What are the responsibilities and job description for the Custom Fabrication Lead – Sheet Metal & Structural Welding position at Food Management Search?
Custom Fabrication Lead – Sheet Metal & Structural Welding
$26.00 – $34.00/Hour • Waukesha, WI Area • 100% Onsite • Full Benefits
- SCHEDULE: Premium 1st Shift with flexible start windows | ~45 hours per week average
- ROLE BALANCE: 95% hands-on custom fabrication and welding | 5% daily planning, timecard management, and mentorship
- EXPERIENCE: 3 years of professional custom metal fabrication or structural industrial welding experience
- EQUIPMENT: Shears, press brakes, plasma torches, structural manual/automatic welding setups, and shop math
- ITAR COMPLIANCE: US Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident required (no sponsorship available)
If you are a seasoned fabricator or welder looking to step away from monotonous assembly-line production and take pride in custom, varied industrial craftsmanship, this direct-hire leadership track offers an exceptional shop home. This established, family-oriented industrial manufacturer holds elite quality certifications for specialized components. Serving high-spec global industries—including defense, aerospace, energy, and heavy equipment—the production standard focuses entirely on precision and quality craftsmanship.
The company prides itself on maintaining a supportive, stable culture that actively invests in its workforce. In this high-ownership role, you will escape the standard corporate grind. This is a dynamic environment where the shop lead sets the example on the floor, tackles highly custom builds, and expands technical skills into specialized industrial production systems. This position offers long-term stability, comprehensive employee benefits, specialized safety-gear programs, and an environment where technical expertise is genuinely respected.
What You Will Be Doing (Daily Responsibilities)
- Fabricate and modify specialized, high-value custom parts, heavy structural fixtures, and production components from the ground up.
- Operate a full suite of industrial fabrication equipment, including heavy shears, press brakes, plasma torches, manual welders, and automatic welding machinery.
- Take hands-on ownership of specialty equipment maintenance, repairing complex structural components and supporting the design and creation of custom internal shop fixturing.
- Perform specialty equipment linings and refractory work, including the precise mixing, pouring, and forming of specialized materials during system rebuilds.
- Spend 95% of the shift actively working on the floor, with 5% dedicated to planning daily shop activities, reviewing timecards, and providing technical mentorship to junior team members.
- Ensure a safe, organized, and highly efficient workflow across the fabrication division while strictly adhering to quality management guidelines.
What We Are Looking For (Requirements & Qualifications)
- 3 years of verifiable experience in custom metal fabrication, structural welding, or a related industrial trade (trade degree or technical certification is a plus).
- Proven capability safely setting up and operating shears, press brakes, torch equipment, and standard welding machinery.
- Strong technical blueprint reading skills and fundamental mathematical proficiency (fractions, decimals, and basic shop geometry/algebra).
- Self-motivated, goal-oriented leadership mindset with the communication skills required to train assistants and collaborate directly with operations leadership.
- Physical capability to stand for extended periods in an industrial shop environment, bend, stoop, and regularly lift/carry objects weighing up to 25 lbs throughout the shift.
- Proximity to the facility, with permanent residency established within a comfortable daily commuting distance of the Waukesha, WI region.