Fabrication Engineer

SF Metalworks
Colusa, CA | Full-time | Onsite with Bay Area Job Site Travel

About the Role

SF Metalworks is looking for a technically strong Fabrication Engineer to help bridge the gap between engineering and design and the realities of shop production. You'll work closely with our lead engineer/drafter and our design team. Your job is to make sure what gets designed can be built, and that what gets built matches the design.

The ideal candidate understands fabrication processes, can interpret technical drawings, recognizes potential production challenges, and communicates effectively with both technical and shop-floor teams. We are looking for someone who brings strong engineering judgment and can provide practical guidance, not someone focused primarily on daily scheduling or project administration.

If you know metal fabrication inside and out, read drawings with ease, and enjoy solving technical problems on the shop floor, we'd love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

Engineering and Technical Support

• Review engineering drawings, shop drawings, specifications, and design details to understand fabrication requirements.
• Help translate design intent and technical information into clear, practical direction for the shop team.
• Identify potential constructability issues, drawing conflicts, dimensional concerns, and fabrication challenges before they disrupt production.
• Work with Jordan and the design team to clarify technical questions and resolve issues that arise during fabrication.
• Communicate design changes, technical updates, and relevant drawing revisions to the appropriate shop personnel.
• Provide practical input on materials, fabrication methods, assembly, fit, tolerances, and finishing considerations.
• Serve as the primary Quality Assurance source during fabrication and final inspection.

Shop-to-Engineering Coordination

• Serve as the primary technical link between the shop floor and the remote engineering and drafting team.
• Gather questions and feedback from shop personnel and communicate them clearly to the engineering and design team.
• Help ensure the shop is working from accurate, current, and approved technical information.
• Follow technical issues through to resolution and communicate decisions to affected people.
• Identify recurring technical challenges and recommend improvements to drawings, details, or fabrication processes.

Technical Leadership and Continuous Improvement

• Provide technical guidance to shop personnel when questions arise about drawings, specifications, or fabrication requirements.
• Collaborate with shop leadership to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the transition from design to production.
• Support consistent quality by helping identify and address technical issues that could affect the finished product.
• Contribute to a collaborative working relationship between engineering, design, and fabrication teams.

What You Bring

Required

• 5+ years of technical or engineering experience in architectural metal fabrication, custom fabrication, or high-end manufacturing.
• Some leadership or supervisory experience, such as leading a shop team, a project, or technical reviews.
• Strong ability to read, review, and mark up shop drawings and fabrication details.
• Solid knowledge of metals, welding processes, connections, tolerances, and finishes.
• Ability to explain technical information clearly to fabricators, designers, engineers, and clients.
• Comfort working onsite in a shop and traveling to Bay Area job sites.
• Experience with ERP systems and digital timekeeping tools.
• Ability to work independently and solve problems with a remote engineering team.

Preferred

• Degree in mechanical, structural, civil, or manufacturing engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• Experience with CAD software such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or Inventor.
• AWS certification or welding inspection background.
• Experience with Monday.com or similar project management software.
• Working knowledge of OSHA standards and safety compliance.

Who Thrives Here

This role is ideal for someone who:

• Can look at a drawing and spot what won't work in the shop before it costs time or money.
• Enjoys being the go-to person for technical questions on the floor.
• Communicates clearly with both fabricators and engineers, and can bridge the gap between them.
• Takes ownership of quality and follows through until problems are solved.
• Stays calm and practical when site conditions or designs change.

Compensation and Schedule

• Starting wage: $40 - $48 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications, with opportunities for growth.
• Full-time opportunity.
• Schedule: Monday-Thursday | 5:00 AM-3:30 PM (40 hours per week)
• Primarily on-site in Colusa, CA, with occasional travel to the Bay Area shop and job sites as required.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 8 Paid Holidays
• Medical, Dental + Vision coverage
• Life Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan

Equal Employment Opportunity

SF Metalworks is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants based on their skills, experience, and ability to perform the job, without regard to legally protected characteristics.