Lead Welder

Lead Aerospace Welder / Fabricator This role leads a team of experienced metal fabricators and welders in a large aerospace facility in Santa Ana, CA. You will perform high-quality custom fabrication and welding while guiding and supporting the welding team to meet demanding production schedules. The position focuses on precision work with steel, stainless steel, and aluminum, interpreting CAD-based engineering drawings, and ensuring that all finished products meet strict aerospace quality standards on a day shift schedule with regular overtime opportunities. Responsibilities Lead and provide daily hands-on support to the welding and fabrication team to ensure production goals and quality standards are met. Orient new team members, assist with assigning and reassigning tasks, and help schedule daily work assignments to maintain an efficient workflow. Assist in coaching, mentoring, and training team members in welding, fabrication techniques, safety practices, and quality expectations. Support leadership by reinforcing company policies, helping de-escalate conflicts, and setting and enforcing a high bar for quality and throughput. Report job status, production progress, and issues to leadership in a clear and timely manner. Analyze engineering drawings, CAD prints, and specifications to plan welding and fabrication operations where procedural information may be limited. Perform high-quality MIG and TIG welding and custom fabrication within demanding scheduled timeframes. Accurately measure, cut, fit, and detail materials in steel, stainless steel, and aluminum for custom and production work. Read, interpret, and work directly from engineering drawings and blueprints to produce parts that meet design requirements. Perform simple mathematics and work confidently with fractional and decimal measurements to ensure accurate fabrication. Use and understand measuring devices effectively to verify dimensions and tolerances throughout the fabrication process. Conduct thorough quality control inspections on finished products to ensure they meet specified performance standards and tolerances. Contribute to continuous improvement efforts to decrease turnaround time, streamline work processes, and improve overall operations. Work cooperatively and jointly with other departments and teams across the facility to support shared project goals. Perform other related duties as assigned to support an efficient and effective work environment. Essential Skills At least 5 years of verifiable, successful experience in welding and metal fabrication. Proficiency in MIG and TIG welding processes with a focus on aerospace applications (5+ years). Strong experience welding steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Ability to read, interpret, and work from engineering drawings, blueprints, and printed CAD drawings. Demonstrated experience in custom fabrication under demanding production schedules. Experience leading or supervising a team in a fabrication or welding environment. Strong communication and problem-solving skills for coordinating work and resolving production issues. Effective time management and work area organizational skills to maintain productivity and safety. Ability to perform basic mathematics and work confidently with fractional and decimal measurements. Proficiency in using measuring devices to verify dimensions and tolerances. Capability to perform detailed quality control inspections to ensure compliance with performance and tolerance requirements. Experience in manufacturing environments, preferably in aerospace or related industries. Additional Skills & Qualifications Experience in the automotive industry, particularly in fabrication or welding, is a plus. Knowledge of aerospace processes and standards is highly beneficial. Experience with mechanical assembly in a production or manufacturing setting. Experience in production, assembly, and inspection work. Ability to collaborate effectively across multiple departments and project teams. Comfort working in a high-paced, quality-focused aerospace environment with frequent overtime. Why Work Here? You will join a stable, growing, family-run organization that offers direct-hire employment, comprehensive benefits, and clear long-term growth opportunities. The company encourages cross-training across different departments, giving you the chance to expand your skills and explore diverse career paths within the organization. You will work in a collaborative culture that values craftsmanship, teamwork, and continuous improvement, with strong support for professional development and advancement. Work Environment The role is based in a large aerospace facility in Santa Ana, CA, operating on a day shift schedule from 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with overtime available on a daily basis and on weekends. The site consists of approximately 10 interconnected buildings linked by courtyards, with each building housing different departments and project teams. Around 190 staff currently work on site, with capacity to grow to about 240 employees, supported by an additional site recently acquired across the street. The environment is production-focused, with access to welding and fabrication equipment, engineering drawings, and quality control tools, and is designed to support efficient workflow and collaboration across multiple disciplines. Job Type & Location This is a Permanent position based out of Santa Ana, CA. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $62500.00 - $93600.00/yr. Benefits, PTO, Sick Pay, 401k, medical, dental, vision Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Santa Ana, CA. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Aug 4, 2026.