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Oil Rig Underwater Welding Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

... of underwater Navy system currently in operation. Located in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA, five ... Hands-on experience demonstrating mechanical aptitude such as machining, auto repair, welding etc.

... of underwater Navy system currently in operation.Located in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA, five ... Hands -on experience demonstrating mechanical aptitude such as machining, auto repair, welding etc.

... of underwater Navy system currently in operation. Located in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA, five ... Hands-on experience demonstrating mechanical aptitude such as machining, auto repair, welding etc.

Maintenance Technician

Orange, CA · On-site

$26 - $32/hr

Safely rig and move heavy machinery or components using proper lifting and material handling ... Welding and fabrication experience. * Ability to work independently and identify root causes of ...

Safely rig and move heavy machinery or components using proper lifting and material handling ... Welding and fabrication experience. * Ability to work independently and identify root causes of ...

Performs arc welding, gas welding, cutting and brazing. * Uses a variety of tools to perform duties ... Knowledge of forklift operation and rig heavy equipment. Familiar with Lock-out/Tag-out procedures.

... underwater, and in space. The Antares team hails from SpaceX, the White House, the Pentagon, the ... Support test rig design and instrumentation placement. Utilize collected data to improve component ...

New

... underwater, and in space. The Antares team hails from SpaceX, the White House, the Pentagon, the ... Support test rig design and instrumentation placement. Utilize collected data to improve component ...

New

... underwater, and in space. The Antares team hails from SpaceX, the White House, the Pentagon, the ... Support test rig design and instrumentation placement. Utilize collected data to improve component ...

New

Maintenance Technician

Mountain Pass, CA · On-site

$35.70 - $47.18/hr

This includes installing/repairing mechanical piping, rotating equipment, fabricating and welding ... Must be able to demonstrate the ability to properly rig a 1,000 lb. unbalanced load in a short ...

Oil Rig Underwater Welding information

See California salary details

$5

$45

$82

How much do oil rig underwater welding jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average hourly pay for oil rig underwater welding in California is $45.97, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $34.42 and $47.45 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an oil rig underwater welder?

An Oil Rig Underwater Welding job involves performing welding tasks beneath the water on offshore oil rigs, pipelines, and structures. Welders in this role must be specially trained in both commercial diving and welding techniques to ensure strong, durable repairs in challenging underwater conditions. They often work in extreme environments, sometimes at great depths, requiring specialized equipment and safety protocols. This job is physically demanding but offers high pay due to the required expertise and risks involved.

What skills and qualifications are needed for an oil rig underwater welder?

To thrive as an Oil Rig Underwater Welder, you need expertise in welding techniques, commercial diving skills, and a strong understanding of safety regulations, typically backed by certifications like AWS D3.6 and a commercial diver qualification. Proficiency with specialized tools such as underwater welding equipment, cutting gear, and diving apparatus is essential. Exceptional problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and the capacity to remain calm under pressure are valuable soft skills for this role. These skills are critical to ensuring precision, efficiency, and safety while performing complex repairs and construction tasks in challenging offshore environments.

What are the typical working conditions for an oil rig underwater welder?

Oil Rig Underwater Welders often work in physically demanding and hazardous environments, spending extended periods at sea and diving in varying water temperatures and conditions. Shifts can be long and may require living on the rig for several weeks at a time, with strict safety protocols and teamwork being central to daily operations. To prepare, ensure you are in excellent physical health, comfortable with confined spaces and deep water, and thoroughly trained in both welding and diving safety practices. The work can be challenging but also offers a dynamic environment and opportunities for career growth into supervisory or safety management roles.

How much does oil rig underwater welding pay?

Oil rig underwater welders typically earn between $50,000 and $150,000 annually, with experienced professionals and those working offshore or in hazardous conditions earning higher wages. Salaries depend on factors such as experience, certifications, location, and the complexity of the projects.

What are the most commonly searched types of Oil Rig Underwater Welding jobs in California?

The most popular types of Oil Rig Underwater Welding jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Oil Rig Underwater Welding jobs in California?

For Oil Rig Underwater Welding jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Oil Rig Underwater Welding jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Oil Rig Underwater Welding jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Oil Rig Underwater Welding jobs?

Cities in California with the most Oil Rig Underwater Welding job openings:

Infographic showing various Oil Rig Underwater Welding job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $95,615 per year, or $46 per hour.

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Sonatech

Santa Barbara, CA • On-site

$120K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

Sonatech, LLC is a premier undersea acoustics engineering and manufacturing company. With a focus on supplying advanced SONAR solutions for the US Navy, our technical expertise, customized design capabilities and diverse manufacturing abilities have led to Sonatech products being deployed on virtually every class of underwater Navy system currently in operation.
Located in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA, five minutes from the beach, we pride ourselves as having a culture of innovation as well as first-class customer service. Sonatech has a challenging and rewarding work environment where employees have the opportunity to develop their careers by taking on new responsibilities and providing innovative solutions.
POSITION SUMMARY:
As senior level member of the Mechanical Engineering team, you will be in charge of new designs. The Mechanical Engineer will look at current processes and manufacturing tools, and work with manufacturing and engineering staff to improve and implement new processes to ensure production quality and efficiency.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Take charge of mechanical subsystem design, documentation, integration, and qualification testing
  • Support design engineering staff by reviewing drawing tolerances and materials, design and production of fixtures, and identification of cost saving processes and materials
  • Coordinate design requirements with electrical engineers for packaging of electrical systems
  • Support Program Management in workflow, production requirements, schedule estimates, and workforce utilization
  • Support data integrity by reviewing Manufacturing Engineering files and procedures, maintain Solidworks files as needed, and coordinate Document Control requirements for manufacturing
  • Support the Material Resource Planning software with general maintenance as well as the implementation and documentation of new processes

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
  • 8+ years' experience as a Mechanical Engineer
  • 8+ years of experience with Solidworks design and drafting
  • Experience with finite element analysis, thermal analysis, vibration and shock analysis
  • U.S. Citizenship - must be eligible to get a security clearance
  • This is an on-site position. Candidates are expected to come into the office to work every day.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Hands-on experience demonstrating mechanical aptitude such as machining, auto repair, welding etc.
  • Desire to work with marine surface and subsurface vehicles and equipment
  • Experience with underwater acoustic positioning systems for tracking and navigation
  • Understanding of underwater acoustic principles
  • Experience with pressurized systems
  • Experience with materials selection related to galvanic corrosion
  • Experience with hydrostatic pressure vessels, o-ring sealing, syntactic foams
  • Experience with acoustic potting, acoustic matching layers, pressure-decoupled mounting, and housing design for transducers (hydrophones/projectors
  • Experience in oil-filled, pressure-compensated designs
  • Experience in material selection for high pressure undersea

Benefits include medical, dental and vision, life insurance, paid vacation and sick time, 3% 401K contribution (no matching required), company events.
Sonatech is an equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, included protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Job Type: Full-time, Onsite
Salary Range: $120,000 - $180,000

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About Sonatech

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

51 - 200 Employees

Headquarters location

Santa Barbara, CA, US

Year founded

1973