Welder

About the business

ESP Steel is a Sydney-based steel fabrication and construction business with over 30 years of industry experience. The company provides structural and stainless steel fabrication, steel installation, boilermaking, welding, crane hire and rigging services. ESP Steel works across commercial, industrial, residential and infrastructure projects, fabricating and installing structural components including beams, columns, trusses, frames and bracing systems, with a strong focus on safety, quality and reliable workmanship.

About the role

We are looking for a skilled welder to join our team. This is a full-time position that plays a crucial role in our fabrication operations, contributing directly to the quality and timely delivery of structural steel projects.

Job tasks and responsibilities

·         Work off ESP Steel’s shop drawings, engineering plans and project specifications to confirm cut lengths, weld details, bolt sizes and connection points before starting each fabrication job.

·         Choose the right structural or stainless steel stock for each job — beams, plates, hollow sections and channels — and get every section cleaned down and prepped for cutting, keeping stainless material free of contamination.

·         Cut steel to size for beams, columns and bracing — running the drop saw and workshop cutting machines for straight lengths and flame-cutting torches for heavier or profiled sections — to the marked-out dimensions.

·         Form and bend steel members for frames, staircases and architectural pieces, bringing sections to profile on the press and by hand, and applying controlled heat where a bend calls for it.

·         Set up and align parts in ESP Steel’s jigs and fixtures, checking fit-up with squares, tapes and measuring instruments so each assembly sits true to the approved drawings before tacking.

·         Join structural and stainless sections using the process suited to the material and specification — GMAW (MIG) and flux-cored (FCAW) on structural steel, GTAW (TIG) on stainless and finer work, with SMAW (stick) for site and repair welds — working to weld procedures qualified under AS/NZS 1554, and make off bolted connections at the detailed connection points.

·         Inspect finished welds for bead width, penetration and profile against the AS/NZS 1554 acceptance criteria for the applicable weld category, pulling up anything outside tolerance for rework.

·         Finish fabricated items ready for coating or dispatch — cleaning down, filing and, on stainless work, polishing or pickling the welded areas to restore surface finish and corrosion resistance.

·         Dress and smooth completed welds by grinding, chipping and filing so joints come up clean and to the finish the job needs before coating or inspection.

·         Work to Australian Standards and ESP Steel’s in-house quality control at each stage, presenting every fabricated item for inspection — dimensions, weld quality, alignment and coating — before it is signed off for dispatch or on-site erection.

·         Keep the work area, plant and PPE in safe order in line with ESP Steel’s SWMS and WHS requirements, and support the installation crew with weld repairs and modifications on site when a project calls for it.

 Skills required:

·         At least a relevant Certificate III + 2 years of on the job training or 3 years of full time relevant experience.

·         Have ability to work with a range of metal types and thicknesses

·         Be very experienced in the reading of engineering drawings and welding symbols

·         Have a strong adherence OH&S and in keeping as safe workplace