Lead Welder

Framatome UK; West of England; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Nuclear training

25 days annual leave

8% pension contribution

Private health care

Job summary

Framatome UK is seeking a Lead Welder to join the Avonmouth team. You will coordinate welding activities, guide welders, ensure high-integrity stainless steel fabrication in a nuclear setting, and uphold strict safety and quality standards.

The role requires knowledge of welding procedures, ISO standards, and the ability to read drawings and weld maps. You will mentor apprentices and contribute to continuous improvement and lean initiatives while maintaining strict traceability and timely

Qualifications

• Proven knowledge and experience in high-integrity Stainless Steel fabrication (essential).
• Level 3 NVQ or equivalent (essential).
• Strong understanding of welding standards, workmanship and quality in regulated manufacturing.
• Experience reading, understanding and interpreting engineering drawings, weld maps, specifications and welding procedures.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily welding activities with workshop schedules and priorities.
• Provide technical support on welding methods, sequencing and workmanship standards.
• Weld high-integrity Stainless Steel fabrications to ISO criteria.
• Ensure safety and quality through clean work practices and traceability.
• Mentor and develop welders, share best practices and support skill progression.
• Identify defects, support root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain workshop documentation and support 5S/Lean initiatives.

Skills

Stainless Steel welding

Reading drawings

Team leadership

Welding problem solving

Education

Level 3 NVQ or equivalent

ISO 9606-1 qualification

Tools

ISO 15609 welding standard

ISO 5817

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

As a Lead Welder, you will:

• 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.
• Ensure welding activities are completed safely, efficiently and in accordance with workshop schedule and production requirements.
• Ensure welding workmanship consistently meets Framatome Ltd standards and client/customer acceptance criteria.
• Provide day-to-day welding 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 welding team is completed accurately and in a timely manner.
• Timely identification and communication of welding-related 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.
• Experience supporting apprentices or less experienced welders would be advantageous.
• Nuclear Safety.
• Weld defect understanding and development.
• Leadership / team coordination development.
• Coaching and mentoring skills.
• Other personal development opportunities (e.g. NVQ, CSWIP, supervisory development, additional welding qualifications).

Salary:

£26.23 per hour

What's In It For You?

• Nuclear standard training for career progression
• 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)
• Individual and family private health care