Job Description

Company Description

The Ralph H. Simpson Company is one of the oldest metal fabricators in the United States. Founded in 1842, we've spent more than 180 years building Chicago's structural and ornamental steel: from decorative architectural installations to the structural work nobody sees. We build it all, and we build it well.

We're a proud union shop (Iron Workers Regional Shop Local 853), a NOMMA member, and an Ultralox authorized partner for aluminum railings and balconies. Our work serves luxury and multi-story residential, commercial, industrial, and healthcare projects across the Chicago area.

We fabricate from two shops:

• Elmhurst, IL. Our home base just west of Chicago, with 20,000 square feet of fabrication space. Elmhurst produces steel stairs and railings, structural steel, miscellaneous steel supports, and specialty work like monumental and ornamental stairs and entrance canopies.
• Fox Lake, IL. Added in 2025 through our acquisition of Jack Frost Ironworks, our Fox Lake shop sits northwest of Chicago in Lake County, with 13,000 square feet of dedicated fabrication space and a 1-acre storage lot. Fox Lake brings decades of experience in structural, miscellaneous, and ornamental ironwork and extends our reach into the northern suburbs.

Combining the two teams expanded our capacity and our reach. It also means we're growing, and we need hard-working people who take pride in their craft. Our values are simple: relationships, creative problem solving, resiliency, and the tenacity to get it done. If you show up, put in the effort, and care about doing the job right, you'll find a place here.

Why Join Us

• Union pay and benefits. Competitive wages through Midwest Regional Shop Local 853, 100% company-paid health insurance premiums, and a full benefits package (details below).
• Safety first. We invest in PPE, equipment, and training so you go home in the same shape you showed up.
• Supportive culture. We care about high-quality work and about the people doing it. Leadership is on the floor, not behind a door.
• We train you. No experience needed. Our management team and mentors provide on-the-job training. Each labor tier in our shop has defined duties and responsibilities, so you know what it takes to move up.
• Room to grow. Two shops and a growing backlog mean more opportunity for people who show initiative.

Role Description

The Shop Laborer supports the fabrication of steel stairs, railings, structural steel, and miscellaneous metal components. This is a full-time, on-site role at our Elmhurst shop.

Day to day, you will:

• Measure, cut, drill, grind, and prep materials for welders and fabricators
• Load and unload materials and keep inventory organized
• Move material around the shop using fork trucks, overhead and jib cranes, and shop carts
• Prep and prime-paint finished products to the finish requirements on shop drawings
• Operate basic shop tools and equipment under supervision
• Follow fabrication drawings and support quality checks so products meet spec
• Keep your work area clean and safe
• Work with the fabrication team and follow all safety protocols

Qualifications

• Safe use of basic hand and power tools common in a metal shop (grinders, drills, saws)
• Basic mechanical aptitude: measuring, marking, and handling steel with attention to detail
• Understanding of shop safety practices, including PPE and safe material handling
• Ability to lift and move heavy materials, stand for extended periods, and work in an active industrial environment
• Teamwork, reliability, and willingness to follow instructions and learn new techniques
• Ability to read, or learn to read, basic shop drawings and measurements
• Prior experience in metal fabrication, construction, or industrial labor preferred but not required
• High school diploma or equivalent preferred; vocational training in welding or fabrication is a plus

What We're Looking For

• Dependable, safety-minded, and open to coaching
• Comfortable with a tape measure, or willing to learn
• Able to read and follow shop drawings (we'll train you)
• Eager to learn and grow on the job
• Reliable transportation to and from work
• Able to perform manual and repetitive lifting throughout the shift; routinely up to 50 lbs, with team lifting for heavier loads
• No prior experience required. Our team trains you.

Benefits

• 100% company-paid health insurance premiums (BCBS self-funded plan)
• Dental insurance through BCBS
• Vision reimbursement up to $400/year, plus optional MetLife vision
• 5 paid sick days
• PTO after the first year
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Healthcare and Dependent Care FSA
• Employee Assistance Program and free financial wellness tools (FinFit)
• Optional AFLAC short-term disability and supplemental coverage
• Union wages through Midwest Regional Shop Local 853

Schedule and Location

• Full-time, day shift, 6:40am to 3:10pm - OT Available
• In person at 733 Industrial Drive, Elmhurst, IL 60126
• Ability to commute to Elmhurst required

Ralph H. Simpson Company is an equal opportunity employer.

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