Vessel Fitter

This role focuses on fitting and fabricating vessels and shell plate to construct water towers, storage tanks, and pressure vessels using blueprints and detailed drawings. You will independently lay out, fit up, and weld primarily structural components using flux core processes, ensuring accurate orientation and degrees of the vessel. The position requires strong blueprint interpretation, precise measurements, and hands-on fabrication skills in an industrial shop environment.

Responsibilities

• Fit and fabricate vessels and shell plate to build water towers, storage tanks, and pressure vessels according to blueprints and drawings.
• Interpret and work from blueprints, drawings, and schematics to determine vessel orientation, degrees, and layout requirements.
• Perform complete layout and fit up of structural components, including marking, measuring, and preparing materials for welding.
• Execute structural and tack welds using flux core welding processes, following established quality and safety standards.
• Use a tape measure accurately to verify dimensions and ensure components meet specified tolerances.
• Operate a cutting torch to cut and prepare steel and other materials for fabrication and assembly.
• Perform material take-offs from drawings to determine required quantities and dimensions of components.
• Fit pressure vessels to meet design specifications and structural integrity requirements.
• Collaborate with other shop personnel to move, position, and assemble large components safely and efficiently.
• Maintain a clean and organized work area, following all safety procedures in an industrial fabrication environment.
• Adapt to rotating day and night shift schedules while maintaining productivity and quality standards.

• At least 5 years of vessel fitting experience in an industrial or fabrication environment.
• Proficiency in reading and interpreting blueprints, drawings, and schematics.
• Ability to weld using flux core processes for structural and tack welds, with no back gouging required.
• Capability to perform own layouts and fit ups from drawings with minimal supervision.
• Hands-on experience fitting pressure vessels to specification.
• Ability to accurately read and use a tape measure for precise measurements.
• Skill in operating a cutting torch safely and effectively.
• Ability to perform material take-offs from drawings.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality fabrication work.

• Around 10 years of vessel fitting experience, particularly with pressure vessels, is highly desirable.
• Advanced proficiency with blueprints and drawings, including complex layouts and orientations.
• Broad welding experience beyond tack welding, including structural welds on various components.
• Experience operating a variety of fabrication and material-handling machinery.
• Experience utilizing a Peddimaster / Peddinghaus machine on structural steel components.
• Background in building or fitting storage tanks or water towers.
• Experience as a forklift operator in a fabrication or industrial setting.
• Experience operating overhead cranes to move and position large structural components.
• Band saw operation experience for cutting structural steel and related materials.
• A growth mindset with a willingness to learn new equipment, processes, and techniques.

You will join a production environment where hands-on skills are valued and there is room to grow your expertise with specialized equipment such as structural steel machinery and material-handling systems. The rotating shift structure offers the opportunity to experience different schedules, with additional compensation when working nights. You will work alongside experienced tradespeople in a setting that rewards reliability, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement.

Work Environment

This position is based in a non-climate-controlled industrial fabrication facility focused on structural steel, vessels, and tanks. You will work around heavy equipment, welding operations, cutting torches, and large steel components, following strict safety procedures and using appropriate personal protective equipment. The role follows a rotating shift schedule: you will begin on day shift for approximately six months, then move to night shift for about 2 to 4 months, and then rotate back to days for another six months. Day shift typically runs Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with Saturdays as needed, while second shift generally runs Monday through Friday from 4:15 p.m. to 2:45 a.m. A shift differential is provided when working the second shift.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Houston, TX.

The pay range for this position is $27.50 - $29.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Houston,TX.

This position is anticipated to close on May 15, 2026.

We know that finding work is hard, and finding meaningful work is harder. Aerotek connects 180,000+ light industrial and skilled trades workers with 14,000+ employers each year, helping our workers navigate an evolving labor market and find jobs that meets their goals, skills and interests. Since 1983, we have provided a variety of career opportunities across North American industry – from short-term assignments at Fortune 500 companies where you can build your skills, to long-term opportunities where you can play a vital role solving for companies’ construction, manufacturing and maintenance challenges. Our 1,500+ experienced recruiters across 250+ offices work relentlessly to put our workforce in a position to thrive. Let us rise to meet your challenges and put our people-are everything spirit to the test as your career continues to grow.

Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.