Brandon Hawkins
Ringgold
Summary
Highly skilled Boilermaker Mechanic with broad experience in construction, repair, and maintenance of boilers and other large vessels. Strong abilities include diagnosing mechanical issues, executing precise repairs, and ensuring adherence to safety protocols. Demonstrated impact through successful completion of multiple projects that required advanced problem-solving skills and technical knowledge. Solid understanding of welding techniques, blueprint interpretation, and project management.
Overview
2027
2027
years of professional experience
Work History
Boilermaker Mechanic
Premier boiler & combustion
Ringgold
07.2025 - Current
- Installed and maintained boiler systems to ensure optimal functionality.
- Conducted routine inspections to identify issues in boiler operations.
- Repaired and replaced worn or damaged components in boilers.
- Collaborated with team members to troubleshoot mechanical problems effectively.
- Assisted in the assembly of new boiler systems for various projects.
- Followed safety protocols while handling heavy equipment and tools.
- Performed routine maintenance on boilers according to manufacturer's specifications.
- Inspected boilers for problems with pressure levels, water levels, temperature control or fuel supply.
- Removed old boilers from sites after they had been decommissioned.
- Installed new boilers in accordance with local codes and regulations.
- Adjusted controls to maintain specified steam pressures or temperatures within prescribed limits.
- Replaced defective valves or gaskets on high-pressure steam lines.
- Troubleshot operating problems in existing boilers by conducting visual inspections and running diagnostic tests.
- Read blueprints or technical drawings related to boiler installations.
- Checked for gas leaks in pipes and joints using a combustible gas indicator.
- Assisted other tradespeople in completing their tasks related to the installation of new boilers.
- Operated cutting torches to cut metal parts according to blueprints or diagrams.
- Used hand tools such as wrenches, screwdrivers, hammers and pliers to complete repairs on boilers.
- Fabricated replacement parts needed during repairs using metalworking machines.
- Conducted tests of boiler systems to ensure proper functioning and safety standards were met.
- Maintained and operated boilers to ensure optimal performance.
- Constructed steel frames around boilers prior to installation.
- Welded boiler parts together using oxy-acetylene welding equipment.
- Sealed joints between sections of the boiler shell with cement mortar or asbestos packing.
- Welded components in flat, vertical, or overhead positions.
- Signaled to crane operator to lift components to specific positions.
- Used hoist to load structural parts of boilers, pressure vessels, and tanks on pallets.
- Examined boilers, pressure vessels, tanks and vats to locate leaks, weak spots and defective sections.
- Used welding and soldering equipment to join sheet metal components following blueprints and job specifications.
- Read and understood drawings and used mathematical calculations for accurate results.
- Installed manholes, handholes, taps, tubes, valves, gauges and feedwater connections in drums of water tube boilers.
- Inspected and assembled tubes, fittings, valves, controls and auxiliary mechanisms to locate defects.
- Located and marked reference points for columns or plates on boiler foundations using blueprints and measuring instruments.
- Shaped seams, joints, and irregular edges of pressure vessel sections and structural parts to attain specified fit of parts.
Maintenance Technician
Apache Mills
Calhoun
07.2024 - 07.2025
- Conducted routine inspections of machinery and equipment for maintenance needs.
- Performed preventive maintenance tasks to ensure optimal equipment performance.
- Repaired mechanical and electrical systems to maintain operational efficiency.
- Maintained accurate records of maintenance activities and repairs performed.
- Collaborated with team members to coordinate maintenance schedules effectively.
- Utilized hand tools and diagnostic equipment for repairs and adjustments.
- Responded promptly to maintenance requests from production staff for timely assistance.
- Operated hand and power tools to complete repairs.
- Cleaned work areas to maintain a safe environment free from debris or hazardous materials.
- Cleared clogged drains and replaced valves, faucets, and fixtures.
- Responded promptly to emergency breakdowns at any time during shift hours.
- Maintained accurate records of all maintenance activities performed.
- Replaced defective parts such as bearings, seals, gears, valves.
- Inspected grounds and buildings to identify, minimize and correct hazardous property conditions or liability concerns.
