What are the responsibilities and job description for the Field Welded Tank Superintendent position at Neighbors and Associates?
Position Summary: The Field Welded Tank Superintendent is responsible for leading and supervising field crews in the safe, efficient, and high-quality erection, welding, repair, and maintenance of above-ground welded storage tanks and related vessels. This role oversees all on-site welding operations, ensures compliance with industry codes (e.g., API 650, API 653, ASME), project specifications, and safety standards, while managing schedule, budget, labor, equipment, and materials. The Superintendent serves as the primary field leader, coordinating with project managers, inspectors, clients, and subcontractors to deliver successful tank projects in remote or industrial field environments.
Field Welded Tank Superintendent Duties and Responsibilities:
- Supervise and direct crews of welders, fitters, riggers, apprentices, and support personnel during field tank erection, including bottom, shell, roof, nozzle, and appurtenance welding/installation.
- Plan, organize, and control daily welding and erection activities to meet project milestones, budgets, and quality requirements.
- Read and interpret blueprints, drawings, specifications, weld procedures (WPS/PQR), and tank design documents to ensure accurate layout, fit-up, and welding execution.
- Oversee welding processes (e.g., SMAW, FCAW, GMAW, SAW) for carbon steel and alloy tanks, ensuring welds meet visual, non-destructive testing (NDT), and code acceptance criteria.
- Conduct pre-job planning, including material take-offs, sequencing of erection stages, rigging/lifting plans, scaffold setup, and equipment needs.
- Enforce strict safety protocols, including confined space entry, fall protection, hot work permits, PPE usage, and hazard recognition; lead daily safety meetings and job hazard analyses (JHAs).
- Manage field quality control, including fit-up inspections, in-process welding monitoring, welder qualifications, and coordination with third-party inspectors and NDT technicians.
- Track progress, labor hours, material usage, and equipment; report daily/weekly status to project management and address deviations to keep projects on schedule and within budget.
- Troubleshoot technical issues related to welding, distortion control, alignment, or material problems; implement corrective actions and rework as needed.
- Mentor and train welders and crew members, including welder qualification testing and skill development.
- Coordinate with subcontractors, vendors, and site personnel for deliveries, inspections, hydro-testing, and commissioning activities.
- Maintain accurate documentation, including weld maps, inspection reports, as-built drawings, and daily logs.
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement, cost control, and zero-incident safety performance.
- Adhere to all company, site-specific, OSHA, and API safety policies, including hot work permits, fall protection, and confined space entry.
- Travel extensively nationwide to project sites; work extended hours, overtime, and rotational/outage schedules as required
- Hourly position with full-time benefits.
- May perform other duties as assigned.
Field Welded Tank Superintendent Education and Qualifications:
- Minimum 8–10 years of experience in field tank erection/welding, with at least 3–5 years in a supervisory/foreman role on welded API-style storage tanks.
- Proven expertise in multiple welding processes relevant to tank construction (e.g., stick, flux-core, submerged arc).
- Proficiency in SMAW and FCAW welding processes (primary for field work); additional experience with GMAW or SAW preferred.
- Current and valid welder qualifications/certifications per ASME Section IX (e.g., in relevant positions like 3G/4G/6G and processes); ability to pass project-specific tests.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, and welding symbols.
- Experience in industrial/outdoor construction environments, including working at heights and in confined spaces.
- Strong commitment to workplace safety and zero-incident performance.
- Valid driver’s license; ability to travel by air, vehicle, or other means and pass background/drug screenings.
- Current certifications such as AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), API 653/650 Inspector (preferred), or equivalent; qualified welding procedures and welder performance qualifications.
- Strong knowledge of API 650/653 standards, ASME Section IX, and other relevant codes for aboveground storage tanks.
- Experience managing field crews of 10–50 personnel on large-scale tank projects (e.g., refinery, terminal, or industrial sites).
- Ability to read and interpret complex blueprints, P&IDs, and weld symbols.
- Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills; ability to work under pressure in outdoor/all-weather conditions.
- OSHA 30-hour certification or equivalent training preferred.
- Experience with tank repair/alterations, roof replacements, bottom replacements, or floating roof installations preferred.
- Direct experience with API 650 and/or API 620 field-erected tank construction, including full-penetration welds on shell/bottom/roof joints preferred.
- Previous traveling field construction or tank-specific welding experience preferred.
- Experience with automated/semi-automated tank welding equipment (e.g., girth welders) preferred.
- TWIC card (for refinery/terminal access) or ability to obtain.
- NCCER certification or rigging/aerial lift operation experience preferred.
- Have or be able to obtain a United States Passport.
- Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Excel) for scheduling and reporting preferred.
Field Welded Tank Superintendent Physical and Work Environment Requirements:
- Ability to lift 50–75 pounds repeatedly.
- Capable of standing, climbing, kneeling, bending, and working in awkward positions for extended periods.
- Comfortable working outdoors in varying weather conditions, at significant heights (e.g., tank shells up to 300 ft diameter) while tied off and wearing a harness, and in confined spaces.
- Good dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and stamina for demanding fieldwork.
- Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
- Must provide and wear steel-toed boots.
- Must comply with all site and company safety rules and standards.
Field Welded Tank Superintendent Travel Requirements:
- 80–100% travel throughout the United States.
- Projects typically last several weeks to several months per location.
- Per diem provided per company policy.
Limitations and Disclaimer: The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position. All job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State Laws.
Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. Continued employment remains on an “at-will” basis.
REV-03/18/2026