Sanitary Welder Fabricator

California Dairies, Inc.•Visalia, CA

11d•$45 - $49•Onsite

About The Position

Join the California Dairies, Inc. (CDI) team, a farmer-owned cooperative dedicated to sustainably producing the highest quality dairy products while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. CDI products are delivered locally and around the world. At our Visalia plant, equipped with the largest single evaporator-dryer in North America, we manufacture milk powder, butter, and AMF. We encourage you to be part of our team that's shaping the future of dairy, right from the heart of California! Our commitment to CDI employees: We believe in valuing our team with a total rewards package that goes beyond the basics. You'll find we offer competitive pay and incentive programs designed to recognize and reward your contributions. Competitive medical, dental, and vision benefits, generous paid time off, sick days & holidays, retirement plans designed to secure your future. We don't stop there. We've also cultivated a variety of valuable programs focused on your personal well-being and professional growth, ensuring you have the support you need to both inside and outside of work. Job Summary The Sanitary Welder Fabricator is responsible for performing high-quality stainless steel welding, fabrication, installation, modification, and repair work throughout the facility. Supporting plant reliability by maintaining sanitary piping, process equipment, platforms, guards, structural components, and other stainless-steel systems. This position requires extensive experience with TIG welding stainless steel, sanitary fabrication practices, pipe fitting, layout, and field installation. All work must meet facility safety, quality, food-safety, and workmanship standards.

Requirements

Must work in a safe and efficient manner and follow all safety procedures including the use of safety equipment.
Minimum 8 years of stainless steel TIG welding and fabrication experience in food processing, OR a recognized welding certification with a minimum of 5 years of stainless steel TIG welding and fabrication experience.
Strong TIG/GTAW stainless steel welding skills.
Experience welding stainless steel pipe and tubing.
Experience with sanitary/process piping strongly preferred.
Ability to perform accurate layout, measurement, cutting, and fit-up.
Ability to read fabrication drawings, blueprints, and P&IDs.
Knowledge of stainless steel preparation, purging, welding, grinding, and finishing techniques.
Ability to safely operate grinders, band saws, chop saws, drills, plasma cutters, and other fabrication equipment.
Ability to troubleshoot fabrication and piping problems in the field.
English is required as the written and spoken language.
Must obtain and maintain a forklift license.
Must obtain medical clearance to use respirator and maintain certification.
Must maintain all safety training provided by California Dairies inc.
Must possess and maintain a valid California driver’s license.
A High School diploma or General Education Degree (GED) is required.
Minimum 5 years of experience in a production setting involving sanitary piping

Nice To Haves

Industrial manufacturing experience preferred.
Food, beverage, or dairy manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
Experience with 304 and 316 stainless steel preferred.
Experience with sanitary tubing and fittings preferred.
Experience with orbital welding is a plus.
Experience with process piping, valves, pumps, tanks, and production equipment preferred.
Familiarity with sanitary welding standards and food-processing requirements preferred.
Current welding certification in TIG/GTAW and/or sanitary stainless welding preferred.
Obtaining and maintaining welding certifications in TIG/GTAW will maintain top pay status.

Responsibilities

Perform TIG/GTAW welding on stainless steel piping, tubing, plate, and structural components.
Fabricate and install sanitary stainless-steel piping and process systems.
Perform high-quality sanitary welds suitable for food and dairy processing environments.
Cut, fit, tack, weld, grind, polish, and finish stainless steel components.
Fabricate equipment supports, platforms, brackets, guards, handrails, piping supports, and other plant components.
Repair cracked, damaged, leaking, or failed stainless steel equipment and piping.
Perform pipe fitting, measurements, offsets, layout, and field fabrication.
Read and interpret drawings, blueprints, sketches, P&IDs, and fabrication specifications.
Properly purge stainless steel piping when required to protect weld quality and prevent oxidation.
Maintain proper fit-up, alignment, penetration, and weld appearance.
Minimize distortion and heat damage during stainless steel fabrication.
Perform sanitary finishing and polishing as required.
Assist with equipment installations, modifications, shutdown projects, and plant improvement projects.
Identify potential equipment or piping problems and communicate concerns before failures occur.
Work closely with maintenance mechanics, supervisors, engineering, operations, sanitation, and contractors.
Maintain welding machines, grinders, saws, purge equipment, fabrication tools, and related equipment.
Maintain an organized and clean welding/fabrication work area.
Properly account for and communicate material and spare-part usage.
Follow all plant Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), hot-work, confined-space, fall-protection, PPE, and other safety requirements.
Follow GMP, food-safety, sanitation, and contamination-control requirements.
Complete assigned work orders and accurately document completed work.
Maintain a high standard of workmanship and avoid repeat repairs or callbacks.
Participate in root-cause identification when recurring equipment or piping failures occur.
Support emergency repairs and production breakdowns when needed.
Must have the ability to get along with co-workers, management personnel, customers, vendors, and employees in accordance with the company policies and working rules while ensuring a harmonious and conducive work environment.
Maintain a positive attitude and contribute toward a quality environment.
Excellent regular full-time attendance in support of company objectives.
Stay on top of all update trainings and technical education.
Use initiative and judgment in making decisions, keeping with California Dairies, Inc.’s best interests.
Support and enforce SQF / QA, GMP, Safety policies and procedures, and production needs. “Food Safety and Quality” are the responsibilities of this position.
Perform other duties as assigned.