VUG Production Lead - Welding - Days

2551 Valmont Dr Brenham Texas 77833-5418

Why Valmont

We’re Here to Move the World Forward.

Valmont impacts millions of people around the world every day, yet they might not realize the many ways. Our technology is helping feed the growing population, supplying the world with more reliable energy and access to renewables, enhancing connectivity in remote and urban locations to create a sustainable future and so much more. Simply put, Valmont is advancing agricultural productivity and reimagining vital infrastructure to make life better.

Join a Fortune 1000 company that respects hard work, honors diversity and invests in our employees as we focus on creating the world of tomorrow, today . We are the modern workforce . Are you ready to move the world forward? Apply now.

Production Lead: Welding/Quality | 1st Shift

Work Location

📍 Primary Work Location: Houston, TX | Reporting Facility: Brenham, TX

This position is primarily located at our Valmont-United Galvanizing (VUG) facility in Houston, TX ; however, the position reports to and supports our Brenham, TX facility .

Schedule & Compensation

☀️ Day Shift | 1st Shift Monday – Friday | 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM *

*Additional hours outside the standard schedule may be required based on business needs.

• 💰 Starting Pay: $30.55 – $31.80/hour , based on experience & qualifications
• ➕ $0.75/hour Lead Allowance
• 📈 Built-In Pay Progression: Increase opportunities at 90 days, 1 year, and 2 years
• 📊 Periodic Wage Review Opportunities
• 🎯 Annual Discretionary Bonus Opportunity

Build Your Career. Lead a Team. Make an Impact.

If you're an experienced welder and manufacturing leader who enjoys being hands-on while helping others succeed, this could be the next step in your career.

As a Production Lead, you'll work alongside the team while providing day-to-day leadership on the shop floor. You'll help drive Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost performance, develop employees, solve production challenges, and keep operations moving safely and efficiently.

This role reports to the Quality Manager and is an excellent opportunity for someone who combines strong welding and fabrication knowledge with the ability to lead by example, communicate effectively, and build a strong team culture.

What You'll Do

• Lead by example and promote a strong Safety-First culture.
• Provide daily direction and support to production employees.
• Work alongside the team while helping achieve safety, quality, production, and delivery goals.
• Lead shift start-up meetings and communicate daily priorities and performance expectations.
• Monitor production performance and address issues that could impact safety, quality, cost, or delivery.
• Ensure required quality checks, documentation, and production paperwork are completed accurately.
• Maintain work instructions, best practices, and material flow to support efficient production.
• Train and coach employees to promote consistent work methods, quality, and performance.
• Provide employees with timely feedback, recognition, and guidance on individual and team performance.
• Identify cross-training opportunities and help strengthen team capabilities.
• Lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) efforts to understand losses, equipment issues, and production interruptions and help prevent recurrence.
• Develop a strong working knowledge of the equipment and processes within the assigned department.
• Monitor equipment condition and coordinate needed repairs and preventive maintenance.
• Maintain an organized production area and ensure the department is prepared for the following shift.
• Communicate effectively across shifts, departments, employees, and leadership.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What We're Looking For

• Required Qualifications of all candidates
• 3+ years of welding experience
• 3+ years of leadership experience, preferably in an industrial or manufacturing environment
• High school diploma or GED
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing, fabrication, and production equipment
• Strong mechanical aptitude
• Ability to read and use measuring equipment such as micrometers, flatness and radius gauges, and tape measures
• Ability to read blueprints, where applicable
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment while meeting safety, quality, and production expectations
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook
• Ability to be trained and certified to operate a forklift and, where applicable, an overhead crane
• Ability to wear required PPE and follow all facility safety requirements

Preferred Qualifications

• Candidates may stand out even more with: Associate degree in a related field
• 4+ years of leadership experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Six Sigma certification or training
• Working knowledge of IFS

Your Impact

As Production Lead, your leadership directly influences the team's:

Safety

Quality

Productivity

• Manufacturing costs
• On-time delivery
• Employee development and teamwork
• Customer satisfaction

We're looking for someone who doesn't just direct the work, but sets the example, develops the team, recognizes good performance, and steps in to help solve problems when challenges arise.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

This is a hands-on manufacturing position performed primarily in an indoor production/shop environment, with occasional outdoor work.

Candidates should be comfortable:

Working in a non-temperature-controlled manufacturing environment with exposure to seasonal heat and cold

Working around welding and fabrication operations, production machinery, moving equipment, metal materials, dust, fumes, noise, vibration, grease, oil, and other normal industrial conditions

• Working around material-handling equipment and areas where pinch points, sharp metal edges, uneven surfaces, and trip hazards may be present
• Standing and moving throughout the production area for the majority of the shift
• Wearing required PPE, including safety glasses, hearing protection, and safety footwear
• Maintaining awareness of surrounding equipment, employees, and production activity to support a safe workplace

Specific working conditions and physical demands may vary depending on the assigned department and production activity.