Lead Welder

Framatome Limited; West of England; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Framatome UK is seeking 2 Lead Welders to join our Avonmouth team, supporting key projects within the nuclear sector in a safety-focused environment.

You will coordinate daily welding activities, mentor welders, and ensure compliance with welding standards and traceability requirements. The role involves reading drawings, applying ISO procedures, and driving right-first-time delivery.

Qualifications

• Proven knowledge and experience in various welding processes and materials, specifically high-integrity Stainless Steel fabrication (essential).
• Possession of welding qualifications in accordance with ISO 9606-1 (essential).
• Level 3 NVQ or equivalent (essential).
• Strong technical understanding of welding standards, workmanship expectations and quality requirements within a regulated manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Support the coordination of daily welding activities in line with workshop schedules and production priorities as directed by the Supervisor / Management for the assigned welding team.
• Technically support welders within own team in relation to welding methods, sequencing, workmanship standards and high welding standard practice.
• Welding of high-integrity Stainless Steel fabrications within the nuclear sector in accordance with acceptance criteria as stated in ISO 5817.
• Alignment with Weld procedures in accordance with ISO 15609.
• 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 Action Briefs, ensuring daily risks, priorities, constraints and activities are clearly understood by the welding team.
• Monitor welding 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.
• Assist with the training, mentoring and development of welders, including sharing best practice and supporting skill progression.
• Support the resolution of welding-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.

Skills

High-integrity welding

Reading engineering drawings

Welding methods knowledge

Team leadership on shop floor

Education

Level 3 NVQ or equivalent

Tools

Weld maps

Welding procedures ISO 15609

ISO 5817 awareness

Job description

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

Framatome is 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 already 400 strong - and growing. As we expand our service offerings across the UK nuclear industry, we're aiming to reach 600 dedicated professionals in 2026.

Whether you're an experienced Welder, Fabricator, Plater, Inspector, or other skilled trades professional, you'll have the opportunity to work on exciting projects while developing your career within a supportive and growing organisation.

We are seeking 2 Lead Welder's to join our team in Avonmouth.

This role will support the delivery of key projects within the nuclear sector, working in a safety-focused environment where quality, collaboration, and continuous improvement are at the heart of everything we do.

What You'll Be Doing

Support the coordination of daily welding activities in line with workshop schedules and production priorities as directed by the Supervisor / Management for the assigned welding team.

Technically support welders within own team in relation to welding methods, sequencing, workmanship standards and high welding standard practice.

Welding of high-integrity Stainless Steel fabrications within the nuclear sector in accordance with acceptance criteria as stated in ISO 5817.

Alignment with Weld procedures in accordance with ISO 15609.

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 Action Briefs, ensuring daily risks, priorities, constraints and activities are clearly understood by the welding team.

Monitor welding 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.

Assist with the training, mentoring and development of welders, including sharing best practice and supporting skill progression.

Support the resolution of welding-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.

Key Outputs

Ensure welding activities are completed safely and to schedule.

Maintain welding standards and customer requirements.

Provide daily support and guidance to the welding team.

Maintain material traceability throughout production.

Complete welding documentation accurately and on time.

Identify and report welding risks, defects, non-conformances and improvement opportunities.

What We're Looking For :

We're interested in hearing from candidates who can demonstrate:

• Proven knowledge and experience in various welding processes and materials, specifically high-integrity Stainless Steel fabrication (essential).
• Previously held welding qualifications in accordance with ISO 9606-1 (essential).
• Level 3 NVQ or equivalent (essential).
• Strong technical understanding of welding standards, workmanship expectations and quality requirements within a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrable experience in reading, understanding and interpreting engineering drawings, weld maps, specifications and welding procedures.
• Experience of working to controlled processes, procedures and specifications.
• Strong commitment to safety, quality assurance and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to provide technical guidance and informal leadership to others on the shop floor.
• Good communication and teamworking skills, with the ability to work effectively across functions.
• Questioning attitude and willingness to challenge unsafe or non-compliant practices.
• Close attention to detail and a strong focus on right-first-time delivery.
• Ability to work under own initiative with a proactive and can-do attitude.
• Logical thinker with good problem-solving capability.
• Experi