Lead Production Engineer

Lead Production Engineer – Drive Excellence in Oil & Gas Fabrication

Join WETICO in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as a **Lead Production Engineer**, where you will spearhead a high-performance team to deliver cutting-edge fabrication, welding, and assembly solutions for critical oil & gas, petrochemical, and water-treatment projects. In this pivotal role, you will bridge technical expertise with operational leadership, ensuring seamless execution, unwavering quality, and compliance with industry-leading standards—including Aramco, ASME, API, and AWS regulations.

As the driving force behind production excellence, you will oversee every phase of fabrication, from conceptual planning to final delivery, while fostering a culture of continuous improvement, safety, and innovation. This is an opportunity to shape the future of industrial manufacturing in one of the world’s most dynamic energy sectors.

Key Responsibilities

Your leadership will be instrumental in the following critical areas:

• Strategic Team Leadership & Mentorship: Direct a team of production engineers, providing guidance, mentorship, and professional development to elevate individual and collective performance. Cultivate a collaborative environment that fosters expertise, accountability, and operational efficiency across fabrication, welding, and assembly workflows.
• Technical Execution & Production Sequencing: Translate complex engineering drawings, specifications, and WPS/PQR documents into actionable job packs, cutting plans, and fit-up sequences. Develop optimized production schedules that align with project timelines, resource constraints, and quality benchmarks, ensuring seamless workflow execution.
• Compliance & Technical Integrity: Enforce strict adherence to Aramco, ASME, API, and AWS codes, as well as international standards, to guarantee flawless fabrication and welding outcomes. Prepare, review, and validate method statements, inspection test plans (ITPs), and technical calculations to mitigate risks and ensure first-time-right compliance.
• Problem-Solving & Quality Assurance: Monitor production progress, productivity metrics, and rework rates, intervening proactively to resolve technical challenges and non-conformities. Conduct root-cause analyses to implement corrective and preventive actions, driving continuous improvement in process reliability and efficiency.
• QC & Inspection Coordination: Serve as the technical liaison between production teams and quality control (QC) departments, overseeing inspection stages, non-destructive testing (NDT), and dimensional verification to uphold the highest standards of workmanship.
• Cost & Resource Optimization: Provide expert support in man-hour estimation and material take-off, ensuring accurate cost projections and resource allocation for project planning and budgeting.
• Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) Leadership: Champion a robust HSE culture by enforcing safety protocols, risk mitigation strategies, and best practices for safe execution methods. Ensure all operations align with NEBOSH/IOSH standards and industry safety regulations.
• Innovation & Performance Reporting: Drive operational excellence through Lean, Six Sigma, and World-Class Manufacturing (WCM) methodologies, implementing 5S principles and data-driven decision-making to enhance productivity and reduce waste. Present regular technical updates and performance metrics to the Production Manager, aligning execution with strategic objectives.
• Adaptive Problem-Solving: Assume ownership of additional responsibilities as needed, demonstrating flexibility and initiative to address evolving project demands and operational challenges.

Why This Role Matters

In this high-impact position, you will not only deliver world-class fabrication solutions but also inspire a team to achieve measurable results—setting new benchmarks for quality, productivity, and safety. Your expertise will be critical in ensuring that WETICO’s projects meet the rigorous demands of Aramco and global energy standards, contributing directly to the advancement of Saudi Arabia’s industrial infrastructure.

Qualifications & Expertise

To excel in this role, you must bring a proven track record of leadership and technical mastery in a high-stakes fabrication environment. We are seeking candidates who meet the following criteria:

• Experience: Minimum of **8 years** in a **world-class or Aramco-tier fabrication environment**, with hands-on experience in complex and critical projects within oil & gas, petrochemical, or water-treatment sectors. Demonstrated success in driving **first-time-right quality, productivity, and zero-incident performance** against key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Technical Proficiency: Deep expertise in **digital engineering and production systems**, including CAD/CAM software, ERP platforms, and advanced fabrication technologies. Proven ability to apply **WCM, Lean, and Six Sigma methodologies** to optimize workflows and reduce operational inefficiencies.
• Education & Certifications: An **accredited Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Production Engineering**; a **Master’s degree is highly preferred**. Mandatory certifications include:
• CSWIP or AWS-CWI (Certified Welding Inspector)
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
• NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health)
• Preferred certification: **Project Management Professional (PMP)**.
• Core Competencies:
• **Technical Leadership:** Proven ability to lead production engineering teams, mentor junior professionals, and drive technical decision-making.
• **Fabrication & Welding Expertise:** In-depth knowledge of welding processes, fabrication techniques, and compliance with industry codes (ASME, API, AWS).
• **Blueprint & Engineering Analysis:** Skilled in reading and interpreting complex engineering drawings, blueprints, and technical specifications.
• **Problem-Solving & Root-Cause Analysis:** Ability to diagnose technical issues, implement corrective actions, and prevent recurrence through data-driven insights.
• **Compliance & Quality Assurance:** Strong understanding of **Aramco, ASME, API, and AWS standards**, with a focus on ensuring compliance in every phase of production.
• **HSE Compliance:** Certified in **NEBOSH/IOSH** with a commitment to enforcing safe systems of work and risk management protocols.
• **Digital Literacy & Analytics:** Proficiency in leveraging **digital tools, ERP systems, and data analytics** to monitor performance, identify trends, and drive continuous improvement.

If you are a seasoned professional with a passion for operational excellence and a commitment to elevating industrial standards, we invite you to take the next step in your career with WETICO. Join us in shaping the future of Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure—where innovation meets precision.