Lead Welding Superintendent

Relocation authorized: National - Single. Full-time telework; office/project work location: Thacker Pass, NV.

About the Project

Thacker Pass is the largest known lithium resource in the United States. Once complete, the mine and processing facilities will produce more lithium carbonate than any other U.S. facility—enough to power 1 million electric vehicles per year. As the EPCM contractor for Lithium Americas, Bechtel manages and integrates the efforts of contractors engineering and building the facility, as well as procurement of about $1 billion in goods and services.

The project is located in the high desert of north-central Nevada, about 25 miles from the Oregon border, 1 hour northwest of Winnemucca, and 3 hours northeast of Reno. Designed with sustainability in mind, the facility will use excess process heat to generate electricity and recycle process water up to seven times. Upon completion of the second phase, Thacker Pass will produce over 16 times the current U.S. output of lithium.

Responsibilities

• Lead and represent a Workforce Services (WFS) team, managing systems and processes to streamline or optimize routine tasks or complex workflows.
• Design, test, and implement new workforce services processes and solutions to drive innovation, efficiency, and continuous improvement.
• Implement, maintain, and manage the Field Welding program, providing oversight and technical direction to subordinates and subcontractors.
• Manage the subcontractor welding program and provide specialized welding engineering and technical support for construction to ensure compliance with code, client, and joint venture procedures.
• Provide technical expertise for ASME, API, AWS, or other code-designed and fabricated items.
• Oversee the subcontractor pre- and post-weld heat treatment program.
• Coordinate with Discipline Superintendents and the Lead Field Welding Engineer to validate manpower and welder qualification requirements.
• Direct Welding General Foremen and Foremen to support welding initiatives, ensuring welders have the necessary skills for first-time quality with minimal rework.
• Review weekly scheduled work plans with discipline superintendents for pipe commodities to ensure proper welder resources and qualifications are available.
• Identify and elevate scheduling concerns and constraints to the construction management team.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (or international equivalent) and 10–13 years of relevant experience, or 14–17 years of relevant work experience.
• Knowledge of supervisory functions related to field welding activities.
• Experience and practical skills in FCAW, mechanized FCAW, SAW, SMAW, and GTAW welding processes.
• Knowledge of initial site mobilization activities, planning, and scheduling development.
• Proficiency in Excel, Word, Smart Plant Review, and document database navigation.
• Understanding of Project Environmental, Safety & Health requirements.
• Demonstrated leadership in a team-based environment.

Skills

• Extensive field inspections requiring walking in and around construction sites, climbing ladders and scaffolding, working on elevated platforms, uneven surfaces, and in small or confined spaces.
• Ability to lift materials and use standard-issued Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for assigned tasks (e.g., harness, life vest, lift buckets).
• Ability to enter and exit the project site safely.

Benefits

Bechtel offers robust benefits to support employees, including career advancement, cultural programs, and work-life balance initiatives. Learn more at bechtel.com/total-rewards.