Lead Fabricator

Framatome; West of England; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 25 days plus Bank Holiday

5S/Lean culture support

Private health care & dental

Employer pension 8%

Job summary

Framatome UK is seeking a Lead Fabricator to join the Avonmouth team, delivering high-integrity stainless steel fabrication for nuclear projects. You will lead a fabrication team, coordinate daily activities, and ensure safety, quality and productivity targets are met on-site.

The role requires expertise in welding, reading drawings and guiding junior welders, with a strong emphasis on 5S/Lean practices and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of fabrication of Stainless Steel components in regulated environments.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, weld maps and documentation.
• Commitment to safety, quality, traceability and standards in nuclear manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily fabrication activities per workshop schedules and priorities.
• Provide technical guidance on welding methods, sequencing and workmanship standards.
• Fabricate high-integrity Stainless Steel components per ISO 5817 and customer specs.
• Maintain a safe, compliant workplace and contribute to Lean initiatives.
• Support training and mentoring of welders and workshop staff.
• Identify defects and drive corrective actions and continuous improvement.

Skills

Fabrication of Stainless Steel

Reading engineering drawings

Safety and quality awareness

Leadership and coordination

Coaching and mentoring

Problem solving

Education

NVQ Level 3 or equivalent

Technical Certificate / Diploma

Job description

General information

Legal company

Framatome is an international leader in nuclear energy recognized for its innovative, digital and value added solutions for the global nuclear fleet. With worldwide expertise and a proven track record for reliability and performance, the company designs, services and installs components, fuel, and instrumentation and control systems for nuclear power plants. Its more than 20 000 employees work every day to help Framatome's customers supply ever cleaner, safer and more economical low-carbon energy. Visit us at www.framatome.com, and follow us on Twitter: @Framatome_ and LinkedIn: Framatome.
Framatome is owned by the EDF Group (80.5%) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI – 19.5%).

Reference number

2026-28234

Publication date

11/3/2026

Job details

Category

P - PRODUCTION - P4 - Manufacturing Management and generalist

Job Opening Title

Lead Fabricator

Job type

Non fixed term

BU description

At Framatome we are a global leader in nuclear energy, recognised for delivering innovative, value-added technologies that design, build, maintain, and advance the world's nuclear fleet. With 23,000 employees in over 70 locations worldwide, we provide components, fuel, and control systems for nuclear power plants, along with a full suite of reactor services — all focused on improving safety, performance, and sustainability.
Backed by EDF Group (80.5%) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (19.5%), we're driving the future of clean energy. Here in the UK, our team is now over 500 strong — and growing. As we expand our service offerings across the UK nuclear industry, we're aiming to continue our growth journey.
Now's your chance to join a company that shaping the energy transition — where your expertise will matter, your growth will be supported, and your work will help power generations to come.

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity to join our department/team here at Framatome UK!

Energise Your Career with Framatome UK – Powering a Safer, Smarter Nuclear Future

We are currently seeking a Lead Fabricator to join our team in Avonmouth to support with the safe and effective delivery of manufacturing scopes of work through high-integrity fabrication/welding and associated workshop activities, while providing day-to-day technical guidance, coordination and support to Fabricators and wider workshop personnel to ensure business needs, quality standards and production objectives are achieved.

What will you be doing?

