Ironworker (Reinforcing)

Job Posting: Ironworker - Reinforcing (RSE Focused)

Location: [Insert Location, Canada]

Position Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Credentials: Holds or looking to finish their requirements to achieve their Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) Reporting To: Reinforcing Foreman / General Foreman

The Opportunity

We are seeking a physically strong and technically precise Ironworker (Reinforcing)—commonly known as a Rodbuster—to join our team on major civil, industrial, and commercial projects. This role is specifically for professionals who hold or are looking to finish their requirements to achieve their Red Seal Endorsement (RSE).

Reinforcing ironworkers provide the "muscle" inside Canada’s concrete infrastructure. Whether you are a certified Journeyperson or a senior apprentice in your final year, you will be expected to work to the Red Seal Occupational Standard (RSOS), ensuring that every rebar cage and post-tensioning cable is installed exactly to engineered specifications.

Core Responsibilities

In accordance with the national standards for the Ironworker (Reinforcing) trade, your primary duties include:

Interpretation & Layout: Read and interpret placing drawings and specifications to determine the quantity, size, and shape of reinforcing steel required. Lay out the work on the deck or in the forms.

Reinforcing Installation: Cut, bend, and position steel bars (rebar), wire mesh, and other reinforcing materials in concrete forms.

Tying & Securing: Fasten bars together with tie wire using various ties (snap ties, wrap-and-snap, saddle ties) to ensure the steel does not shift during concrete placement.

Post-Tensioning: Install and stress tendons (cables) in post-tensioned concrete structures. Operate hydraulic jacks to apply specified tension and document gauge readings.

Mechanical Splicing: Install mechanical rebar couplers and splices according to manufacturer and engineered specifications.

Rigging & Hoisting: Select and use appropriate rigging hardware to move bundles of rebar safely. Provide clear signals to crane operators in congested site environments.

Safety & Compliance: Adhere to all provincial OH&S regulations. Maintain 100% tie-off compliance when working on columns, walls, or bridge piers.

Mentorship: If certified, provide technical instruction and sign off on the hours of junior apprentices. If finishing requirements, work with our Journeypersons to master Major Work Activities (MWAs) like complex beam cages and stressing procedures.

Qualifications & Requirements

Certification Status: Must be a Journeyperson or a Senior Apprentice currently looking to finish their requirements to achieve their Red Seal Endorsement (RSE).

Technical Proficiency: Expert understanding of rebar grades, coating types (epoxy, galvanized), and concrete cover requirements.

Physical Stamina: Exceptional physical strength and endurance. The ability to perform heavy lifting (35kg+), constant bending, and working outdoors in all weather conditions.

Mathematical Competency: Proficiency in "Trade Math" for calculating bar spacing, lap lengths, and material weights.

Safety Certifications: Valid Fall Protection, Rigging/Signaling, and WHMIS certifications are mandatory.

The Red Seal Standard

The Ironworker (Reinforcing) Red Seal is a mark of a specialist dedicated to the structural integrity of Canada. We support your career growth by providing:

The Path to Completion: For those finishing their RSE, we offer exposure to a wide range of projects—from high-rise slabs to heavy industrial foundations—ensuring you are fully prepared for the Interprovincial Exam.

Competitive Compensation: Wages that reflect the physically demanding nature of the work and your status as a nationally certified professional.

National Mobility: An RSE credential that is recognized across every province and territory, allowing you to work on the largest infrastructure projects in Canada.