Technician - Welding

About

Founded in 2024 and headquartered in Signal Hill, California, Karman Industries is at the forefront of revolutionizing industrial thermal energy. Our mission is to electrify global thermal systems across data centers, manufacturing, and energy industries. Karman is developing the revolutionary Heat Processing Unit (HPU) to reinvent thermal handling for giga-scale data centers & AI factories. The HPU is built around a supercritical CO2 chiller system utilizing a high-speed electrically driven turbomachinery core. Our system aims to reduce energy consumption in data center thermal management by greater than 25% and increase energy density by 10x.

At Karman Industries, we are committed to fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where innovation thrives. Our team is composed of passionate professionals dedicated to making a tangible impact on the future of industrial manufacturing. Join us in our mission to transform the industry and contribute to a more sustainable world.

Job Description

We are seeking a skilled Weld Technician to join our manufacturing team. In this role, you will be responsible for a wide variety of fabrication work, ranging from heavy structural welding for large industrial equipment frames to high-precision, high-pressure pipe welding. You will work directly with our engineering team to transition new designs from prototypes into production-ready industrial hardware.

Responsibilities

• Perform a variety of high-precision welds, seamlessly transitioning between heavy structural steel fabrication and high-pressure pipe welding (ranging from structural skids to small-bore piping systems).

• Proficiently execute welds using GTAW (TIG) and GMAW/FCAW (MIG/Flux-Core) across various materials, including carbon steel, stainless steel, and specialty high-temperature alloys.

• Read and interpret complex engineering drawings, weld symbols, structural blueprints, and piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) with limited initial documentation.

• Deliver flawless, X-ray/NDT-quality welds adhering to strict industrial standards, including ASME Section IX (Pressure Piping) and AWS D1.1 (Structural Welding).

• Take ownership of full weldment preparation, including cutting, grinding, beveling, aligning, and rigging large hardware components into position.

• Partner closely with manufacturing, test, and development engineers to optimize designs for manufacturability (DFM) and provide continuous feedback on prototype assemblies.

• Maintain a pristine workspace and champion a rigid safety culture, adhering to industrial standards required for building high-energy, pressurized equipment.

Required Qualification

• Minimum 5+ years of hands-on professional experience as a combination pipe and structural welder in an industrial OEM, aerospace, oil & gas, or heavy equipment manufacturing environment.

• Documented experience or active certifications under ASME Section IX (6G/5G pipe position preferred) and AWS D1.1.

• Proven track record welding both thin-wall tubing and thick structural members, with deep knowledge of thermal distortion control and joint design.

• A high-agency operator with mission-critical discipline, accountability, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, prototype-to-production hardware environment.

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, maneuver around massive industrial frames, and work in various positions required for complex hardware assembly.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience fabricating hardware for supercritical fluid loops, high-pressure heat exchangers, or high-temperature steam systems.

• Familiarity with non-destructive testing (NDT) methodologies, including dye penetrant, magnetic particle, or radiographic inspection prep.

• Basic rigging and overhead crane operation experience for manipulating heavy structural skids.

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.

Karman Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Karman Industries is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Direct applicants only — we are not working with outside recruiters or agencies for this role.