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Friction Welder Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Impulse Space

Principal Welding Engineer

Redondo Beach, CA · On-site

$190K - $225K/yr

Develop, optimize, and qualify weld processes and parameters for multiple welding processes including but not limited to: laser beam welding, friction stir welding, gas tungsten arc welding, orbital ...

Impulse Space

Principal Welding Engineer

Redondo Beach, CA

$37.75 - $52.25/hr

As a Principal Weld Engineer at Impulse you will help develop, qualify and optimize welding designs and processes with both laser beam, gas tungsten arc welding, friction stir welding, and orbital ...

United Launch Alliance

Weld Engineer 1

Decatur, AL · On-site

$32 - $44/hr

Experience training and certifying technicians in friction stir welding (FSW), resistance spot welding (RSW), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), orbital tube welding (OTW), and laser welding.

Impulse Space

Welding Engineer (New Grad)

Redondo Beach, CA · On-site

$100K - $135K/yr

Develop, optimize, and qualify weld processes and parameters for multiple welding processes including but not limited to: laser beam welding, friction stir welding, gas tungsten arc welding, orbital ...

Impulse Space

Welding Engineer (New Grad)

Redondo Beach, CA

$37.75 - $52.25/hr

As a Weld Engineer at Impulse you will help develop, qualify and optimize welding designs and processes with both laser beam, gas tungsten arc welding, friction stir welding, and orbital tube welding.

SpaceX

Sr. Welding Engineer

Hawthorne, CA

$130K - $180K/yr

... welding, friction stir welding, and plasma arc welding * Support production operations on full scale welded assemblies, providing direction to manufacturing engineers and welders on correct ...

SpaceX

Sr. Welding Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$130K - $180K/yr

Fundamental understanding of welding processes including, but not limited to, electron beam, laser beam, plasma arc, resistance, friction-stir, gas tungsten arc, and gas metal arc * Robot programming ...

United Launch Alliance

Weld Engineer 2

Decatur, AL · On-site

$32 - $44/hr

Train and certify technicians in friction stir welding (FSW), resistance spot welding (RSW), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), orbital tube welding (OTW), and laser welding * Work requires frequent ...

United Launch Alliance

Weld Engineer 2

Decatur, AL

$32 - $44/hr

Train and certify technicians in friction stir welding (FSW), resistance spot welding (RSW), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), orbital tube welding (OTW), and laser welding * Work requires frequent ...

SpaceX

Welding Engineer (Raptor/Starship)

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$110K - $135K/yr

Fundamental understanding of welding processes including, but not limited to, electron beam, laser beam, plasma arc, resistance, friction-stir, gas tungsten arc, and gas metal arc * Robot programming ...

Hermeus

Welding Manufacturing Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$138K - $224K/yr

... friction-stir, and orbital tube welding. * Support R&D and production builds of welded aircraft structures, tanks, and propulsion assemblies, providing direct guidance to technicians and ...

SpaceX

Welding Engineer (Raptor/Starship)

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$110K - $135K/yr

... welding, friction stir welding, and plasma arc welding * Support production operations on full scale welded assemblies, providing direction to manufacturing engineers and welders on correct ...

Hermeus

Welding Manufacturing Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$138K - $224K/yr

... friction-stir, and orbital tube welding. * Support R&D and production builds of welded aircraft structures, tanks, and propulsion assemblies, providing direct guidance to technicians and ...

Hermeus

Welding Manufacturing Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

$38.50 - $53/hr

... friction-stir, and orbital tube welding. * Support R&D and production builds of welded aircraft structures, tanks, and propulsion assemblies, providing direct guidance to technicians and ...

HADRIAN

Welding Engineer, Special Projects

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$120K - $250K/yr

Laser beam welding, gas tungsten arc welding, orbital tube welding, resistance welding, gas metal arc welding, friction stir welding, or plasma arc welding * High-strength steel, stainless steel ...

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Friction Welder information

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How much do friction welder jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for friction welder in the United States is $23.96, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.19 and $26.44 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Friction Welder vs Arc Welder?

AspectFriction WelderArc Welder
CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; some certificationsHigh school diploma or equivalent; certifications often preferred
Work EnvironmentManufacturing plants, workshops, industrial settingsConstruction sites, manufacturing, repair shops
Industry UsageAutomotive, aerospace, appliance manufacturingConstruction, metal fabrication, maintenance

Friction welders and arc welders both work in manufacturing and industrial environments, but friction welders use heat generated by mechanical friction to join materials, while arc welders use an electric arc. Their credentials are similar, but their work processes and applications differ significantly.

What are friction welders?

