TWS is a Great Training Option for Everyone
Learn more about how we can prepare you to advance your career.
Juan, 19, was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. Juan completed the seven-month Professional Welding training program at our Tulsa Welding School – Dallas Metro campus in April 2026. Less than a year after graduating high school in 2025, Juan was working for SpaceX.
Thanks for your time, Juan. How did you end up choosing welding school?
My high school had a welding program, but I never joined it because I spent most of my time in an auto tech program. Even though I wasn’t in the welding program, I had friends who were and hearing them talk about it made me curious.
Have You Considered a Career in the Skilled Trades?
Fill out the form to recieve a no obligation info packet.
I started watching videos of pipeline work and refineries, and that really caught my interest. I had a few different career ideas at the time, but welding was the one that stood out the most, so welding school seemed like the best option when I finished high school. A few months later I enrolled at Tulsa Welding School.
After high school, did you think about taking an Auto Mechanic program instead?
New: Industrial Maintenance
Learn About Our New Advanced Industrial Maintenance Program
Tulsa Welding School is proud to announce our newest program offering available at our Houston & Dallas Metro Campuses – Advanced Industrial Maintenance Technology! Learn the skills you need to take on the industries of manufacturing, distribution, energy production and facility maintenance in as few as 7 months.
Honestly, I mostly goofed off in that auto tech class. It didn’t interest me as much as I thought it would.
So, before Tulsa Welding School, had you ever actually welded before?
No. My first day at Tulsa Welding School was the first time I’d ever picked up a stinger or done any welding at all.
Were you always planning on going to a trade school, or did you consider college or another career?
I had thought about becoming a real estate agent or maybe a truck driver. Those were the two careers I had in mind before welding came into the picture.
Was the program challenging? Were there days when you wondered if welding was really for you?
Definitely. There were a few days when I thought, “Why did I even come to school?” Since I’d never welded before, every new phase was a challenge. Whenever we learned a new process, I struggled a little at first.
What kept you going through those difficult times?
I asked my instructors for help, but I also asked other students, and a lot of practice helped. One instructor’s technique might not work for me, so I’d watch how different people did things and stick with the approach that felt most natural and comfortable for me.
That’s something I hear a lot – that there isn’t just one right way to weld.
Exactly. Different techniques work for different people.
Which class did you take?
I took morning classes. In the afternoon I worked as a stocker and cashier at a grocery store. About two hours after school finished, I’d head to the store and work through the evening. They were long days.
What did you enjoy most about the TWS experience?
Definitely meeting and working with my peers in class. I made three or four really good friends that I still talk to regularly. We check in on each other and keep in touch. We pushed each other to get better. They gave me a lot of tips that actually helped me pass a weld test for the SpaceX job.
You graduated in late April, is that when you went to SpaceX?
Yes, I went to work for SpaceX in Brownsville, Texas, after graduation.
How did you get the SpaceX opportunity?
They came to the TWS during our second-to-last week and held a weld test. We had one week of school left after that, and I got hired. But after three month there, I recently resigned and moved back to Dallas because I found another job here that pays better. I actually just moved back last Friday
What made you leave SpaceX?
Honestly, I really enjoyed working there. It was an awesome experience. I got to watch a rocket launch, the people were great, and I learned a lot. The pay – $21/hour – was a huge step up from what I made before welding, so I couldn’t complain about that. The biggest reason I left was the cost of living down there. Rent was just too expensive.
Did you come back to Dallas with another job already lined up?
No. I quit SpaceX, came back to Dallas, and started looking for work. I was confident I could find something.
And have you found something?
Yes, I start my new job with ConeCraft next Monday. They manufacture equipment for the biopharmaceutical industry. There’s a lot of stainless-steel fabrication and welding involved, so I’ll be doing stainless steel TIG welding. I have about three weeks of training, and then I’ll be fully on the floor.
How did you find that opportunity?
I found it just scrolling through Indeed; I applied without thinking too much about it. Then I called Nathan – my Career Services Advisor at Tulsa Welding School – to see if he could help me find some jobs, and it turned out he had already sent my résumé to ConeCraft. They brought me in for a weld test this week, and I got the job. I start on Monday. So, I’ve had a week between leaving SpaceX and starting at ConeCraft.
Congratulations! Is the pay better than SpaceX?
Yes, a lot better. They’re starting me at $25 an hour, and because of the shift I chose – 4:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. – I’ll get another $2 an hour on top of that, so I’ll be at $27/hour instead of $21.
Is it local?
It’s in Fort Worth, so about an hour away depending on traffic. Coming home after 3:00 a.m. will be okay, but I’m not looking forward to the drive in for 4:00 p.m.
Looking ahead, what’s your long-term career plan?
I’d like to work on a pipeline at least once in my life because that’s always interested me. But I don’t see myself welding forever. My goal is to make good money, invest it, and eventually let my money work for me instead of working forever.
Good plan! What do you enjoy most about welding?
I honestly just enjoy the craft of being a welder. I like the attention to detail, especially with stainless steel. You can spot even the smallest imperfections, and you’re always trying to improve your craft. I really enjoy that side of it. I also like having a reason to get up and go to work every day.
You mentioned making good friends at school. Do you still help each other with job opportunities?
Definitely. All four of us actually went to work at SpaceX together. We all stayed in touch, and now that we’re back in Dallas, we’re still helping each other out whenever we hear about companies that are hiring. We share job openings and help each other however we can.
You’re in a great position at 19 years of age. You’ve completed welding school, worked at SpaceX, and now you’re starting another welding job.
Yes, but there’s money out there for everybody in welding. If you’re reading this thinking that it’s too late for you to go to welding school… Nobody’s too late, you’re just on your own path.
What advice would you give to someone who’s about to start at Tulsa Welding School?
Just burn rods. Keep your hood down and keep practicing. It might sound corny, but that’s really the key. I goofed around at school…more than I should have, but I also stayed late, put in extra hours, and practiced whenever I could. It paid off. Stay focused, ask questions, and learn from the people around you. You’re there for a reason, so don’t waste the opportunity. Seven months goes by fast, so make the most of it.
If you’re a TWS graduate and would like to share your success and be an inspiration to others, please email [email protected] to be considered for a Graduate Connection interview. Please include details such as your graduation date (month/year), program, and campus name (Tulsa/Jacksonville/Houston/Dallas/Atlanta/Phoenix).
