Welders and Machine Operators Demand – Job Opportunities in Canada

Welders and machine operators are two of the most skilled tradesmen. They work in various sectors such as manufacturing, construction, automotive, and aerospace. Both use specialized equipment to shape, cut, and join materials (welders) or operate heavy machinery (machine operators) to produce parts, structures, or products.

Requirements

• Secondary school education.
• 3-year apprenticeship program.
• Machine operators may complete a vocational training program or take courses specific to the type of machinery they will be operating.
• Trade Certification.
• Obtain Red Seal certification by completing the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
• May require experience with robotics.

Job Titles

• Welder
• Welder, Fitter
• Welder Apprentice
• Aviation Welding Technician
• Electric Arc Welder
• Submerged Arc Welder
• Journeyman/woman Welder
• Pressure Vessel Welder
• Production Welder
• Spot Welder
• Brazing Machine Operator
• Brazing Machine Setter
• Laser Welding Operator
• Soldering Machine Welder

Main Duties

• Operate manual or semi-automatic welding equipment, manual or semi-automatic flame-cutting equipment, brazing and soldering equipment, and metal shaping machines.
• Oversee the operation of machines.
• Modify machine settings such as speed, temperature, and pressure to meet production requirements.
• Perform routine maintenance tasks, such as cleaning, lubricating, and changing machine parts.
• Perform troubleshooting.
• Interpret blueprints or welding process specifications.
• Ensure welds are strong and meet quality standards through visual inspection or non-destructive testing (NDT) methods.
• May adjust welding heads and tooling as per work requirements.
• Monitor, adjust, start up, and shut down the robotic welding production line.