Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders
Set up, operate, or tend welding, soldering, or brazing machines or robots that weld, braze, solder, or heat treat metal products, components, or assemblies. Includes workers who operate laser cutters or laser-beam machines.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- Read blueprints, work orders, or production schedules to determine product or job instructions or specifications.
- Inspect, measure, or test completed metal workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using measuring and testing devices.
- Add chemicals or materials to workpieces or machines to facilitate bonding or to cool workpieces.
- Correct problems by adjusting controls or by stopping machines and opening holding devices.
- Set up, operate, or tend welding machines that join or bond components to fabricate metal products or assemblies.
- Record operational information on specified production reports.
- Select torch tips, alloys, flux, coil, tubing, or wire, according to metal types or thicknesses, data charts, or records.
- Mark weld points and positions of components on workpieces, using rules, squares, templates, or scribes.
- Prepare metal surfaces or workpieces, using hand-operated equipment, such as grinders, cutters, or drills.
- Lay out, fit, or connect parts to be bonded, calculating production measurements, as necessary.
- Turn and press knobs and buttons or enter operating instructions into computers to adjust and start welding machines.
- Assemble, align, and clamp workpieces into holding fixtures to bond, heat-treat, or solder fabricated metal components.
- Conduct trial runs before welding, soldering, or brazing, and make necessary adjustments to equipment.
- Set dials and timing controls to regulate electrical current, gas flow pressure, heating or cooling cycles, or shut-off.
- Give directions to other workers regarding machine set-up and use.
- Tend auxiliary equipment used in welding processes.
- Clean, lubricate, maintain, and adjust equipment to maintain efficient operation, using air hoses, cleaning fluids, and hand tools.
- Select, position, align, and bolt jigs, holding fixtures, guides, or stops onto machines, using measuring instruments and hand tools.
- Compute and record settings for new work, applying knowledge of metal properties, principles of welding, and shop mathematics.
- Remove completed workpieces or parts from machinery, using hand tools.
- Anneal finished workpieces to relieve internal stress.
- Load or feed workpieces into welding machines to join or bond components.
- Observe meters, gauges, or machine operations to ensure that soldering or brazing processes meet specifications.
- Fill hoppers and position spouts to direct flow of flux or manually brush flux onto seams of workpieces.
- Transfer components, metal products, or assemblies, using moving equipment.
- Start, monitor, and adjust robotic welding production lines.
- Devise or build fixtures or jigs used to hold parts in place during welding, brazing, or soldering.
- Dress electrodes, using tip dressers, files, emery cloths, or dressing wheels.
- Immerse completed workpieces into water or acid baths to cool and clean components.
Skills
Knowledge
Build a Resume for Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders
Create a professional, ATS-optimized resume tailored to this career path.
Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
98%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
92%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
89%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
85%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
82%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
82%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
81%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
81%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
80%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
79%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
79%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
77%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
75%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
73%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
72%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
72%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
72%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
71%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
69%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
68%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
64%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
62%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
61%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
59%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
58%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
57%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
57%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
57%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
56%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
55%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
50%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
47%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
46%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
40%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
40%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
39%
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
37%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
36%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
35%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
32%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
31%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
30%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
28%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
27%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
24%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
20%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
19%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
17%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
15%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
15%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
14%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
9%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
9%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
8%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
6%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
5%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
3%
Education
Post-secondary certificate
High school diploma or equivalent
Less than high school diploma
Interests
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Work Styles
Work Values
Ready to pursue a career as Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders?
Create a professional resume that highlights the right skills and experience for this role.
Build Your Resume Now