Fabricator /Autobody Technician

Allan Myers•Worcester, PA

14h

About The Position

The Fabricator / Auto Body Technician repairs, fabricates, restores, and prepares bodies and components for antique, classic, vintage, and collectible automobiles. The role calls for skilled automotive sheet-metal work, welding, metal shaping, body repair, panel alignment, rust repair, and restoration techniques. It emphasizes historically appropriate, structurally sound, high-quality restoration rather than conventional collision repair, including fabricating or repairing parts when replacement components are unavailable or unsuitable. The technician performs sheet-metal fabrication and metal finishing; MIG and TIG welding; body and panel repairs and fitment; surface preparation; and vehicle disassembly and reassembly. Work includes preserving original materials and details where practical, researching original construction when needed, documenting significant repairs, and coordinating with paint and refinishing personnel. The position is based primarily in an automotive restoration and fabrication shop and requires careful handling of valuable or irreplaceable parts, strong craftsmanship, and adherence to safety practices and required personal protective equipment.

Requirements

At least three years of automotive body repair, metal fabrication, restoration, or closely related experience is preferred.
Demonstrated experience working with automotive sheet metal.
MIG welding experience is required; TIG welding experience is strongly preferred.
Ability to fabricate repair panels and components from sheet metal.
Experience with rust repair, panel replacement, dent repair, metal finishing, and bodywork.
Ability to fit and align doors, fenders, hoods, deck lids, and other body panels.
Ability to read measurements, use templates, and reproduce complex shapes.
Strong mechanical aptitude and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work independently on detailed projects requiring patience and precision.
Ability to distinguish production-quality work from show-quality or restoration-quality workmanship.
Exceptional attention to detail and craftsmanship, with a strong understanding of automotive body construction.
Ability to visualize and fabricate parts from patterns, measurements, photographs, or original components and troubleshoot fitment problems.
Ability to maintain an organized work area and carefully track removed components.
Ability to stand, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and work in various positions for extended periods.
Ability to regularly use hand and power tools.
Ability to lift and carry approximately 50 pounds independently; heavier components require assistance or lifting equipment.
Ability to work around welding equipment, grinders, solvents, dust, noise, paint-preparation materials, and other typical shop conditions, and to wear required personal protective equipment.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience restoring antique, classic, muscle, European, or collector vehicles.
Experience fabricating components for vehicles where replacement parts are unavailable.
Advanced TIG welding and sheet-metal fabrication experience.
Experience using an English wheel, planishing hammer, bead roller, shrinker/stretcher, sheet-metal brake, and other metal-forming equipment.
Experience with lead bodywork or traditional metal-finishing techniques.
Knowledge of vintage body construction and restoration methods.
Experience with full vehicle restorations from disassembly through final assembly.
A portfolio or photographs demonstrating previous fabrication and restoration work.

Responsibilities

Fabricate, repair, modify, and replace sheet-metal components for antique and classic vehicles, including creating panels and other components when suitable replacement parts are unavailable.
Shape metal using hand and power tools such as English wheels, shrinker/stretchers, bead rollers, brakes, shears, hammers, and dollies.
Repair rust, corrosion, dents, cracks, and previous damage while preserving original material where practical and duplicating factory contours, seams, and mounting points.
Perform MIG and TIG welding, including plug, butt, and seam welds; finish welds while maintaining structural integrity and controlling heat distortion.
Remove, repair, fabricate, and install body panels and related components; correct alignment problems and establish proper panel gaps and body lines.
Test-fit components throughout restoration and repair prior bodywork that does not meet restoration standards.
Identify hidden corrosion and structural deterioration during disassembly and repair it as needed.
Straighten and finish metal, apply and finish body filler where appropriate, and sand, block, grind, and prepare components for primer and paint.
Identify imperfections requiring further metalwork or bodywork and coordinate with paint and refinishing personnel.
Disassemble vehicle body components carefully; label, organize, photograph, and store parts and hardware for restoration or reuse.
Assist with vehicle reassembly and install and adjust trim, weatherstripping, doors, hoods, deck lids, bumpers, moldings, and related components.
Protect finished surfaces and restored components during assembly.
Research or reference original vehicle construction as needed and maintain original appearance and methods when practical while ensuring safe, durable repairs.
Maintain high standards for fit, finish, symmetry, panel alignment, and workmanship, and distinguish restoration work from custom fabrication and modern collision repair.
Document significant repairs or fabrication work as required.