- Performed preventive maintenance tasks, including lubrication and cleaning of machines and equipment.
- Diagnosed mechanical problems using visual inspections and test instruments.
- Assisted in the installation of new machinery and equipment.
- Collaborated with building managers to assess ongoing needs and plan preventive maintenance schedules.
- Changed HVAC filters and cleaned condensation drains to perform preventive maintenance on HVAC systems.
- Responded to personnel queries and troubleshooting requests to provide repair services to improve operations.
- Routinely inspected plant equipment for signs of wear or malfunctioning parts.
- Trained junior technicians on best practices for machine operation and repair.
- Installed new pumps, compressors, boilers and other mechanical systems.
- Worked closely with engineering team to develop innovative solutions for existing problems.
- Repaired machines, equipment or structures using tools or equipment.
- Operated welding equipment to fabricate metal components for machinery.
- Inspected welds for quality and compliance with safety standards.
- Maintained tools and equipment to ensure safe operation and longevity.
Pipefitter
Callaghan mechanical
Chattanooga
09.2023 - 06.2024
- Installed and maintained piping systems in industrial environments.
- Interpreted blueprints and schematics to execute pipefitting tasks.
- Collaborated with teams to ensure project timelines were met effectively.
- Utilized welding techniques to join and repair pipes securely.
- Use hand tools such as saws, drills, wrenches, threaders, to perform tasks related to the job at hand.
- Prioritized and organized tasks to efficiently accomplish service goals.
- Operated a variety of machinery and tools safely and efficiently.
Pipefitter
Day And Zimmermann Intl
Chattanooga
04.2023 - 09.2023
- Installed and maintained piping systems in industrial environments.
- Interpreted blueprints and schematics to execute pipefitting tasks.
- Collaborated with teams to ensure project timelines were met effectively.
- Utilized welding techniques to join and repair pipes securely.
- Ensured compliance with safety regulations during all operations.
- Use hand tools such as saws, drills, wrenches, threaders, to perform tasks related to the job at hand.
- Measure, cut, thread, groove, bend and install piping according to specifications.
- Read blueprints and diagrams to determine the type of pipe and tools needed for each job.
- Handled all responsibilities for piping systems, including fabricating, assembling, installing and maintaining.
- Fabricated and positioned screw pipe, socket weld pipe, and stainless steel tubing.
- Measured and marked pipes for cutting and threading.
- Collaborate with other tradespeople such as electricians or plumbers when necessary.
- Install supports for pipes to keep them in place during installation process.
- Cut openings in walls and floors to accommodate pipe and pipe fittings.
- Installed piping systems for plumbing for both domestic and HVAC lines.
- Repair or replace worn parts such as seals and bearings on pumps and valves.
Fabrication Welder
Signal Machine
08.2022 - 03.2023
- Performed preventive maintenance on various mechanical systems and tools.
- Operated welding equipment to assemble metal structures and components.
- Interpreted blueprints and technical drawings for precise fabrication tasks.
- Communicated effectively with supervisors regarding project timelines and material needs.
- Used hand tools to position, align and secure product components.
- Measured and marked material for cutting or shaping using measuring tools.
- Fabricated custom parts from raw materials using manual machining equipment.
- Fitted and aligned parts to fit properly on products.
- Performed grinding operations using grinders or buffers to smooth surfaces after welding.
- Loaded, unloaded components onto, from pallets utilizing overhead crane system where applicable.
- Worked closely with other tradesmen such as pipefitters and electricians during fabrication process.
- Operated welding machines to fabricate and assemble metal components.
- Utilized plasma cutter when necessary to cut through thick pieces of metal quickly.
- Used oxy-acetylene torches to cut, bend or straighten metal objects as required.
- Assisted in the assembly of heavy machinery such as conveyor systems when needed.
- Repaired worn parts of metal products by welding on extra layers of metal.
- Inspected finished welds for conformance with specifications and visually inspected assemblies for quality assurance.
- Identified defects in welds such as porosity, cracks, slag inclusion.
- Selected appropriate filler metals based on type of base materials being joined.
