Welder and Fabricator job description
A Welder and Fabricator cuts, fits and joins metal parts to drawings. The role produces frames, tanks, structures and assemblies that a workshop or factory sells or uses.
Why the role exists
Fabrication shops, engineering units and plants rely on welders to turn drawings and cut metal into finished parts. In most Indian units the welder also fits and marks the work, so the role combines hand skill with drawing reading. Quality of joints decides rework, customer rejection and safety of the finished product.
What the person does
- Read fabrication drawings and weld symbols and confirm dimensions before starting each job.
- Mark, cut and shape plates, pipes and sections using gas cutters, grinders and plasma tools.
- Fit up parts with jigs, clamps and tack welds so the assembly holds its shape.
- Weld joints using MIG, TIG or arc processes as the job and material require.
- Check weld size, finish and straightness with gauges and visual inspection before handing over.
- Grind, clean and finish welds, and fix distortion or defects found during inspection.
- Maintain welding machines, torches and cables and report faults before they stop production.
- Follow shop safety practice, including eye and face protection, fire watch and safe gas cylinder handling.
Skills and tools
- MIG, TIG and stick welding on mild steel, with stainless or aluminium where needed
- Reading fabrication drawings and weld symbols
- Marking, cutting and fit-up using tape, square and jigs
- Visual weld inspection and use of weld gauges
- Grinding and finishing to a clean standard
- Controlling distortion through sequence and clamping
- Safe use of gas cutting sets and cylinders
- Basic upkeep of welding sets and consumables
Education and experience
Preferred, never a bar: equivalent experience counts.
- ITI in welder or fitter trade is preferred, or equivalent experience in a fabrication shop.
- Preferred hands-on experience in the process and metal the job needs, such as stainless tank work or structural frames.
- Welder qualification tests for specific codes or customers may be needed, depending on the employer and the work.
- Ability to read drawings is preferred, or equivalent experience working from marked-up sketches.
How the work is judged
- Share of jobs that pass inspection without rework
- Match of finished parts to drawing dimensions and finish
- Output against job schedule without losing quality
- Care of machines, consumables and material wastage
- Safe working record and housekeeping at the work bay
Where the role can lead
- Senior welder, fabrication lead or shop floor supervisor
- Welding inspector or quality role after further training and testing
- Own fabrication workshop or contract work for those who add costing and customer skills
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions in the same order and score them against written anchors, so the decision rests on the work and not the impression.
- Which welding processes and metals have you worked on, and what was the hardest job?
- How do you control distortion when welding a long frame made of thin sheet?
- A customer rejects a weld for porosity. How do you find the cause and fix it?
- What do you check on a drawing before you cut the first piece?
- How do you set up a MIG machine for a new thickness of plate?
- Tell us how you handle gas cylinders and hot work safely in a crowded bay.
Hiring tips for this role
- Run a practical trade test. Ask the candidate to weld a sample joint and cut a part to a drawing before you offer.
- Match the test to your work. A TIG stainless welder and a structural arc welder have different strengths.
- Ask to see past job photos or ask for a reference from the previous workshop head. Claimed experience varies widely.
- Agree safety gear and who provides it at the start, and set out clearly whether the job needs any employer-specific welder qualification.
Questions about hiring a welder and fabricator
A welder mainly joins metal. A fabricator also reads drawings, marks, cuts, fits and finishes the assembly. Many Indian shops hire one person for both, so the job description should state which tasks you expect and which processes apply.
Yes. A short practical test on your own material shows hand skill, fit-up habits and safety practice better than an interview. Keep the test to a standard job from your workshop and have your senior welder judge it.
Ask for photos, drawings of past jobs and a reference from a previous supervisor. Then run your own sample joint test. Visual checks for undercut, porosity and spatter reveal habits quickly.
GullyHR offers permanent talent acquisition. We agree the job description with you, find and screen candidates against the processes and metals you use, and support the offer. Trade tests stay in your workshop.
Hiring a welder and fabricator?
GullyHR runs talent acquisition for permanent roles. We agree the job description with you, find and screen candidates against it, and support the offer through to joining. We recruit permanent employees. We do not supply contract or temporary staff.