Vessel Shop Fabrication Shop Foreman

Smith Industries; Midland (TX); On-site; USD 39,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

401(k)

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Job summary

Smith Industries in West Texas is seeking a Vessel Shop Fabrication Foreman to lead a daily vessel production line on the shop floor, ensuring safety, quality, and productivity. This hands-on leadership role requires coordinating with Production, Quality, Engineering, and Materials to meet approved drawings and API/ASME standards.

The role emphasizes crew leadership, job planning, material readiness, and adherence to company procedures, with a focus on timely, accurate fabrication and safe

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent relevant work experience.
• At least five years of vessel fabrication experience, including two years in lead or supervisory role.
• Experience supervising vessel fit-up, assembly, and welding activities in a production environment.
• Ability to read fabrication drawings, weld symbols, bills of material, and work instructions.
• Working knowledge of API and ASME fabrication requirements, approved welding procedures, inspection hold points, and material traceability.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to hold crews accountable and work across departments.
• Ability to maintain accurate production and timekeeping records and work a flexible schedule as production needs require.

Responsibilities

• Plan and assign daily work by work order, crew skill, material availability, and production priorities established by the Production Manager. Communicate targets and monitor progress throughout the shift.
• Verify that approved drawing packets, material, pick tickets, weld maps, and applicable CNC files are available before starting work. Escalate incomplete releases, shortages, and drawing questions promptly.
• Oversee vessel fit-up, shell and head assembly, nozzle orientation, internals, supports, and dimensional checks against approved drawings. Prevent unauthorized changes and coordinate technical questions with Engineering and Quality.
• Confirm assigned welders hold the required qualifications and follow approved welding procedure specifications. Coordinate qualification and training needs with Quality.
• Enforce safety requirements, conduct crew safety meetings, maintain PPE availability, and stop work when conditions are unsafe. Report incidents and near misses immediately.
• Maintain orderly work areas and safe access. Inspect tools, fabrication equipment, and lifting accessories within assigned responsibilities; report defects and coordinate maintenance needs.
• Ensure work is ready for inspection and required inspection hold points are observed. Coordinate with Quality and ensure repairs are completed and accepted before release to the next operation.
• Maintain material identification and traceability through fabrication. Coordinate material staging, shortages, transfers, and unused material returns with Material Management.
• Track actual labor hours against assigned work-order budgets. Review timesheets for accuracy, confirm correct labor charging, and authorize overtime only within established approval limits.
• Report production status, labor variances, rework, inspection holds, and constraints to the Production Manager. Recommend and execute agreed recovery actions.
• Coach employees in fabrication methods, workmanship, procedures, and work instructions. Support orientation, assess craft skills, and recommend development or corrective action through established processes.
• Address employee concerns professionally and coordinate personnel matters with the Production Manager and Human Resources.
• Ensure required fabrication and department records are complete, accurate, and organized. Provide clear shift handovers covering work status, shortages, inspection holds, and next steps.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Read drawings

Timekeeping

Safety

Cross-department coordination

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance

Smith Industries is the leading fabricator of oil and gas surface production equipment in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. Since 2004, we've provided design engineering, drafting, procurement, fabrication, and modular construction to operators across the Permian Basin.

The Vessel Shop Fabrication Foreman leads the daily execution of an assigned vessel production line. This is a hands-on, floor-based leadership position responsible for crew assignments, safe work practices, fabrication quality, labor productivity, and production progress. The foreman works with the Production Manager, Quality, Engineering, Material Management, and other supervisors to deliver work to approved drawings, applicable API and ASME requirements, and company procedures.

Essential Duties

• Plan and assign daily work by work order, crew skill, material availability, and production priorities established by the Production Manager. Communicate targets and monitor progress throughout the shift.
• Verify that approved drawing packets, material, pick tickets, weld maps, and applicable CNC files are available before starting work. Escalate incomplete releases, shortages, and drawing questions promptly.
• Oversee vessel fit-up, shell and head assembly, nozzle orientation, internals, supports, and dimensional checks against approved drawings. Prevent unauthorized changes and coordinate technical questions with Engineering and Quality.
• Confirm assigned welders hold the required qualifications and follow approved welding procedure specifications. Coordinate qualification and training needs with Quality.
• Enforce safety requirements, conduct crew safety meetings, maintain PPE availability, and stop work when conditions are unsafe. Report incidents and near misses immediately.
• Maintain orderly work areas and safe access. Inspect tools, fabrication equipment, and lifting accessories within assigned responsibilities; report defects and coordinate maintenance needs.
• Ensure work is ready for inspection and required inspection hold points are observed. Coordinate with Quality and ensure repairs are completed and accepted before release to the next operation.
• Maintain material identification and traceability through fabrication. Coordinate material staging, shortages, transfers, and unused material returns with Material Management.
• Track actual labor hours against assigned work-order budgets. Review timesheets for accuracy, confirm correct labor charging, and authorize overtime only within established approval limits.
• Report production status, labor variances, rework, inspection holds, and constraints to the Production Manager. Recommend and execute agreed recovery actions.
• Coach employees in fabrication methods, workmanship, procedures, and work instructions. Support orientation, assess craft skills, and recommend development or corrective action through established processes.
• Address employee concerns professionally and coordinate personnel matters with the Production Manager and Human Resources.
• Ensure required fabrication and department records are complete, accurate, and organized. Provide clear shift handovers covering work status, shortages, inspection holds, and next steps.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent relevant work experience.
• At least five years of relevant vessel fabrication experience, including at least two years in a lead or supervisory role.
• Demonstrated experience supervising vessel fit-up, assembly, and welding activities in a production environment.
• Ability to read fabrication drawings, weld symbols, bills of material, and work instructions.
• Working knowledge of applicable API and ASME fabrication requirements, approved welding procedures, inspection hold points, and material traceability.
• Ability to recognize material defects, dimensional discrepancies, and workmanship issues and coordinate appropriate resolution.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to hold crews accountable and work across departments.
• Ability to maintain accurate production and timekeeping records and work a flexible schedule as production needs require.

Preferred Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent work experience
• 3+ years of fabrication experience, including 2+ years in a lead or supervisory role

Experience and Education

• Experience with ASME pressure vessels and oil and gas surface production equipment.
• Experience using digital work orders, production tracking, or timekeeping systems.
• Bilingual communication skills in English and Spanish or English and Hakha Chin.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Work primarily on the shop floor with exposure to heat, noise, welding activity, moving equipment, and other fabrication hazards.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and access assigned fabrication areas to observe work and verify progress, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Wear required PPE and follow applicable shop safety requirements.

Benefits

Full-time employees are eligible for:

• Competitive pay
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Life and disability insurance

Employment Type

Full-time, hourly (non-exempt)

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future employment visa sponsorship.