Robotic Fabrication Tech

1872 • Cincinnati, OH

2d • Onsite

About The Position

At 1872 AI, we are transforming industrial manufacturing in the United States by building AI-native factories capable of lights-out production—from CAD to finished part with minimal human input. Our initial focus targets the energy and infrastructure sectors—power generation, grid infrastructure, and compute facilities—where critical supply chain bottlenecks in steel fabrication are limiting growth.

Join 1872's production team as a hands-on fabricator in an early-career role focused on robotic welding and precision steel fabrication. You'll work alongside experienced fabricators and engineers, gaining exposure to advanced manufacturing systems while developing your skills in fitting, welding, and finishing structural steel components. This is a growth-oriented position where you'll rapidly build expertise through real production work.

Primary Interfaces: Robotic Fabrication Lead, Manufacturing Engineers, Operations Team
Key Metrics: Quality (visual inspection standards), Learning Progress, Safety Record
Key Systems/Tools: Robotic welding cells, GMAW/MIG welding, grinding and finishing tools, precision measuring tools (tape measures, squares, calipers), tablets for production tracking

Requirements

• 2-4 years of welding or fabrication experience, OR recent graduate from a welding/fabrication program with some industry experience
• Basic proficiency in GMAW (MIG) welding on structural steel
• Familiarity with measuring tools, blueprints, and basic shop math
• Interest in learning about robotic systems and automation—no prior robotics experience required
• We consider equivalent experience. If you meet most of the requirements, apply.

Nice To Haves

• Strong work ethic, attention to detail, and willingness to learn
• Comfortable working in a startup environment with hands-on, varied responsibilities
• Tech-curious mindset—excited to work alongside automation and learn new systems

Responsibilities

• Assist with fitting and tacking structural steel components under supervision of senior fabricators. Learn to stage and tack structural components (skids, frames, e-houses) with attention to dimensional accuracy.
• Learn to operate and monitor robotic welding systems. Assist with loading fixtures, monitoring robotic weld cycles, and learning how to optimize systems for quality and throughput.
• Perform basic grinding and finishing operations on welded components to prepare for paint or further processing. Learn the difference between functional and high-quality finish standards.
• Under supervision, learn to perform manual MIG repairs on minor defects and understand when to escalate to senior fabricators.
• Conduct visual inspections of completed welds and learn quality standards. Understand common weld defects (porosity, undercut, lack of fusion).
• Support material handling, fixture setup, tool organization, and general shop operations.
• Participate in training programs to develop skills in precision fabrication and robotic manufacturing. Collaborate with engineers and senior fabricators to troubleshoot issues and improve processes.

Benefits

• Clear career path to advance to Robotic Fabrication Lead within 2-3 years as you develop skills.
• Receive mentorship from experienced fabricators with aerospace and SpaceX backgrounds, with hands-on training worth thousands in educational value

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree