MIG Welder - Defence

Welders - Defence Manufacturing (Armoured Steel & Aluminimum)

Location:          Stockport

Salary:              £19.97 per hour

Permanent World‑Class Defence Engineering Environment

A long‑established UK defence engineering manufacturer with over a century of innovation is expanding its Northwest Centre of Excellence. The organisation is recognised globally for delivering high‑integrity military systems and long‑term programmes for defence customers. As part of continued growth, we are seeking skilled Welders capable of working across armoured steel and/or aluminium welded assemblies within a modern, safety‑driven production environment.

About the Role

You will perform high‑precision welding activities to manufacture complex assemblies for defence applications. Working from engineering drawings, WPS documentation and work instructions, you will ensure all welds meet strict quality, dimensional and safety requirements. This role will be working with ARMOX 500Z armoured steel and/or aluminium welded structures, supporting mission‑critical programmes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Health & Safety Compliance — Work safely at all times, following all SHE policies, regulations and 5S standards.
• Welding Preparation — Plan welding activities, identify hazards and prepare materials and equipment.
• Armoured Steel Welding — Weld ARMOX 500Z assemblies to BS EN ISO 5817, including pre‑weld heat treatment and controlled handling.
• Aluminium Welding — Weld aluminium assemblies to BS EN ISO 10042 using MIG/MAG.
• Dimensional Accuracy — Ensure weld seam accuracy and conformity to engineering drawings.
• Quality Inspection — Conduct visual and non‑destructive inspections to confirm compliance with specifications.
• Crane & Lifting Operations — Perform lifting tasks safely and in accordance with instructions.
• Material Preparation — Remove defects, dress welds and prepare surfaces using manual and powered tools.
• Post‑Weld Dressing — Remove bracings, strong‑backs, run‑on/run‑off tabs and restore work areas.
• Consumable Control — Monitor, adjust and return consumables for reuse or disposal.
• MRP/SAP Booking — Complete production documentation and book hours via SAP.
• Qualification Tests — Complete certification and qualification tests as required.

What We’re Looking For:

• Minimum NVQ Level 3 qualification (or equivalent) — essential.
• Minimum 12 months welding/fabrication experience in heavy manufacturing or defence‑grade environments.
• Strong MIG/MAG welding capability (TIG desirable) across HSLA steels, armoured steel, and aluminium.
• Ability to weld to BS EN ISO 5817 (steel) and BS EN ISO 10042 (aluminium) quality levels.
• Understanding of welding behaviour, distortion, HICC, stress and material properties.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, WPS, NDT methods and specifications.
• Experience working within DIN 2303, BS EN 1090‑1, BS EN ISO 3834‑1, ISO 9001 quality frameworks.
• Strong awareness of Safety, Quality and Environmental systems.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary
• 4% employee / 7% employer pension
• Half‑day Fridays
• Life assurance
• Company sick pay (increasing with service)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Additional holidays & long‑service rewards
• Wellbeing initiatives (fresh fruit Tuesdays, posture workshops, armed forces network events)
• Cycle‑to‑work scheme
• Free on‑site parking

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