Lead Welder

Aerotek; Decatur (AL); On-site; USD 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Aerotek seeks a Lead Welder to manage a small team in a fast-paced shop environment, performing hands-on MIG welding while driving production and quality standards. The role emphasizes leadership, coaching, and adherence to weld procedures for aerospace and precision fabrication projects.

The ideal candidate will read blueprints, pass weld tests, and mentor others, ensuring safety, efficiency, and continuous improvement on the shop floor.

Qualifications

• Experience leading welding teams in a shop environment.
• Hands-on MIG welding proficiency with test capability.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints and weld symbols.
• Familiarity with AWS welding standards and quality procedures.
• Experience managing production and throughput in aerospace/defense or precision fabrication.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee a team of approximately four to six welders in a production welding and fabrication environment.
• Perform hands-on MIG welding on a regular basis and step in to weld as production needs arise.
• Drive production throughput while maintaining strict quality standards for aerospace, defense, and precision fabrication projects.
• Plan, schedule, and prioritize work orders to ensure on-time completion and alignment with production goals.
• Interpret and work from blueprints and weld symbols to ensure accurate fabrication and assembly.
• Inspect weld quality and verify compliance with weld procedures and applicable AWS standards.
• Train, coach, and mentor welders to improve their technical skills, productivity, and adherence to quality expectations.
• Manage employee performance by setting clear expectations, monitoring results, and providing feedback and guidance.
• Hold team members accountable to established quality, safety, and production standards.
• Support and manage workforce planning, including task assignments, shift coverage, and workload balancing.
• Monitor and manage production metrics and KPIs to drive throughput improvement and consistent performance.
• Apply continuous improvement principles, including lean manufacturing, 5S, and root cause analysis, to enhance processes and resolve issues.
• Support fabrication shop workflow by coordinating with other departments and ensuring smooth handoffs between processes.
• Ensure the welding area remains organized, safe, and compliant with shop practices and procedures.
• Contribute to structural, sheet metal, precision, and custom fabrication projects as required.

Skills

Team leadership

MIG welding

GMAW

Read blueprints

AWS standards

Quality control

Production planning

Lean manufacturing

Mentor welders

Safety compliance

Job description

Job Title: Lead Welder

Must have 4-5 years of welding and 2-3 years of leadership

Monday - Friday 6am- 345pm

$30-$36/hr

Job Description

The Lead Welder serves as a hands-on welding department leader, overseeing a team of approximately four to six welders supporting aerospace, defense, and precision fabrication projects. This role combines frontline MIG welding with day-to-day leadership responsibilities, including driving production, maintaining high quality standards, supporting schedules, and stepping in to weld whenever needed. The ideal candidate leads by example on the shop floor, ensures consistent adherence to weld procedures and standards, and actively develops the skills and performance of the welding team.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee a team of approximately four to six welders in a production welding and fabrication environment.
• Perform hands-on MIG welding on a regular basis and step in to weld as production needs arise.
• Drive production throughput while maintaining strict quality standards for aerospace, defense, and precision fabrication projects.
• Plan, schedule, and prioritize work orders to ensure on-time completion and alignment with production goals.
• Interpret and work from blueprints and weld symbols to ensure accurate fabrication and assembly.
• Inspect weld quality and verify compliance with weld procedures and applicable AWS standards.
• Train, coach, and mentor welders to improve their technical skills, productivity, and adherence to quality expectations.
• Manage employee performance by setting clear expectations, monitoring results, and providing feedback and guidance.
• Hold team members accountable to established quality, safety, and production standards.
• Support and manage workforce planning, including task assignments, shift coverage, and workload balancing.
• Monitor and manage production metrics and KPIs to drive throughput improvement and consistent performance.
• Apply continuous improvement principles, including lean manufacturing, 5S, and root cause analysis, to enhance processes and resolve issues.
• Support fabrication shop workflow by coordinating with other departments and ensuring smooth handoffs between processes.
• Ensure the welding area remains organized, safe, and compliant with shop practices and procedures.
• Contribute to structural, sheet metal, precision, and custom fabrication projects as required.

Essential Skills

• 35+ years of leadership experience in a welding or fabrication environment.
• Demonstrated experience as a Weld Lead, Lead Welder, Welding Lead, Fabrication Lead, or Team Lead in a manufacturing or fabrication setting.
• Strong hands-on MIG welding experience with the ability to pass a hands-on weld test.
• Proficiency with GMAW, FCAW, flux core, and pulse MIG welding processes.
• Experience welding steel, stainless steel, and aluminum materials.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints and weld symbols accurately.
• Experience inspecting weld quality and ensuring adherence to weld procedures and AWS standards.
• Proven ability to manage employee performance and productivity in a shop environment.
• Experience scheduling and prioritizing work orders to meet production deadlines.
• Strong understanding of fabrication shop workflow, including structural, sheet metal, and precision fabrication.
• Demonstrated ability to train, mentor, and develop welders to improve skill levels and performance.
• Ability to hold employees accountable to quality and production standards while maintaining a positive team environment.
• Effective leadership communication skills and the ability to provide clear direction on the shop floor.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Background in aerospace manufacturing, defense manufacturing, or military product manufacturing.
• Experience in structural steel fabrication, precision fabrication, heavy fabrication, or sheet metal fabrication.
• Exposure to custom fabrication and contract manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with weld inspection practices and weld quality documentation.
• Experience applying lean manufacturing principles, including 5S and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Hands-on use of root cause analysis to identify and resolve production and quality issues.
• Experience with production planning, workforce planning, and schedule management.
• Proven ability to manage production metrics, KPIs, and throughput improvement initiatives.Experience in a weld shop supervisor, fabrication supervisor, or manufacturing lead capacity.

Why Work Here?

This opportunity offers the chance to lead a skilled welding team in a highly technical environment focused on aerospace, defense, and precision fabrication work. You will work in a setting that values hands‑on leadership, continuous improvement, and professional development, giving you the ability to influence production outcomes while growing your own leadership and technical capabilities. The organization emphasizes quality, accountability, and teamwork, providing a platform where your expertise in welding and fabrication leadership can make a visible impact on both operations and team success.

Work Environment

The role is based in a fabrication and welding shop environment supporting aerospace, defense, structural, sheet metal, precision, heavy, and custom fabrication projects. You will work on production floors that utilize MIG welding processes such as GMAW, FCAW, flux core, and pulse MIG on steel, stainless steel, and aluminum materials. The environment is fast‑paced and production‑oriented, with an emphasis on meeting schedules, maintaining weld quality, and adhering to established weld procedures and AWS standards. Work involves regular use of blueprints, weld symbols, and fabrication equipment, and requires consistent presence on the shop floor to supervise, support, and participate in welding activities.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Decatur,AL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $36.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & visionCritical Illness, Accident, and Hospital401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions availableLife Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)Short and long‑term disabilityHealth Spending Account (HSA)Transportation benefitsEmployee Assistance ProgramTime Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Decatur,AL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 13, 2026.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.