Lead Welder

Who Is Prince?

Founded in 1959 by Ed Miller near Chicago, Prince Industries has grown from a one-man shop into a global manufacturing partner. With seven facilities across the U.S. and China, we serve industries from hydraulics to aerospace, handling everything from just-in-time components to high-volume assemblies.

At Prince, we don’t just make parts—we solve complex supply chain challenges. We are a strategic partner, focused on helping clients improve products, reduce costs, and simplify operations. Certified to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485, and AS9100 standards, we combine quality, innovation, and growth-minded thinking to deliver real value.

Job Summary

The Lead Welder oversees the operations of the welding department and performs daily functions that consist of programming, testing, setup and optimization. Lead Welder is responsible for setting up, operating and performing tasks to fabricate metal parts and components according to customer specifications. The Lead will review drawings and specifications to accurately weld parts and metal components.

Compensation: Starting at $30 per hour. The final rate will be determined based on experience and a successful interview process.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Orders all MRO supplies (i.e., welding wire, consumables, gases, repair items, etc.).
• Provides time study information to Plant Manager and or Manufacturing Engineering.
• Maintains all setup sheets and procedures as required.
• Develop all welding schedules for arc welding.
• Provides oversight of all machine setups and ensures 1st piece inspection approvals are completed.
• Trains operators on task specific skills required to run part-number specific jobs.
• Performs administrative duties that relate to the job, to include ensuring operators report setup and run times and quantities correctly in Epicor MES and completing QC-Docs completely and properly.
• Visually inspects random samples of all finished weldments prior to moving to subsequent operations for AWS code requirements.
• Understands, enforces and follows Prince Industries’ quality certifications as it relates to job. (i.e., ISO, QS).
• Works effectively with all department personnel and co-workers in a harmonious and cooperative manner to meet the needs and goals established by the company.
• Maintains good housekeeping and safe work conditions in department.
• Additional responsibilities assigned by the supervisor may include department transfers or special projects to meet production needs.

• Use hand-welding equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products that are not capable of being welded by the robotic welder.
• Accurately read and use tape measures and verify product quality by using inspection and measuring equipment (gages, micrometers, rulers, etc.).
• Perform basic preventative maintenance and repair and set-up to keep robotic welders running smoothly and to reduce downtime.

Required Skills 

• Ability to use inspection methods including tape measure, calipers and fillet gages.
• Able to demonstrate proficiency with teach pendant programing on FANUC and ABB platforms.
• Able to interpret AWS weld symbols.
• Able to read and interpret blueprints.
• Ability to communicate effectively both in oral and written form and interact appropriately with all levels of the company and customers, in which it pertains to the job responsibilities.
• Ability to layout welding sequence to include drawing weld lines on component parts for the purpose of teaching programming points.
• Ability to use touch sensing as necessary on problematic parts.
• Excellent troubleshooting or problem resolution skills.
• Excellent organizational skills required to complete work assignments and prioritize urgent matters in order to meet deadlines established.
• Excellent knowledge of engineering concepts and practices.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Education and Experience

• Able to demonstrate proficiency with teach pendant programing on FANUC and ABB platforms.
• Ability to perform backup(s) of robotic systems.
• High School Graduate or General Education Degree (GED) required.
• 5+ years MIG/TIG Welding experience with Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel and Aluminum.
• 3+ years robotic welding experience (experience with Fanuc Robots a plus).
• Proficient at math and computer skills: ability to calculate fractions, dimensions, and tolerances according to customer and production specifications.
• Proficient at reading, interpreting, and understanding weld symbols, blueprints and drawings in order to accurately fabricate parts and components the first time.
• Proficient at using quality inspection equipment (gages, micrometers, rulers), GD&T preferred.

Physical Requirements 

• Regularly required to sit, stand, or walk the duration of shift, 8-10 hours. 
• Frequently required to talk or hear.
• Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, reach or bend.
• Manually lift, push, or pull up to 50 pounds. 
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision in which 20/20 vision or corrected vision to 20/20 vision is required.
• Occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts.
• Occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles resulting from metalworking coolants and oils.
• The noise level in the work environment is sometimes loud when working in the plant, in which hearing protection is required.

Benefits

• Paid vacation and holidays (9 per year)
• Medical, Dental, & Vision Plans
• Short and Long Term Disability Plans
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with strong employer match
• Company paid life insurance & AD&D
• 100% tuition reimbursement for job relation classes
• PPE reimbursement
• Your specific benefits package will depend on your position, location, and years of service with Prince

Due to ITAR regulations, only U.S. persons—defined as U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders), and U.S. nationals—are eligible for this position. 

*We are an Equal Employment Opportunity ("EEO") Employer. Applicants can learn more about Prince's status as an equal opportunity employer by viewing the federal "EEO is the Law" poster (