Job Description

Overview

Panelmatic is seeking an experienced Fabrication Welder Lead to support the fabrication team by providing hands-on leadership, technical guidance, and quality oversight for welding and metal fabrication activities. This position will lead daily fabrication operations and assist team members in producing high-quality components used in custom control panel assemblies.

Responsibilities

  • Lead daily fabrication activities, assigning work and providing direction to fabrication team members.
  • Perform MIG welding, TIG welding, and general metal fabrication tasks as required.
  • Read and interpret fabrication drawings, blueprints, weld symbols, and shop documentation.
  • Fabricate, fit, and assemble metal components using various hand tools, power tools, and fabrication equipment.
  • Ensure welds meet quality standards, specifications, and customer requirements.
  • Inspect completed work for accuracy, workmanship, and compliance with drawings.
  • Provide guidance, training, and support to fabrication team members.
  • Assist supervisors with troubleshooting production issues and improving workflow.
  • Monitor progress to ensure production schedules and deadlines are met.
  • Promote a safe work environment by following all safety policies and procedures.
  • Maintain a clean and organized work area following 5S principles.
  • Communicate production concerns, material shortages, quality issues, and equipment needs to leadership.
  • Support continuous improvement initiatives to improve efficiency, quality, and productivity.

Requirements

  • 5+ years of welding and metal fabrication experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
  • Previous lead, mentor, or supervisory experience preferred.
  • Proficient in MIG welding; TIG welding experience preferred.
  • Ability to weld and fabricate various metals including mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.
  • Ability to read and interpret blueprints, drawings, and fabrication specifications.
  • Experience using fabrication tools including grinders, drills, saws, clamps, measuring tools, and layout equipment.
  • Strong understanding of welding techniques, measurements, tolerances, and quality standards.
  • Ability to work independently while providing direction and support to others.
  • Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • 401k
  • PTO

Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
401k
PTO

How this job compares in Houston, TX

Pay in context

This employer didn't publish a rate. For reference, welding jobs in Houston, TX currently run a median of $25/hr in our index, with the middle half of them falling between $22–$32/hr across 60 postings with published pay. That median is a reasonable floor to anchor on when a recruiter asks what you're looking for.

The local market in Houston, TX

We're tracking 209 other active welding openings in Houston, TX right now, from 123 different employers. 9 of them were added in the last week. Across Texas as a whole we're tracking 914 other active welding openings from 519 employers. A metro this active generally means you have real leverage — employers here are competing for the same welders. Browse every welding job in Houston, or widen the search to Texas.

Panelmatic currently has 4 other openings live in Texas, which is usually a sign of either steady growth or steady turnover — worth asking which in the interview.

The most active employers in Texas at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are Welding Shop in Houston, TX (21), Zachry Group (20), and Austin Industries (20). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within Texas, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Pasadena at $82/hr, Dallas at $35/hr, and La Porte at $32/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

What you'll be running

This posting calls for MIG and TIG work. MIG (GMAW) feeds a continuous wire electrode through a shielding-gas nozzle. It lays down metal fast and is forgiving on clean material, which is why it dominates production and light fabrication work. TIG (GTAW) uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode with filler added by hand, giving the operator the most control of any process. It is slow, demanding, and the standard for stainless, aluminum, and anything where the bead has to look as good as it holds.

See all lead welder openings if you want to compare this against similar roles.

Similar openings near Houston, TX

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Fabrication Welder Lead - 1st Shift figures were last recalculated when this page was built.