- Assisted in the design process by providing technical advice regarding fabrication techniques.
Submerged arch welder
Valmont Industries, Inc.
Jasper
07.2019 - 03.2022
- Operated welding equipment to fabricate metal structures and components.
- Interpreted blueprints and technical drawings for precise welding applications.
- Ensured compliance with safety standards and maintained a safe work environment.
- Completed day-to-day duties accurately and efficiently.
- Exceeded customer satisfaction by finding creative solutions to problems.
Boilermaker
Chattanooga boiler & tank
Chattanooga
08.2006 - 07.2019
- Fabricated and assembled metal structures according to specifications and blueprints.
- Operated welding equipment to join metal parts securely and efficiently.
- Inspected finished products for quality and compliance with safety standards.
- Fabricated and assembled boiler components using welding and cutting techniques.
- Collaborated with team members to ensure timely project completion.
- Interpreted blueprints and technical drawings for accurate installations.
- Adhered to safety protocols in high-pressure environments.
- Trained junior staff on proper welding techniques and safety practices.
- Used oxyacetylene torch to cut through steel plate for fabrication purposes.
- Welded components in flat, vertical, or overhead positions.
- Repaired worn or damaged parts of boilers, tanks, and vats by cutting out defective areas and replacing them with new plates or sections.
- Cut materials to size with torches and hand tools.
- Signaled to crane operator to lift components to specific positions.
- Studied blueprints to determine locations, relationships, and dimensions of parts.
- Used hoist to load structural parts of boilers, pressure vessels, and tanks on pallets.
- Used welding and soldering equipment to join sheet metal components following blueprints and job specifications.
- Constructed steel structures according to blueprints provided by engineers.
- Managed movement of materials and equipment to different job sites.
- Measured and marked cutting lines on material using a ruler or scribe.
- Conducted tests on welds to ensure strength requirements were met.
- Installed and repaired boilers, pressure vessels, tanks, and other heavy metal fabrications.
- Assembled parts into complete units by welding them together.
- Cleaned pressure vessel equipment by using scrapers, wire brushes, and cleaning solvents.
- Worked with team to lift heavy sections into place using rigging and signals.
Pipefitter
Callaghan mechanical
Chattanooga
Education
GED
Chattanooga, TNSkills
- Boiler installation
- Welding techniques
- Equipment maintenance
- Blueprint interpretation
- Mechanical troubleshooting
- Diagnostic testing
- Safety compliance
- Preventive maintenance
- Time management
- Problem solving
- Attention to detail
- Pipe fitting
- Flux-cored arc welding
- Structural fabrication
- Scaffolding setup
- Plasma cutting
- Heavy lifting
- Precision measuring
- Gas tungsten arc welding
- Gas metal arc welding
- Oxy-acetylene torch operation
- Metal cutting
- Shielded metal arc welding
- Pressure vessel assembly
- Hand tools proficiency
- Rigging techniques
- Component installation
- Submerged arc welding
- System Tests
- Parts fabrication
- Inspection preparations
- Mechanical troubleshooting and diagnostics
- Material prepping
- Code compliance
- Pipe cutting
- Pipe fabrication
- Tank assembly
- Boiler equipment
- Repair services
- Repair work
- Structural steelwork
- Hand and power tools
- Pressure vessel construction
- Maintenance scheduling
- Tube installation
- Installation and inspection
- Cutting and threading
- Grinding techniques
- Carbon arc gouging
- Leak detection
Timeline
Boilermaker Mechanic
Premier boiler & combustion
07.2025 - Current
Maintenance Technician
Apache Mills
07.2024 - 07.2025
Pipefitter
Callaghan mechanical
09.2023 - 06.2024
Pipefitter
Day And Zimmermann Intl
04.2023 - 09.2023
Fabrication Welder
Signal Machine
08.2022 - 03.2023
Submerged arch welder
Valmont Industries, Inc.
07.2019 - 03.2022
Boilermaker
Chattanooga boiler & tank
08.2006 - 07.2019
Pipefitter
Callaghan mechanical
GED