Weld Operations Technician

POSITION OVERVIEW 

The Welding Operations Technician provides hands-on technical support for the Fab & Weld Value Stream across the facilities. The role supports the Value Stream Leaders, Group Leaders, Team Leads, Operators, and Manufacturing Engineering by improving production processes, documentation, tooling, fixtures, equipment readiness, quality controls, material flow, and model-year change execution. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS 

• Production Support: Provide daily floor support for safety, quality, delivery, and cost; respond to escalations involving process, tooling, fixtures, equipment, standard work, and material flow. 

• Continuous Improvement: Identify, prioritize, and implement approved small-to-medium improvements using observation, employee input, time studies, root-cause analysis, 5S, visual management, standard work, and Kaizen methods. 

• Process Documentation: Create, revise, and maintain standard work instructions, process flow charts, control plans, check sheets, job aids, setup sheets, parameter sheets, and other Quality System documentation under the appropriate approval process. 

• Time Studies and Labor Standards: Document work elements, conduct cycle-time observations, identify waste and constraints, recommend balanced work content, and support engineered labor-standard development. 

• Tooling and Fixtures: Assist with fixture concepts, fabrication, modification, validation, preventive-maintenance needs, and point-of-use controls. Coordinate repairs and improvements through Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and Manufacturing Engineering. 

• Equipment and CNC Support: Support production equipment setup, troubleshooting, data collection, and approved programming changes for applicable CNC routers, extrusion benders, and other manufacturing equipment. Escalate controls or design changes requiring Engineering authorization. 

• Quality and Weld Process Support: Help reduce weld defects and rework through parameter verification, fit-up checks, fixture validation, first-piece support, leak-test process review, defect Pareto analysis, containment support, and corrective-action follow-up. 

• Layout and Flow: Maintain current floor-layout information and recommend improvements to workstation design, ergonomics, WIP limits, point-of-use storage, material presentation, and movement between Fab and Weld operations. 

• Model-Year and Product Changes: Support trials, readiness checklists, tooling and fixture updates, work instructions, operator training, issue tracking, and launch follow-up for model-year and product changes in coordination with Product and Manufacturing Engineering. 

• Project Execution: Define tasks, owners, dates, risks, and expected results for assigned projects; maintain action lists, communicate status, validate benefits, and escalate barriers to the Value Stream Leader, or Manufacturing Engineering. 

DAILY SUPPORT EXPECTATIONS 

• Attend designated Daily meetings and Gemba walks; review hourly output, downtime, quality defects, WIP, rework, and open technical issues. 

• Maintain a prioritized technical-support action list with owner, due date, status, and verified closure. 

• Work directly with Group Leaders and Team Leads  

• Provide hands-on support at both facilities and transition quickly among production needs, improvement work, documentation, trials, and urgent problem solving. 

PERFORMANCE MEASURES 

Qualifications:

REQUIREMENTS 

• High school diploma or GED required; technical certificate, associate degree, apprenticeship, or equivalent manufacturing experience preferred. 

• Three or more years of progressive experience in manufacturing, fabrication, welding, assembly, maintenance, quality, tooling, CNC, or production technical support preferred. 

• Working knowledge of aluminum fabrication and welding processes, including GMAW/MIG and GTAW/TIG, strongly preferred. 

• Ability to read blueprints, engineering drawings, work instructions, bills of material, and production schedules; accurately use tape measures and common inspection tools. 

• Practical knowledge of Lean manufacturing, 5S, standard work, takt time, WIP control, value stream mapping, root-cause problem solving, and continuous improvement. 

• Ability to conduct time studies, organize data, prepare clear technical documentation, and communicate findings to hourly employees and leadership. 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Experience with SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Smartsheet, production systems, or CNC programming is preferred. 

• Ability to manage multiple assignments, work independently, collaborate across functions, and make sound decisions in a fast-changing production environment. 

ROLE BOUNDARIES AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS 

• This role may recommend and implement approved process improvements but may not independently change product design, engineering specifications, weld requirements, safety controls, or Quality System requirements. 

• Product, drawing, structural, programmable-control, and significant process changes require review and approval from the designated Engineering, Quality, EHS, Maintenance, or Operations authority. 

• This position has no direct reports unless separately assigned in writing and is expected to influence through technical credibility, service, follow-up, and collaboration. 

PHYSICAL AND PPE REQUIREMENTS 

Must be able to work in a non-air-conditioned manufacturing environment; regularly stand and walk; and occasionally bend, kneel, crouch, climb, reach, and lift or move up to 50 pounds. Required PPE includes safety glasses and safety shoes, with gloves, hearing protection, welding helmet, and other task-specific PPE as required. 

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.