Lead Shipfitter – Pour Operator

Jobtailor; Newport News (VA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Newport News, VA is seeking skilled fabricators and welders to support new construction, ship repair, and overhauls. You will read blueprints, fabricate steel structures, and perform welding and surface prep across multiple environments, including confined spaces and high elevations.

The role requires physical agility and the ability to work with lead bonding and heavy lifting in varying conditions aboard ships and in dry-dock settings.

Qualifications

• Experience reading blueprints and fabricating steel structures.
• Ability to perform surface prep, grinding, and sandblasting as needed.
• Comfort working in confined spaces and at extreme heights.

Responsibilities

• Read and interpret blueprints or plans.
• Place, maneuver, or fabricate steel structures or ship hulls.
• Measure, cut, grind, fit, align, and tack weld parts and sub-assemblies.
• Build in-place interior structures, hatches, doors, and bulkheads.
• Perform structural surface preparation through grinding and sandblasting during lead pour.
• Use a heating torch to liquefy lead for bonding lead to steel structures.
• Work across shops, platens, concrete and metal structures, dry-docks, and onboard ships.
• Support new construction, ship repair, and ship overhauls

Skills

Blueprint Interpretation

Steel Structure Fabrication

Welding Techniques

Structural Surface Preparation

Physical Agility

Tools

Heating Torch

Respirator

Job description

• Read and interpret blueprints or plans
• Place, maneuver, or fabricate steel structures or ship hulls
• Measure, cut, grind, fit, align, and tack weld parts and sub-assemblies
• Build in-place interior structures, hatches, doors, and bulkheads
• Perform structural surface preparation through grinding and sandblasting during lead pour
• Use a heating torch to liquefy lead for bonding lead to steel structures
• Work across shops, platens, concrete and metal structures, dry-docks, and onboard ships
• Support new construction, ship repair, and ship overhauls

Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Legally eligible to work in the U.S.
• U.S. Citizenship Required for this Position
• Able to climb ladders and work at extreme heights
• Able to work in small, tight, or confined spaces
• Able to kneel, squat, crawl, bend, stoop, and climb daily
• Able to lift heavy objects weighing 40 lbs. or more
• Able to work while repeatedly reaching overhead
• Able to work indoors or outdoors year-round in all weather conditions
• Able to work in areas with radiation
• Able to take and pass a respirator fit test
• Able to work assigned shift as production needs
• Able to take and pass a Physical Agility Test
• Able to take measurements or willing to learnWilling to work with lead
• Experience related to construction work, carpentry, auto mechanic/autobody work, or structural iron work may be relevant
• Fitters attend and become qualified through the shipyard’s welding school

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in reading blueprints, fabricating steel structures, and performing structural surface preparation. Proficient in welding techniques and capable of working in various environments, including confined spaces and extreme heights.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Blueprint Interpretation
• Steel Structure Fabrication
• Welding Techniques
• Structural Surface Preparation
• Physical Agility

Hard Skills

• Measuring
• Cutting
• Grinding
• Fitting
• Aligning
• Tack Welding
• Lead Bonding
• Sandblasting
• Construction Work
• Carpentry

Industry Keywords

• Ship Repair
• Ship Overhauls
• Dry-Docks
• Confined Spaces
• Heavy Lifting
• Radiation Safety

Tools & Technologies

• Heating Torch
• Respirator