Vessel Shop Foreman: Lead Fabrication & Quality

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

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