Robotic Fabrication Lead

At 1872 AI, we are transforming industrial manufacturing in the United States by building AI-native factories capable of lights‑out production—from CAD to finished part with minimal human input. Our initial focus targets the energy and infrastructure sectors—power generation, grid infrastructure, and compute facilities—where critical supply chain bottlenecks in steel fabrication are limiting growth.

We are looking for a foundational member of our production team. We don't need a standard production welder—the robots handle the arc time. We need a Master Fabricator who can take ownership of a structural assembly from the blueprint to the final cosmetic finish. You will fit the steel with precision, manage the robotic welding cell, perform surgical weld repairs, and execute the final finishing to ensure every part leaves our shop paint‑ready.

• Manufacturing Engineers
• Automation and Controls Engineers
• Software Engineers

• Throughput
• First Pass Yield (FPY 98%)
• Quality (AWS D1.1 standards)
• Rework Rate

• Automated welding cells
• GMAW/FCAW welding
• Fixtures and positioners
• Precision measuring tools (calipers, squares, weld gauges)
• Tablets/software for production tracking

• Precision Fitting & GD&T:
  Stage complex structural components with strict adherence to Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T). If the fit‑up isn't perfect, the robot can't do its job—so layout skills are paramount.
• Robotic Cell Command:
  Collaborate with our automated welding systems. Load fixtures, monitor AI‑driven weld paths, and troubleshoot robotic parameters to optimize throughput.
• Post‑Weld Detailing & Finishing:
  Perform post‑weld grinding, sanding, and blending to meet strict aesthetic and structural standards.
• Surgical Weld Repair:
  Perform manual weld repairs when the AI misses or a defect occurs, achieving invisible repairs that blend seamlessly into the base metal.
• Quality Assurance:
  Act as first line of defense. Conduct visual inspections (VT) equivalent to CWI standards to catch porosity, undercut, or dimensional drift immediately.
• Process Development:
  Help write the playbook. Provide feedback to engineers to improve fixture design, weld sequences, and shop flow.
• Training & Mentorship:
  Train and mentor additional welders and fabricators as the team grows.
• Leadership Growth:
  Grow into a production supervisor role, managing team performance, scheduling, and cross‑functional coordination as operations scale.

• 5 years in structural steel fabrication with expertise in GMAW or FCAW on structural steel to AWS D1.1 standards
• Experience reading and interpreting blueprints with understanding of complex assembly and layout
• Strong attention to detail and ability to visualize distortion before striking an arc
• Comfortable working alongside robotic welding systems and automation technology

• CWI (Certified Welding Inspector) certification or equivalent quality/inspection credentials
• Experience in high‑precision and fast‑paced manufacturing environments (Space
  
  X, GE Aerospace, Defense contractors, or similar)
• Understanding that grinding and blending are not "grunt work"—they are the final signature of quality

• What you'll build first:
  Structural steel skids and e‑houses for datacenter and power grid applications, working with advanced welding systems to achieve aerospace‑grade quality on industrial components.
• Impact:
  Your work directly enables our ability to deliver world‑class lead times with high throughput, superior quality, and lower costs—transforming American manufacturing competitiveness.
• Growth:
  Direct path to Production Supervisor or Welding Engineer. As we scale our prototype factory and deploy future facilities co‑located with strategic customers, you will train the next wave of fabricators and define our production standards.

Fill out our application and see what we can build together! Please include:

• Resume or Linked In profile
• Portfolio link (Instagram handle or photos of past work showing your best fit‑ups and welds)

This role is based on‑site in Cincinnati, OH and is not open to remote work.

1872 AI is an…