Aerospace Welder Job Description

aerospace welder

Aerospace Welder is a skilled profession with a combination of technical expertise and aptitude. They carry out various welding activities such as repair of engine hot sections, and mechanical/structural components for all aircraft types. Aerospace welding involves various welding processes i.e. gas tungsten arc welding, electron beam, gas metal-arc, and resistance. Further, they perform welding to join different plates, structures, sheets, metallic frames, and jigs. For keeping a safe and healthy work environment, they employ welding and flame spray coatings.

Most aircraft and spacecraft construction utilize aerospace welding (structural welding). The manufacturers use it for making large structures used in commercial spacecraft and aircraft.


Post Highlights:

  • Educational Qualifications
  • Certification/License
  • Work Experience
  • Duties/Responsibilities
  • Abilities/Skills
  • Work Environment
  • Physical Requirements
  • Top Industries
  • Job Types
  • Salary Information
  • Benefits/Perks

Educational Qualifications

Aerospace Welder requires the following educational levels-

  • A High School Diploma or GED (minimum)
  • An Associate’s Degree in Welding Technology or a Related Field (preferred)

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Certification/License

  • Candidates should have obtained certifications from the American Welding Society and preferably be an AWS Certified Aerospace Welder
  • Possess certification to D1.1, AWS D17.1_D17.1M or equivalent fusion welding for aerospace applications specifications

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Work Experience

Possess work experience in the following areas-

  • FAA Airframe rating
  • Industrial facility and heavy vehicle welding
  • Non-destructive Testing (NDT) experience
  • Practical aircraft welding experience
  • TIG welding experience
  • Welding rocket/satellite propulsion system experience
  • Working with fluid systems experience
  • X-ray inspection Experience

Duties/Responsibilities

Aerospace welders perform the following duties-

  • Develop/fabricate fixtures and tooling to support aircraft
  • Ensure communication of all work handoffs
  • Examine welds for bead size/other specifications
  • Lay out/fit all parts that maintain all dimensional parameters
  • Lay welds in horizontal, vertical, flat, or overhead positions
  • May require to tack assemblies together
  • Operate helium leak detector, chop saw, drill press, TIG welder, or orbital tube welder
  • Perform TIG butt and fillet welding types
  • Position or clamp workpieces together
  • Prepare parts for post-weld inspection processes
  • Provide manufacturing feedback to all required working colleagues
  • Weld together metal components as per the blueprints, or diagrams
  • Weld/inspect the high purity fluidic system welds

Abilities/Skills

The required competencies are as follows-

  • Ability to use torches/flame-cutting equipment
  • Able to calculate mathematical problems
  • Able to use a computer on a daily basis
  • Determine weld requirements as per blueprints
  • Employ proper safety/work habits
  • Familiar with industrial safety practices
  • Follow instructions accurately
  • Heat-treating/arc welding knowledge
  • Knowledge of welding steel, aluminum, and titanium
  • Proficiency in oxyacetylene gas welding
  • Self-motivated and adept in nature
  • Understand welding symbols as per AWS 2.4
  • Verbal/written communication skills

Work Environment

  • Work at an airport, indoors, or in an aircraft factory
  • Usually, work in noisy and hot conditions

Physical Requirements

  • Able to lift up to 40 lbs.
  • Work in a standing position up to 8 hours per day

Top Industries

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Job Types

The following are some of the near/dear or related job types-

  • Aerospace Component Fabricator
  • Aerospace Production Welder
  • Aerospace Structural Welder
  • Aerospace TIG Welder
  • Aerospace Welder
  • Aerospace Welding Technician
  • Certified AWS Aerospace Welder
  • Orbital Tube Welder

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Salary Information

The salary of aerospace welders is not the same at all places in the United States. They fetch differently based on their work experience, skills, education level, certification, and the volume of the company. Their hourly rates range from $25 to $35. On average, they earn $49,794 annually and $31 hourly. Along with this, they also get bonuses and compensation. The experienced or certified aerospace welders earn more hourly/yearly than the individuals with less or no experience.

Benefits/Perks

Each employer offers various types of benefits packages to new recruits. The benefits may vary from position to position. The most common benefits are as follows-

  • 401(K)
  • Dental Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Health Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Maternity/Paternity Leave
  • Paid Time Off
  • Tuition Reimbursement Program
  • Vision Insurance

Related: Other Welding Professions

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