Welding Manager

Freedom Waterworks; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental & Vision Insurance

401(k) with Company Match

Company-Paid Life Insurance

PTO & Holidays

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Performance-Based Bonus Opportunities

Training & Career Advancement

Safety-First Culture

Job summary

Freedom Waterworks is seeking a Steel Fabrication Manager to oversee the daily steel operations, manage production scheduling, labor planning, and equipment utilization while ensuring quality and safety standards. This role collaborates with Sales, Project Management, Purchasing, Warehouse, Paint, and Engineering to meet customer deadlines and strategic goals.

The ideal candidate will have extensive steel fabrication and welding experience, strong leadership, and proficiency with ERP systems to

Qualifications

• Extensive steel fabrication and welding knowledge.
• Ability to read fabrication drawings, blueprints, specs, and isometrics.
• Experience leading large fabrication teams and schedules.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily steel fabrication operations, including production scheduling and labor planning.
• Lead and develop shop supervisors and fabrication personnel.
• Coordinate priorities with cross-functional teams (Sales, Project Management, Purchasing, Warehouse, Engineering).
• Ensure products meet quality standards and customer specs.
• Manage safety programs and regulatory compliance.
• Support budgeting, equipment planning, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Steel fabrication

Welding processes

Blueprints & drawings

Leadership

ERP systems

Safety standards

Production metrics

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, Construction Management

Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) or Lean/Six Sigma

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Job description

Manager of Steel Fabrication

• Department: Steel

FLSA Status: Exempt

Job Status: Full time

Reports To: VP of Finance

Positions Supervised: Steel Shop Foreman, Welders, Fitters, Helpers, Shop Personnel

Summary/Objective

The Steel Manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Steel Fabrication department to ensure work is completed safely, efficiently, on schedule, and in accordance with Freedom Waterworks' quality standards. This position manages production, labor, scheduling, quality, inventory, equipment, and employee performance while collaborating with Sales, Project Management, Purchasing, Warehouse, Paint, and Engineering to meet customer expectations and operational goals.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Oversee daily steel fabrication operations, including production scheduling, labor planning, equipment utilization, inventory coordination, welding activities, and workflow to ensure customer orders are completed safely, on time, and within quality standards.


• Lead, coach, develop, and hold accountable shop supervisors and fabrication employees.


• Coordinate fabrication priorities with Sales, Project Management, Purchasing, Warehouse, Paint, and Engineering.


• Ensure all fabricated products meet company quality standards and applicable customer specifications.


• Serve as the department owner for SPFA, NSF/ANSI/CAN 61, and all safety programs, ensuring compliance, documentation, audits, employee training, and adherence to company and regulatory standards.


• Ensure compliance with applicable AWWA, AWS, ASME, OSHA, and company policies and procedures.


• Oversee welding procedures, inspections, preventive maintenance, and material availability to support production schedules.


• Identify and implement process improvements that increase productivity, reduce waste, improve quality, and control costs.


• Assist with hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, employee development, disciplinary actions, and succession planning.


• Support departmental budgeting, capital equipment planning, and continuous improvement initiatives.


• Build strong working relationships across departments to ensure exceptional customer service and project execution.


• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Skills And Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of carbon steel and stainless-steel pipe fabrication and welding processes.


• Ability to read and interpret fabrication drawings, blueprints, specifications, and isometric drawings.


• Strong understanding of AWWA, AWS, ASME, SPFA, NSF/ANSI/CAN 61, and OSHA requirements.


• Experience with production scheduling, labor management, quality control, and inventory coordination.


• Strong leadership, coaching, communication, organizational, and decision-making skills.


• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ERP systems such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or similar manufacturing software.


• Ability to analyze production metrics and implement process improvements.

Education and Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of steel fabrication and welding experience.


• Minimum of 5 years of manufacturing or fabrication leadership experience.


• Experience supervising fabrication personnel of 15 or more and managing production schedules.


• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, Construction Management, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.


• Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), Lean Manufacturing, or Six Sigma certification is preferred.


• Experience in the municipal waterworks industry is preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in both office and manufacturing environments.


• Frequent walking throughout the fabrication facility.


• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.


• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) while in production areas

Perks & Benefits

• Medical Insurance (Company pays 75% of employee-only premiums and 50% of dependent premiums)


• Dental & Vision Insurance


• 401(k) with Company Match


• Company-Paid Life Insurance


• 15 PTO Days & 9 Paid Holidays


• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)


• Performance-Based Bonus Opportunities


• Training & Career Advancement


• Safety-First Culture