What You'll Do

  • Fit and align fabricated parts to be welded or assembled.
  • Plan and develop layouts from blueprints and templates, applying knowledge of trigonometry, design, effects of heat, and properties of metals.
  • Lay out and fabricate metal structural parts such as plates, bulkheads, and frames.
  • Mark curves, lines, holes, dimensions, and welding symbols onto workpieces, using scribes, soapstones, punches, and hand drills.
  • Compute layout dimensions, and determine and mark reference points on metal stock or workpieces for further processing, such as welding and assembly.
  • Locate center lines and verify template positions, using measuring instruments such as gauge blocks, height gauges, and dial indicators.
  • Lift and position workpieces in relation to surface plates, manually or with hoists, and using parallel blocks and angle plates.
  • Plan locations and sequences of cutting, drilling, bending, rolling, punching, and welding operations, using compasses, protractors, dividers, and rules.
  • Inspect machined parts to verify conformance to specifications.
  • Design and prepare templates of wood, paper, or metal.

Essential Skills

Mathematics 3.12/5
Reading Comprehension 3.0/5
Critical Thinking 3.0/5
Monitoring 3.0/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.0/5
Operations Monitoring 3.0/5
Quality Control Analysis 3.0/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.0/5
Active Listening 2.88/5
Speaking 2.88/5
Coordination 2.88/5
Operation and Control 2.88/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Artist: Creating original work and expressing ideas feels natural.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Dependability, Cautiousness, Achievement Orientation, Perseverance

Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Near Vision 3.88/5
Visualization 3.75/5
Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.75/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.5/5
Manual Dexterity 3.5/5
Information Ordering 3.38/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.25/5
Finger Dexterity 3.25/5

Technologies & Tools

Autodesk AutoCAD Computer aided design CAD software Hexagon Metrology PC-DMIS Inventory tracking software Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word Optical Gaging Products Measure-X

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.78/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.44/5)
  • Cautiousness (High importance: 4.31/5)
  • Achievement Orientation (High importance: 3.9/5)
  • Perseverance (High importance: 3.68/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Aircraft Lay Out Worker Bellmaker Development Mechanic Dimensional Inspector Duplicator Hangersmith Lay-Out Worker Layout Fabricator Layout Fitter Layout Inspector Layout Man Layout Mechanic Layout Technician (Layout Tech) Layout Worker Location and Measurement Technician Machine Lay Out Worker Marine Fitter Marine Shipfitter Pattern Layout Worker Pattern Setter Plate Fitter Plate Hanger Precision Layout Worker Propeller Layout Worker Ship Erector Ship Fitter Shipfitter Solid Surface Fabricator Surface Fabricator

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.