 quality levels

• Good understanding of welding behaviour, distortion, HICC, stress and material properties

• Able to read and interpret technical drawings, WPS, NDT methods and specifications

• Experience working within DIN 2303, BS EN 1090-1, BS EN ISO 3834-1 and ISO 9001 quality frameworks

• Strong awareness of Safety, Quality and Environmental systems

What’s on Offer

• £19.97 per hour

• Pension: 4% employee / 7% employer contribution

• Half-day Fridays

• Life assurance

• Company sick pay, increasing with service

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Additional holidays and long-service rewards

• Wellbeing initiatives including fresh fruit Tuesdays, posture workshops and armed forces network events

• Cycle-to-work scheme

• Free on-site parking

A permanent role with a world-class defence manufacturer — technically demanding, safety-critical work on programmes that genuinely matter, with the backing of a business built on over 100 years of engineering excellence.

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