• Support the coordination of daily fabrication activities in line with workshop schedules and production priorities as directed by the Supervisor / Management for the assigned fabrication team.
• Technically support Fabricators within own team in relation to welding methods, sequencing, workmanship standards and high welding standard practice.
• Carry out fabrication of high-integrity Stainless Steel fabrications within the nuclear sector in accordance with specifications, drawings and acceptance criteria as stated in ISO 5817.
• Promote and maintain a safe and healthy work environment by following standards and procedures and complying with legal and site-specific regulations.
• Attend and actively contribute to Daily Activity Briefs, ensuring daily risks, priorities, constraints and activities are clearly understood by the fabrication team.
• Monitor fabrication activities on the shop floor to ensure compliance with approved procedures, quality requirements and traceability controls.
• Provide practical support in the continuous development and improvement of fabrication and welding processes, procedures and workshop practices.
• Review fabrication performance, identify trends and drive improvements in quality, productivity, standardisation and right-first-time delivery.
• Assist with the training, mentoring and development of welders, including sharing best practice and supporting skill progression.
• Support the resolution of fabrication-related issues, including identifying defects, contributing to root cause discussions and helping implement corrective actions.
• Provide input into internal NCRs, observations, quality investigations and improvement actions when requested.
• Work closely with other workshop staff including Fabricators, General Operatives, Storeman, Welding Inspectors, Quality personnel and Production leadership to ensure efficient workflow and effective communication.
• Support the maintenance of high housekeeping standards and contribute to 5S / Lean initiatives within the workshop.
• Escalate safety, quality, technical or delivery concerns promptly to the Supervisor / Manager.
• Champion high standards of housekeeping, 5S and Lean culture across fabrication areas.

Profile

What are we looking for?

Training And Development Expectations:

• Nuclear Safety.
• 5S / Lean Culture.
• Weld defect understanding and development.
• Leadership / team coordination development.
• Coaching and mentoring skills.
• Quality and compliance awareness relevant to nuclear manufacturing.
• Other personal development opportunities (e.g. NVQ, CSWIP where relevant, supervisory/management development, advanced fabrication or inspection-related qualifications).

Person Specification:

• Extensive proven knowledge and experience in fabrication of Stainless Steel and, where applicable, Carbon Steel components and assemblies within a regulated or high-specification environment (essential).
• Level 3 NVQ or equivalent (essential).
• Strong technical authority in fabrication methods, fit-up standards, dimensional control, material preparation and workmanship expectations.
• Demonstrate experience in reading, understanding and interpreting engineering drawings, weld maps, specifications and manufacturing documentation.
• Significant experience of working to controlled processes, procedures and specifications, ideally within nuclear, defence, aerospace, pressure systems or similarly regulated sectors
• Strong commitment to safety, quality assurance, regulatory compliance and nuclear safety culture.
• Proven ability to lead, coordinate and develop fabrication personnel in a workshop/manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence across production, quality and engineering functions.
• Experience supporting non-conformance investigations, quality improvement and root cause analysis.
• Questioning attitude and confidence to challenge unsafe, unclear or non-compliant practices.
• Excellent attention to detail and a strong focus on quality, traceability, dimensional accuracy and documentation accuracy.
• Proactive, organised and capable of balancing hands-on technical involvement with leadership responsibilities.
• Logical thinker with strong problem-solving and decision-making capability.
• Relevant fabrication, inspection or supervisory qualifications would be advantageous.

Key Outputs:

• Ensure fabrication activities are completed safely, efficiently and in accordance with workshop schedule and production requirements.
• Ensure fabrication workmanship consistently meets Framatome Ltd standards and client/customer acceptance criteria.
• Provide day-to-day fabrication support and guidance provided to the workshop team to promote right-first-time manufacture.
• Ensure material traceability maintained throughout manufacturing processes.
• Ensure workshop documentation assigned to own fabrication team is completed accurately and in a timely manner.
• Timely identification and communication of fabrication-related risks, defects, non-conformances and improvement opportunities.
• Positive contribution to team capability, process improvement and workshop pe

Work pattern:

On-site

Salary:

£26.23 per hour

Benefits

Benefits we offer:

• 25 days annual leave per year rising by 1 day for every 2 years worked (max 30 days) + Bank Holidays
• 8% employer pension contribution with employee 1% contribution (salary sacrifice)
• Employee assistance programme (EAP)
  

Our benefits package also includes Individual and family private health care, Dental insurance – individual cover, Cashplan – Level 2 cover - individual and family cover, Life assurance (4x salary), Income Protection, Professional Body Membership, Tusker Electric car scheme (salary sacrifice), Cycle to Work scheme (salary sacrifice), and Generous family leave.

Job location

United Kingdom, Bristol

Job location (site)

Avonmouth

Job family

Standard

Applicant criteria

Minimum level of education required

Technical Certificate / Diploma

Minimum level of experience required

Experienced

Employment level

Non cadre