Metal Fabricator (GES_WC_SA)

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Title: Metal Fabricator

 Visa‑Compliant Role Title: Metal Fabricator (Fabrication Tradesperson) — Stainless Steel & Structural Fabrication

Suggested ANZSCO Code: 322311 Metal Fabricator

Employer: Wynns Coonawarra Estate / Treasury Wine Estates — Coonawarra, South Australia

Employment Type: Full‑time, ongoing (or fixed‑term 12 months for project/sponsorship)

 Location: Memorial Drive, Coonawarra SA 5280 (work across estate — workshop, cellar, and vineyard sites)

ROLE PURPOSE

Provide skilled metal fabrication, installation and repair services across Wynns Coonawarra Estate to support winery infrastructure, grape‑handling systems and vineyard equipment, ensuring safe, food‑grade compliant stainless steel work, minimal operational downtime and adherence to quality and WHS standards.

OPERATIONAL CONTEXT

• Work within a mixed operations environment including the historic cellar, processing areas, workshops and vineyard sites on the Terra Rossa estate.


• Coordinate with Maintenance & Engineering, Viticulture, Cellar and Production teams and external contractors (mechanical, electrical, structural).


• Support seasonal peaks (harvest) and planned vineyard/cellar projects, ensuring food‑safety hygiene zones and minimal disruption to cellar operations.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Fabrication & Installation

• Read and interpret engineering drawings, sketches and work orders; set out, measure and mark components.


• Cut, form, bend, roll and join metals using MIG/TIG/arc welding, oxy‑fuel and plasma cutting, press/brake and rolling equipment.


• Fabricate and install stainless steel winery fittings: tanks, pipework, platforms, ladders, chutes, racking and grape‑handling components.


• Manufacture and repair vineyard implements and site steelwork: gates, trailers, sprayer frames, trellis attachments, supports and structural brackets.


• Perform on‑site assemblies, alignments, bolting and in‑situ welding; ensure installations meet specification.
Maintenance & Repairs

• Conduct planned preventative maintenance and rapid reactive repairs to minimise production downtime.


• Inspect fabricated items and welds; perform visual NDT and coordinate specialist inspection where required.


Quality & Documentation

• Ensure fabricated work meets dimensional, metallurgical and surface‑finish specifications; complete job cards, material consumption records and inspection checklists.


• Undertake stainless steel passivation and appropriate surface treatments for food‑grade applications.
Safety & Compliance

• Work in accordance with WHS, food safety/hygiene zones and environmental procedures; apply safe working systems for welding, grinding and hot‑work permits.
• Operate and maintain PPE, welding ventilation and fire‑safety controls; participate in toolbox talks and risk assessments.


Teamwork & Continuous Improvement

• Liaise with engineers, contractors and multi‑disciplinary teams to plan works and minimise operational impact.


• Suggest and implement fabrication improvements, cost controls and longevity enhancements for estate assets.


KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• Maintenance & Engineering Supervisor / Head of Estates & Facilities (reports to)


• Viticulture and Cellar Operations teams


• External mechanical/electrical contractors and structural engineers


• Casual trades assistants and contractors


SELECTION CRITERIA — ESSENTIAL (VISA‑CRITICAL)

• Trade qualification: Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade (or equivalent apprenticeship) OR demonstrable equivalent industry experience.


• Minimum 3–5 years post‑trade experience in metal fabrication with significant stainless steel experience; experience in food/beverage or agricultural equipment fabrication preferred.


• Proficiency in MIG, TIG and arc welding with evidence of quality welds; stainless steel welding essential.


• Ability to read and fabricate to engineering drawings and tight tolerances.


• Competent use of workshop machinery: press brake, guillotine, rolling machine, plasma cutter, band saw, grinders.


• Experience with on‑site installation, working at heights and confined spaces.


• Current Forklift licence and elevated work platform ticket desirable.


• Strong WHS knowledge and commitment to safe systems in industrial and food environments.


• Good communication skills, ability to work independently and as part of a small multidisciplinary team.


• Right to work in Australia (citizen, permanent resident or eligible visa). For sponsored applicants: capable of meeting employer‑sponsored visa and skill assessment requirements.

Desirable

• Welding certifications (AS/NZS 1554 or equivalent), orbital welding or stainless passivation training.


• Certificate IV in Engineering or additional trade recognition.


• Experience in winery, beverage or food‑grade stainless steel fabrication.


• Basic mechanical fitting, pipework fabrication, and light machining skills.


• First Aid certificate and current driver’s licence.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• High‑quality welding and fabrication workmanship.


• Technical interpretation of drawings and problem solving.


• On‑site installation and commissioning capability.


• Time management, materials planning and cost awareness.


• Strong safety culture and teamwork.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Workshop, cellar and outdoor vineyard sites — exposure to heat, dust, welding fumes and variable weather; PPE required.


• Manual handling and lifting (regularly up to 25–30 kg), standing, crouching, working at heights and in confined spaces.


• Occasional weekend or after‑hours work during harvest, shutdowns or emergency repairs.

VISA & SPONSORSHIP SUITABILITY

• ANZSCO alignment: 322211 Metal Fabricator.

PRE‑EMPLOYMENT & ONGOING REQUIREMENTS

• Proof of identity and right to work in Australia (sponsored candidates to provide visa documentation).


• Verification of trade qualification and welding/test certificates.


• National Police Check, contactable referees and employment history.


• Pre‑employment medical and hearing test (as required).


• Site induction, WHS, hot‑work and food‑safety zone training.


• Ongoing competency checks and periodic welding inspection records.

ONBOARDING & DEVELOPMENT

• Probationary period (typically 3 months) with workshop and site induction: WHS, hygiene zones, equipment operation, fabrication SOPs and supervisor introductions.
• Ongoing training: welding upskilling, stainless‑steel passivation, equipment OEM training, WHS updates and pathway for Certificate IV or supervisory development.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs) — examples

• Percentage of fabrication jobs completed to spec and on time.


• Number of reactive repairs turnaround time (target).


• Quality pass rate for weld inspections / NDT.


• Reduction in downtime attributable to fabrication/maintenance.


• Compliance with WHS incidents and food‑safety zoning breaches (zero tolerance).

REPORTING LINE

Reports to: Maintenance & Engineering Supervisor / Head of Estates & Facilities

DATE

Position Description current as at 2026