We have an exciting opportunity to join our department/team here at Framatome UK!

Energise Your Career with Framatome UK – Powering a Safer, Smarter Nuclear Future

We are currently seeking a Lead Fabricator to join our team in Avonmouth to support with the safe and effective delivery of manufacturing scopes of work through high-integrity fabrication/welding and associated workshop activities, while providing day-to-day technical guidance, coordination and support to Fabricators and wider workshop personnel to ensure business needs, quality standards and production objectives are achieved.

What will you be doing?

• Support the coordination of daily fabrication activities in line with workshop schedules and production priorities as directed by the Supervisor / Management for the assigned fabrication team.
• Technically support Fabricators within own team in relation to welding methods, sequencing, workmanship standards and high welding standard practice.
• Carry out fabrication of high-integrity Stainless Steel fabrications within the nuclear sector in accordance with specifications, drawings and acceptance criteria as stated in ISO 5817.
• Promote and maintain a safe and healthy work environment by following standards and procedures and complying with legal and site-specific regulations.
• Attend and actively contribute to Daily Activity Briefs, ensuring daily risks, priorities, constraints and activities are clearly understood by the fabrication team.
• Monitor fabrication activities on the shop floor to ensure compliance with approved procedures, quality requirements and traceability controls.
• Provide practical support in the continuous development and improvement of fabrication and welding processes, procedures and workshop practices.
• Review fabrication performance, identify trends and drive improvements in quality, productivity, standardisation and right-first-time delivery.
• Assist with the training, mentoring and development of welders, including sharing best practice and supporting skill progression.
• Support the resolution of fabrication-related issues, including identifying defects, contributing to root cause discussions and helping implement corrective actions.
• Provide input into internal NCRs, observations, quality investigations and improvement actions when requested.
• Work closely with other workshop staff including Fabricators, General Operatives, Storeman, Welding Inspectors, Quality personnel and Production leadership to ensure efficient workflow and effective communication.
• Support the maintenance of high housekeeping standards and contribute to 5S / Lean initiatives within the workshop.
• Escalate safety, quality, technical or delivery concerns promptly to the Supervisor / Manager.
• Champion high standards of housekeeping, 5S and Lean culture across fabrication areas.

What are we looking for?

Training And Development Expectations:

• Nuclear Safety.
• 5S / Lean Culture.
• Weld defect understanding and development.
• Leadership / team coordination development.
• Coaching and mentoring skills.
• Quality and compliance awareness relevant to nuclear manufacturing.
• Other personal development opportunities (e.g. NVQ, CSWIP where relevant, supervisory/management development, advanced fabrication or inspection-related qualifications).

Person Specification:

• Extensive proven knowledge and experience in fabrication of Stainless Steel and, where applicable, Carbon Steel components and assemblies within a regulated or high-specification environment (essential).
• Level 3 NVQ or equivalent (essential).
• Strong technical authority in fabrication methods, fit-up standards, dimensional control, material preparation and workmanship expectations.
• Demonstrate experience in reading, understanding and interpreting engineering drawings, weld maps, specifications and manufacturing documentation.
• Significant experience of working to controlled processes, procedures and specifications, ideally within nuclear, defence, aerospace, pressure systems or similarly regulated sectors
• Strong commitment to safety, quality assurance, regulatory compliance and nuclear safety culture.
• Proven ability to lead, coordinate and develop fabrication personnel in a workshop/manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence across production, quality and engineering functions.
• Experience supporting non-conformance investigations, quality improvement and root cause analysis.
• Questioning attitude and confidence to challenge unsafe, unclear or non-compliant practices.
• Excellent attention to detail and a strong focus on quality, traceability, dimensional accuracy and documentation accuracy.
• Proactive, organised and capable of balancing hands-on technical involvement with leadership responsibilities.
• Logical thinker with strong problem-solving and decision-making capability.
• Relevant fabrication, inspection or supervisory qualifications would be advantageous.

Key Outputs:

• Ensure fabrication activities are completed safely, efficiently and in accordance with workshop schedule and production requirements.
• Ensure fabrication workmanship consistently meets Framatome Ltd standards and client/customer acceptance criteria.
• Provide day-to-day fabrication support and guidance provided to the workshop team to promote right-first-time manufacture.
• Ensure material traceability maintained throughout manufacturing processes.
• Ensure workshop documentation assigned to own fabrication team is completed accurately and in a timely manner.
• Timely identification and communication of fabrication-related risks, defects, non-conformances and improvement opportunities.
• Positive contribution to team capability, process improvement and workshop pe

Work pattern: On-site

Salary: £26.23 per hour

Benefits we offer:

• 25 days annual leave per year rising by 1 day for every 2 years worked (max 30 days) + Bank Holidays
• 8% employer pension contribution with employee 1% contribution (salary sacrifice)
• Employee assistance programme (EAP)
   

Our benefits package also includes Individual and family private health care, Dental insurance – individual cover, Cashplan – Level 2 cover - individual and family cover, Life assurance (4x salary), Income Protection, Professional Body Membership, Tusker Electric car scheme (salary sacrifice), Cycle to Work scheme (salary sacrifice), and Generous family leave.