We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Welder Fabricator Team Leader to support and lead our fabrication team while actively working on the shop floor. This is a key supervisory role responsible for managing day-to-day fabrication activities, coordinating projects, maintaining quality standards, and ensuring work is completed safely, efficiently, and within agreed timescales.
The successful candidate will be responsible for running projects on the shop floor from initial drawing review through to completion, ensuring the team has clear direction, resources, and support to deliver high-quality fabricated products.
The role requires a strong working knowledge of welding and fabrication, excellent leadership skills, the ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, and the confidence to make decisions and resolve issues during production.
Key Responsibilities
Shop Floor Leadership & Team Management
- Lead and coordinate the fabrication team on a daily basis.
- Allocate labour and resources to meet production requirements.
- Ensure team members understand priorities, deadlines and quality expectations.
- Monitor progress and provide updates to the Production Manager / Operations Manager.
- Support, coach and develop team members to improve skills and performance.
- Promote teamwork, accountability and a positive working environment.
- Lead by example through excellent workmanship, attitude and professionalism.
- Assist with training apprentices and less experienced fabricators.
Project Management & Production Control
- Take ownership of fabrication projects from drawing issue through to final completion.
- Plan and organise daily workloads to achieve production targets.
- Review drawings, specifications and job requirements before work commences.
- Identify potential issues with materials, designs, tolerances or manufacturing processes.
- Ensure projects remain on schedule and highlight any delays immediately.
- Coordinate with management regarding labour requirements, materials and priorities.
- Ensure completed work is ready for inspection, delivery or installation.
Welding & Fabrication Duties
- Carry out high-quality welding and fabrication work as required.
- Read and interpret engineering drawings, fabrication drawings and specifications.
- Mark out, cut, drill, weld, assemble and finish fabricated components.
- Work accurately to dimensions, tolerances and customer requirements.
- Select appropriate welding techniques, materials and processes.
- Ensure all fabricated work meets required standards before leaving the workshop.
Quality Assurance
- Maintain high standards of workmanship throughout the fabrication process.
- Inspect work at key stages to ensure quality and accuracy.
- Identify defects, errors or potential issues before completion.
- Reduce rework by ensuring jobs are completed correctly first time.
- Ensure all documentation and quality requirements are completed where required.
- Contribute with process improvement tasks.
Health & Safety
- Promote and maintain a strong health and safety culture.
- Ensure safe working practices are followed at all times.
- Ensure correct PPE is worn and equipment is used safely.
- Report hazards, accidents, near misses and equipment issues.
- Maintain a clean, organised and safe working environment.
- Support risk assessments and continuous improvement initiatives.
Workshop Efficiency & Improvement
- Maintain excellent housekeeping standards.
- Ensure tools, machinery and equipment are used correctly and maintained.
- Monitor material usage and reduce waste.
- Identify opportunities to improve processes, efficiency and productivity.
- Support improvements to workshop organisation and workflow.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Proven experience as a Welder Fabricator within a fabrication environment.
- Previous experience leading a team or acting as a senior fabricator.
- Ability to manage projects and priorities on a busy shop floor.
- Strong ability to read and interpret engineering drawings.
- Excellent welding and fabrication skills.
- Good understanding of manufacturing processes and fabrication methods.
- Ability to work independently and make informed decisions.
- Strong problem-solving skills.
- Excellent organisational and planning ability.
- Good communication skills at all levels.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
- High attention to detail and commitment to quality.
Personal Attributes
The successful candidate will be:
- A natural leader who can motivate and support others.
- Reliable, punctual and dependable.
- Proactive with a strong "can-do" attitude.
- Organised and methodical in their approach.
- Able to remain calm and effective under pressure.
- Practical and solutions-focused.
- Professional and approachable.
- Quality-driven with pride in their workmanship.
- Safety-conscious at all times.
- Willing to take ownership and responsibility.
- A strong communicator who can work effectively with management and colleagues.
- Committed to continuous improvement and achieving company goals.
Desirable Qualifications & Experience
- Welding and fabrication qualifications (NVQ, City & Guilds or equivalent).
- Welding certification/approval qualifications.
- Experience working from detailed engineering drawings.
- Experience managing fabrication projects.
- Experience with structural steel, sheet metal or bespoke fabrication.
- Forklift licence (desirable).
- Overhead crane experience (desirable).
- Health & Safety qualification (desirable).
Performance Expectations
The Welder Fabricator Team Leader will be expected to:
- Deliver projects safely, on time and to specification.
- Maintain excellent quality standards.
- Keep the Production Manager / Operations Manager fully informed of progress.
- Support and develop the fabrication team.
- Improve productivity and reduce waste.
- Maintain a safe, efficient and organised workshop.
- Represent the company professionally through high-quality workmanship.
Working Environment
This is a hands-on workshop-based leadership role involving welding, fabrication, machinery operation, team supervision and project coordination. The successful candidate must be comfortable balancing practical fabrication duties with leadership responsibilities.
Work Location: In person
