Welder 3

Welder 3

Company: Northrop Grumman Corporation

Job ID: 2164

Location: Palmdale, California

Worksite Address: 3520 E. Avenue M, Palmdale, CA 93550-7401

Job Category: Light Industrial

Work Arrangement: 100% Onsite

Job Type: Contract Only

Openings: 1

Contract Duration: November 23, 2026 - October 14, 2027

Experience Required: 3-8 years

Schedule: 4x10, Monday-Thursday

Hours: 40 hours per week

Maximum Bill Rate: $75.82/hour

U.S. Citizenship: Required

Security Clearance: Not Required

Business Unit: Tooling Operations - Aeronautics Systems

Work Environment: Manufacturing / Tool Fabrication

Position Overview

Northrop Grumman is seeking an experienced Welder 3 to support its Tooling Operations department in Palmdale, California. The selected candidate will perform welding operations on aluminum and steel components and assemblies, ensuring that finished products meet engineering drawings, dimensional tolerances, and quality requirements.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on welding experience in a manufacturing or tool fabrication environment, proficiency in MIG, TIG, and/or stick welding, and the ability to interpret engineering drawings and weld symbols.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform welding operations on aluminum and steel parts and assemblies using appropriate welding processes and metal alloys.

• Determine component layouts and weld assemblies according to engineering drawings, specifications, and required tolerances.

• Prepare materials, joints, and components for welding, including fit-up and joint preparation.

• Complete welding, finishing, and rework activities to meet production and quality standards.

• Read and interpret engineering drawings, weld symbols, blueprints, and work instructions.

• Use measuring and inspection tools to verify dimensional accuracy and weld quality.

• Monitor and verify quality in accordance with applicable process controls and inspection procedures.

• Identify common weld defects and implement appropriate corrective actions.

• Safely set up, operate, and maintain welding equipment and related shop tools.

• Follow established manufacturing procedures, safety requirements, and quality standards.

• Work independently on assigned tasks while collaborating with production and tooling teams.

• Maintain productivity and quality in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Basic Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED.

• At least 3 years of related welding experience.

• Demonstrated experience in MIG, TIG, and/or stick welding in a manufacturing or tool fabrication environment.

• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, weld symbols, and work instructions.

• Experience with fit-up, joint preparation, welding, and finishing of components.

• Ability to use measuring and inspection tools to verify dimensional compliance.

• Working knowledge of weld quality requirements, common defects, and corrective actions.

• Ability to safely set up and operate welding equipment and related shop tools.

• Ability to work independently and contribute to team objectives.

• Ability to meet physical requirements, including standing, bending, lifting, and material handling.

• Ability to obtain and maintain applicable welding certifications or internal qualifications.

• U.S. citizenship required.

Primary Skills

• MIG, TIG, and/or Stick Welding

• Aluminum and Steel Welding

• Blueprint Reading and Weld Symbol Interpretation

• Welding Fit-Up and Joint Preparation

• Weld Quality Inspection

• Dimensional Measurement and Tolerance Verification

• Weld Defect Identification and Rework

• Manufacturing and Tool Fabrication

• Welding Equipment Setup and Operation

• Workplace Safety and Quality Compliance

Top 3 Recruiter Screening Questions

• Do you have at least 3 years of welding experience in a manufacturing or tool fabrication environment? Which processes have you used: MIG, TIG, and/or stick welding?

• Can you read engineering drawings and weld symbols, and do you have hands-on experience welding aluminum and steel components to specified tolerances?

• What experience do you have with weld fit-up, joint preparation, inspection tools, identifying weld defects, and correcting quality issues? Are you able to work onsite in Palmdale on a Monday-Thursday, 4x10 schedule?

Work Schedule and Requirements

• Monday-Thursday, four 10-hour shifts.

• 40 hours per week.

• Fully onsite in Palmdale, California.

• U.S. citizenship required.

• No security clearance required.

• Physical work involving standing, bending, lifting, and material handling.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a skilled production or tool fabrication welder with 3-8 years of experience, practical MIG/TIG/stick welding capabilities, and strong blueprint-reading and inspection skills. Candidates should be comfortable working with aluminum and steel, maintaining dimensional tolerances, and meeting strict manufacturing quality and safety standards.

Recruiter Note: Prioritize candidates with direct manufacturing or tool fabrication welding experience, the ability to interpret weld symbols, and hands-on experience with aluminum and steel assemblies.

Contract: November 23, 2026 - October 14, 2027