Senior Welder at Fortive, Everett, WA
Senior Welder at Fortive in Everett, WA. Est. up to $60k. Apply with swipeandhired.
Location: Everett, WA
The Senior Welder at Fluke produces cosmetically critical, leak-tight welds on tanks and other visible, water-tight components, mentors other welders, and partners with engineering and quality to solve welding challenges and improve processes.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform precision GTAW/TIG welding on thin-gauge stainless steel and aluminum, including tanks and assemblies with high aesthetic requirements.
- Control heat input, amperage, and travel technique to minimize distortion, warping, and burn-through on thin material.
- Produce clean, consistent welds that meet cosmetic acceptance criteria — free of excessive heat tint/bluing, discoloration, and surface defects.
- Set up and manage shielding gas, back-purging, and trailing shields to protect weld and heat-affected zone quality.
- Maintain strict cleanliness practices (material prep, dedicated tooling, stainless/aluminum contamination control) and meet surface finish requirements.
- Fixture, fit up, and tack precision sheet metal parts to tight tolerances; plan weld sequences to control distortion.
- Read and interpret engineering drawings, weld symbols, and WPS requirements.
- Inspect own work and perform post-weld cleaning, heat tint removal, and finishing as required.
- Troubleshoot weld quality issues (porosity, lack of fusion, cracking, distortion, discoloration) and recommend corrective actions with engineering and quality.
- Mentor and train less experienced welders; help standardize best practices and work instructions.
- Support process improvement efforts, including evaluating new technologies such as laser welding to improve quality and reduce rework.
- Follow all safety procedures and PPE requirements.
Required Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent; welding certificate or technical school training preferred.
- 5+ years of hands-on welding experience, with a primary focus on thin-gauge stainless steel and aluminum.
- Expert GTAW/TIG skills on thin-gauge material, including pulsed TIG.
- Proven ability to control heat input and distortion on thin-gauge parts.
- Experience meeting cosmetic/visual weld acceptance criteria where appearance is critical.
- Knowledge of stainless-steel heat tint/discoloration control, including shielding, purging, cleanliness, and post-weld cleaning.
- Precision sheet metal fabrication experience, including fit-up and fixturing.
- Ability to read drawings, weld symbols, and WPS requirements.
- Strong attention to detail and pride in workmanship.
- Experience with leak-tight, water-tight, or tank welding, including familiarity with leak testing methods.
Preferred Qualifications
- Gas-tight welding experience, such as tube-to-tube or tube-to-fitting welds (orbital tube welding a plus).
- Brazing experience (torch or furnace).
- Experience with or knowledge of laser welding
- AWS or equivalent GTAW certification on stainless steel and/or aluminum sheet.
- Background in sanitary, food/beverage, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, or other high-purity/cosmetic fabrication.
- Familiarity with visual inspection and dye penetrant testing.
Physical / Work Environment (Typical)
- Work is performed in a fabrication shop environment with exposure to noise, heat, and UV light (with required PPE).
- Ability to stand, sit, or kneel for extended periods and perform detailed work requiring a steady hand and good visual acuity.
Competencies
- Craftsmanship and pride in weld appearance
- Technical accuracy and attention to detail
- Patience and precision on cosmetically critical work
- Strong communication and collaboration with engineering and quality
- Continuous improvement mindset and openness to new technologies
- Willingness to mentor and share knowledge