Friction welders are skilled tradespeople who operate specialized machines that join materials, usually metals, using frictional heat rather than traditional welding methods like arcs or flames. They set up, monitor, and maintain friction welding equipment to ensure strong, high-quality welds. Friction welders often work in manufacturing, automotive, and aerospace industries, where their expertise is required to create durable joins that can withstand significant stresses. They must understand safety procedures, machine settings, and the properties of the materials being joined.

What are some common challenges faced by friction welders, and how can they be addressed in the workplace?

Friction welders often encounter challenges such as maintaining precise alignment of materials and monitoring weld parameters to ensure consistent quality. These issues can be addressed by following strict safety protocols, regularly calibrating equipment, and participating in ongoing training. Collaboration with quality control teams and mechanical engineers is also essential to troubleshoot problems and improve processes. Staying up to date with advancements in welding technology can further help friction welders overcome technical challenges and enhance their performance.

What is the highest paid type of welding?

In welding, the highest paid types are often underwater welding and pipe welding, which require specialized skills, certifications, and safety training. These roles typically offer higher wages due to the hazardous environment and technical expertise needed. However, wages can vary based on experience, location, and industry demand.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Friction Welder, and why are they important?

To excel as a Friction Welder, you need a solid understanding of welding principles, metallurgy, and blueprint reading, usually backed by a vocational qualification or technical training. Familiarity with friction welding machines, measurement tools, and quality control systems is essential. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and strong communication skills help ensure safety and precision in the workplace. These competencies are crucial for producing high-quality welds, maintaining equipment, and meeting strict industry standards.
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Friction Welder jobs near you
Infographic showing various Friction Welder job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, and 9% Nights. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $49,837 per year, or $24 per hour.

Principal Welding Engineer

Impulse Space

Redondo Beach, CA • On-site

$190K - $225K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 3 hours ago

Job description

Principal Welding Engineer
Department: Manufacturing
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Redondo Beach
Compensation: $190,000 - $225,000 / year
Description
As a Principal Weld Engineer at Impulse you will help develop, qualify and optimize welding designs and processes with both laser beam, gas tungsten arc welding, friction stir welding, and orbital tube welding. This role will integral to performing weld developments on Helios' main structural tank, Deneb's thrust chamber and preburner assemblies, and valve components across all of our vehicles. The welding engineer in this role will interface daily with design and manufacturing engineers to make welding judgment calls and improvements and will enforce standardized practices and procedures on multiple welded assemblies.
Helios is Impulse's new vehicle, a 3rd stage/kick stage. Launching in 2026, it is designed to take satellites & payloads to GEO for 1/3rd of today's current cost. Deneb is Impulse's 15k lb thrust lox methane staged combustion engine.
Responsibilities
  • Develop, optimize, and qualify weld processes and parameters for multiple welding processes including but not limited to: laser beam welding, friction stir welding, gas tungsten arc welding, orbital tube welding.
  • Work closely with design, tooling, automation, and development engineers to improve welded designs for manufacturing
  • Develop and implement improved process control where possible using test and NDE results as feedback loop
  • Support production operations on full scale welded assemblies, providing direction to manufacturing engineers and welders on correct techniques in a fast paced manufacturing environment
  • Support on-site manufacturing and development of Helios tank, Deneb engine weldments, and Mira components.
  • Set up welding qualification test campaigns and interpret mechanical testing and NDE results
  • Work closely with NDE personnel to interpret weld quality on development and flight hardware in addition to developing and implementing innovative state-of-the-art NDE techniques
  • Set up automated welding solutions in an effort to drive process consistency
  • Scope out new welding technologies that may be employed to improve rate/quality/efficiency
  • Support design, manufacturing, and materials engineering with root cause analysis

Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline or related field
  • 10+ years of experience with hands-on fabrication, manufacturing, or testing experience of welded assemblies

Preferred Skills and Experience
  • Master's degree in welding engineering or related technical program
  • 8+ years' of demonstrated hands-on welding experience of aluminum, nickel-based, stainless steel, titanium, and copper alloys.
  • 8+ years' of demonstrated experience with brazing, joining, and metallographic interpretation
  • Fundamental understanding of welding processes including, but not limited to, laser beam, friction stir, gas tungsten arc, gas metal arc, electron beam, plasma arc, and resistance welding
  • Robot programming experience for automated welding solutions
  • Tooling design experience for welded assemblies to reduce part distortion and improve part consistency
  • Understanding of weld strength testing methodologies, standards, and data acquisition systems used to make informed welding decisions (ASTM E8, E399, E740, ISO 15653, AWS D17.X, AWS C7.X, thermos-couples, strain gages, etc.)
  • Experience with root cause analysis and corrective actions including, but not limited to, optical and SEM fractography/metallography, hardness, chemical analysis, and mechanical testing
  • Self-motivated, driven and high attention to detail

Additional Information:
Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.
Impulse Space's spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here.
Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

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