R&D Prototype Welding and Fabrication Specialist

Motor City Metal Fab is a fast-growing, family-owned precision fabrication shop in Southeast Michigan. Under one roof, we handle CNC machining, laser and waterjet cutting, welding, and powder coating—bringing complex ideas to life.

A day in the life

You clock in to a clean, well-equipped bay. An engineer hands you a fresh set of prints for a one-off assembly. You review the CAD, interpret the weld symbols and GD&T callouts, and map out your approach. You cut, fit, and tack components, then move seamlessly between TIG on thin aluminum and MIG on steel subframes. Midday, you collaborate with machining to tweak a feature for better manufacturability.

By afternoon, your prototype is welded to tight tolerances, inspected, and finished—ready for feedback and iteration.

What you’ll do Build one-off and low-volume assemblies from prints, hand sketches, and CAD Execute high-quality MIG and TIG welds on steel, stainless, and aluminum

Cut, fit, tack, weld, and finish to precise tolerances with self-inspection

Partner with engineering and machining to refine designs and boost manufacturability

Read and apply blueprints, weld symbols, and GD&TAssist with fixture setup and prototype development when needed

Maintain a safe, organized, and clean work area

Must-have experience3+ years of strong MIG and TIG welding experience

Background in prototype or custom fabrication (job shop work preferred)
Fluency in blueprint reading and weld symbol interpretation

Hands-on experience with steel, stainless steel, and aluminum

Meticulous attention to detail and pride in craftsmanship

Ability to work independently and solve fabrication challenges

Reliable, punctual, and professional

Bonus points

Fixture building or prototype tooling experience

Race car fabrication background

Comfort working alongside CNC machining operations

Experience in automotive, motorsports, or industrial fabrication

Ideas for improving designs and fabrication processes

Why you’ll like it here Challenging, interesting prototype work Modern equipment and well-organized shop Direct influence on how parts are designed and built

Stable workload with room to grow Competitive pay based on experience

Family-owned culture that values skill, accountability, and craftsmanship

Your toolkit

Proficiencies

Welding setups for production

Blueprint reading

Custom fabrication MIG weldingTIG welding

Aluminum welding

Machines & technologies you’ll useMIG WelderTIG Welder Manual Grinder Tube / Pipe Bender Tube Notcher