Contractor- Senior Automotive Shop Technician – Aluminum Welding & Fabrication

Ricardo • Belleville, MI

6d

About The Position

Ricardo is seeking a Senior Automotive Shop Technician specializing in aluminium welding and fabrication. The role involves building complex automotive assemblies, prototypes, and custom chassis elements, with an emphasis on autonomous problem-solving, quality assurance, and fixture design. The successful candidate will apply advanced automotive aluminium welding, fabrication, inspection, and metrology skills, as well as support and mentor junior welders and improve manufacturing processes.

Requirements

• 5 to 10+ years of advanced experience building complex automotive assemblies, prototypes, or custom chassis elements.
• Advanced TIG/MIG aluminium welding expertise, including cosmetic and structural welding on frames, suspension brackets, and thin body panels down to 0.040 inches.
• Proven ability to manage aluminium heat transfer to prevent distortion, warpage, and structural degradation.
• Active AWS D1.2 (Structural Aluminium) or AWS D17.1 (Aerospace/Automotive high-spec) qualification.
• Mastery of complex automotive blueprints and GD&T tolerances, often within ±0.005 inches.
• Expert use of surface plates, height gauges, digital calipers, micrometers, and similar metrology tools.
• Direct experience conducting, reviewing, and documenting detailed dimensional inspections before full production runs.

Responsibilities

• Build complex automotive assemblies, prototypes, and custom chassis elements.
• Design and build custom shop fixtures and hold-down jigs for repeatable, high-precision fitment.
• Operate programmable press brakes, automated shears, tube benders, and CNC plasma or waterjet tables.
• Interpret automotive blueprints and GD&T tolerances, and perform advanced layout and dimensional inspections.
• Conduct, review, and document first-article layout inspections before full production runs.
• Train and supervise junior welders to ensure aesthetic and structural compliance.
• Identify production bottlenecks and suggest design-for-manufacturability revisions to automotive engineers.
• Standardize non-destructive testing procedures, including dye penetrant testing for aluminium weld integrity.

Benefits

• Benefits supporting physical and mental health.
• Flexible working arrangements may be discussed, including working from home, in the office, or as a hybrid worker.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed