Certified Senior Welder

Quick Snapshot

• Location: Traverse City, MI
• Schedule: Full-Time
• Experience: 10+ years of professional welding experience
• Certification: Current CWS 1.1 Certificate required
• Level: Journeyman-level or higher
• Hiring Process: Onsite interview + in-person welding test
• Environment: Advanced Welding | Fabrication | Skilled Trades

Put Your Welding Experience to Work

Ambient Recruiting is partnering with an established Traverse City employer to hire a highly experienced Certified Senior Welder for a skilled, hands-on welding and fabrication opportunity.

This position is designed for an accomplished welding professional who can confidently take a project from blueprint to finished weld with minimal direction. We're looking for someone who understands the craft beyond simply running a bead, including fit-up, fabrication, blueprint interpretation, troubleshooting, and producing consistent work to demanding specifications.

This is not an entry-level welding position. The ideal candidate brings at least 10 years of professional welding experience, journeyman-level expertise, and a current CWS 1.1 Certificate.

What You'll Be Doing

• Perform advanced welding and fabrication work according to blueprints and specifications
• Independently read and interpret complex blueprints, technical drawings, and welding symbols
• Plan, set up, fit, and complete welding projects with minimal supervision
• Produce consistent, high-quality welds that meet required specifications
• Perform accurate fit-up and preparation of components prior to welding
• Inspect completed work for accuracy, weld integrity, and overall workmanship
• Identify potential fabrication or welding issues and make appropriate adjustments
• Troubleshoot problems as they arise throughout fabrication
• Follow established welding procedures, quality requirements, and workplace safety standards
• Maintain welding equipment, tools, and an organized work area
• Collaborate with production and leadership teams to complete technically demanding projects

What We're Looking For

• Minimum 10 years of professional welding experience
• Current CWS 1.1 Certificate required
• Journeyman-level welding ability or equivalent advanced professional experience
• Strong ability to read and independently work from complex blueprints and technical drawings
• Advanced knowledge of welding techniques, fabrication, fit-up, and weld quality
• Ability to take a project from print through completed weld with minimal direction
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to quality craftsmanship
• Dependable, safety-conscious, and comfortable working independently
• Ability to consistently produce high-quality work in a professional welding and fabrication environment

Interview & Welding Skills Assessment

Qualified candidates should be prepared to complete an onsite interview and in-person welding test as part of the hiring process.

This is a hands-on skilled trade position, so the welding assessment will allow the employer to evaluate practical welding ability, blueprint interpretation, overall technique, quality, and the candidate's ability to perform the advanced work required for the position.

Why You'll Like This Job

• Senior-level welding opportunity where extensive experience is valued
• Work on complex projects rather than basic entry-level production welding
• Opportunity to use advanced welding, fabrication, and blueprint-reading skills
• Independent work with the ability to take ownership of projects
• Hands-on position where quality and craftsmanship matter
• Stable, full-time opportunity in Traverse City
• Join an experienced team that values technical ability and problem-solving
• Opportunity to put years of skilled trade experience to meaningful use

Real Talk (So You Know What to Expect)

This position is intended for an experienced career welder, not someone who is still learning the trade. You'll be expected to understand prints, determine how to approach the work, complete proper fit-up, produce quality welds, and recognize and correct issues without needing step-by-step instruction.

The onsite welding test is an important part of the selection process because practical ability matters just as much as what's listed on a resume. If you've spent years mastering welding and fabrication and are confident working independently on challenging projects, this is the kind of role where that experience can shine.