Hire Aerospace Welders

Time to shortlist is typically 2 weeks from scoping call. Total time to placement (shortlist through offer acceptance) is typically 3–4 weeks for direct hire; contract starts can be faster once the markup structure is agreed. Titanium and orbital specialists, NAVSEA-qualified shipyard welders, off-shift seats at remote launch sites, and in-house requalification testing before start can add a week or two.

Most US Aerospace Welders at launch, aerostructure, shipyard and defense manufacturers land between $28 and $45 per hour ($58K–$94K annualized) depending on metro, shift and process. Orbital, titanium and friction-stir specialists and lead welders typically run $42–$58 per hour ($87K–$120K with overtime and differentials), and NAVSEA-qualified hull welders on travel assignments command per diem on top. These are market bands; we confirm live market bands during scoping. See our CNC machinist and aerospace welder salary guide for the full breakdown.

Yes. Aerospace Welder seats run as direct hire, contract or temp-to-hire through our Recruiting Support model — the same qualification verification, references and credential checks apply whether the welder starts on your payroll or on contract for a tank-line ramp, a hull-block surge or a 3rd-shift launch. Ask us for the markup structure in writing on the scoping call.

A structural or pipe welder is typically qualified under AWS D1.1 or ASME IX on carbon steel with visual and occasional radiographic acceptance. An Aerospace Welder is qualified under AWS D17.1 on aluminum, titanium, nickel and stainless alloys at thin wall, with every joint mapped, stamped and often radiographed to Class A acceptance. Many strong aerospace welders came up through pipe or structural work; the difference is documented qualification and reject history on the alloys and acceptance classes your hardware needs.

A Weld Engineer writes and qualifies the WPS, owns the weld cell and is the engineer of record when a weld is disputed. The Aerospace Welder executes the procedure joint by joint and owns fit-up, purge and the traveler. An NDT Technician or NDT Inspector examines the finished weld with RT, PAUT or PT and calls the indication. The three share the acceptance criteria; the Quality Engineer owns the nonconformance when they disagree.

It depends on the seat. Most launch and aerostructure manufacturers run their own D17.1 performance qualification on the specific process and alloy before a welder touches flight hardware, so verified qualification history and radiographic reject rates on comparable joints weigh more than a certificate. Shipyard programs require NAVSEA qualification, and structural seats require current D1.1 with continuity. We confirm the requirement during scoping, verify AWS certifications directly, and flag candidates who will need requalification on arrival.

Yes. Every Aerospace Welder placement carries a replacement guarantee. Guarantee terms, including how they apply to contract and temp-to-hire starts, are confirmed in writing at engagement start.

Yes. Multi-hire builds (a lead welder plus orbital, titanium and structural welders for a new tank line or hull-block facility, or a full 2nd or 3rd shift ahead of a rate ramp) route through embedded recruiting or RPO. Adjacent seats — CNC Machinists, NDT Technicians, Weld Engineers and Production Supervisors — can be scoped in the same engagement.