Fabrication Superintendent

ASC; South Australia; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

ASC is Australia’s submarine company and a leader in Collins Class sustainment and SSN AUKUS build collaboration. The Fabrication Superintendent will guide teams across welding, fabrication and assembly to meet engineering requirements, quality standards, and project schedules while fostering safety, continuous improvement and stakeholder engagement.

The role requires strong leadership, a track record in heavy fabrication, and willingness to travel; it reports to the Fabrication Trade Manager

Job description

ASC is Australia’s submarine company. We built the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins Class submarines, sustain them, and are now delivering their Life of Type Extension to increase the boats’ service lives. We have also been selected by the Australian Government to sustain and jointly build the nation’s nuclear‑powered submarines – the largest and most complex industrial undertaking in Australia’s history.

Our work is interesting and meaningful, contributing directly to Australia’s national security. We offer rewarding roles that provide the opportunity to grow your career, and the flexibility to balance life and work. A career at ASC is like no other, delivering a deeper purpose we can all be proud of.

About the Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity to join the team helping deliver Australia's SSN AUKUS submarine build program.The Fabrication Superintendent will be responsible for providing strong technical, operational and people leadership across fabrication and welding activities in support of submarine construction objectives. The role leads the safe, efficient, and high‑quality execution of production work, ensuring fabrication activities are delivered in accordance with engineering requirements, quality standards, project schedules, and organisational objectives.

Reporting to the Fabrication Trade Manager, the Superintendent will provide direction, guidance, and informed decision‑making to trade teams while taking ownership of resolving production issues, removing work execution barriers, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. A key focus of the role is maintaining productivity while ensuring compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

The Fabrication Superintendent directly manages, mentors, and develops Team Leaders, Leading Hands, Tradespeople, and Apprentices, fostering a high‑performance culture built on accountability, collaboration, and professional development. Through first‑class leadership and effective stakeholder engagement, the role ensures the delivery of welding, fabrication, and assembly work to the highest standards while supporting workforce capability growth and operational excellence across the SSN AUKUS program.

The role will play a key role in collaborating with ASC’s submarine partner, BAE Systems, to mobilise and deliver the SSN‑AUKUS Build Program.

A degree of flexibility is required in working hours to support the engagement with international capability partners. This role may also require periodic or regular overseas travel.

Responsibilities

• Provide direction and guidance to Team Leads in understanding their earned value performance and responsibilities in respect to Schedule Performance Indicators (SPI) and Cost Performance Indicators (CPI).
• Establishment and management of Governing Safety Welding processes.
• Management of Welder Qualifications and Relevant Trade Skills.
• When required the position will provide both technical support to operations teams during planning and execution phases to ensure continuous improvement and consistency across the Program. This role will also help to ensure the lessons learnt from the project are captured and implemented.
• This position will support training, coaching and mentoring to Team Leads.
• The Trade Superintendent will work closely with their teams ensuring capture of all improvement ideas and follow the correct process so that change management plans are in place to ensure a smooth implementation.
• Leads and develops the Team Lead to deliver safe, high‑quality maintenance performance.
• Works with Production stakeholders to execute scheduled work.
• Leads implementation of initiatives from Engineering team to improve maintenance performance.
• Implements strategies and work schedules developed by Manufacture Engineering.
• Implements business plan objectives and budget to drive and improve maintenance performance.

About you

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Trade qualification or tertiary qualification in Engineering or a related discipline.
• Experience in submarine, shipbuilding or defence programs, desirable.
• Experience working within integrated project teams.
• Certificate 10 Welding Supervisor (AS 1796) or the following

• • IIW Internation Welding Specialist (IWS)
  • AS 2214 Welding Supervisor (Structural Steel)
  • IIW International Welding Technologist (IWT)

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Cert IV in Management or relevant management qualification.
• CSWIP Welding Inspector (3.1 / 3.2).
• International Welding Inspector (IWI-B / IWI-S).

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Extensive experience in fabrication and welding within heavy engineering or defence‑related industries.
• Demonstrated experience managing welding systems (PQR/WQR/WPS) and fabrication compliance.
• Strong leadership experience managing trade‑based workforces.
• Minimum 10 years' experience in trade.
• Sound understanding of safety, quality, and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience working on structured schedules and performance metrics (SPI/CPI or equivalent).

Eligibility

This role requires a current National Police Clearance and an Australian Defence Security Clearance to an NV1 level. Your eligibility for this role is dependent on you obtaining and maintaining such clearance.

Whilst ASC will accept all applications for this role, as this role requires an ability to access protected US defence technology, applicants holding nationality of certain foreign countries will not be eligible.

To check your eligibility please visit the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency website.

Benefits

• Unique and challenging work with a deeper purpose.
• Generous parental leave so you can give your family the focus it deserves.
• Subsidised childcare to ease the financial pressure on your family.
• Health and wellbeing initiatives so you can perform at your best at work.
• Professional development opportunities to advance your career.
• A diverse and supportive environment where you can thrive.
• Discounts and exclusive offers from leading Australian brands to help you save.

About ASC

Established in 1985, ASC’s 3,000-plus staff offer a depth of submarine design, project management, supply chain, construction and engineering experience and expertise that is unparalleled in Australia’s defence industry. The company’s work on Australia’s nuclear‑powered submarine build and the Collins Class Life of Type Extension takes place in Osborne, South Australia, with sustainment shared across Osborne and Henderson, Western Australia. ASC also plays a leading role in training Royal Australian Navy submariners.