Senior Fabrication Program Manager

Huntington Ingalls Industries; Virginia Beach (VA); On-site; USD 143,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Huntington Ingalls Industries – Mission Technologies seeks a Senior Fabrication Program Manager to lead full lifecycle fabrication operations across multiple projects, reporting to the VP of Operations. The role emphasizes make/buy decisions, production oversight, and continuous improvement while ensuring safety and quality in line with Navy standards.

The ideal candidate has extensive DoD fabrication experience, strong leadership, and a track record of delivering on schedule and budget in a

Qualifications

• 8+ years with Bachelor's, 6+ years with Master's, or 12 years with HS.
• Experience with CPIF, CPFF, FPIF, and FFP DoD contracts and compliance.
• Experience creating and coordinating change orders with program managers.
• End-to-end change order management including scope, estimates, and baselines.
• Fabrication operations knowledge: welding, paint, metalworking equipment.
• Quality assurance programs including NAVSEA and JFMM applications.
• Ability to interpret NAVSEA docs; apply ABS, AWS/ASME codes.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, execution, and performance across complex fabrication projects.
• Direct day-to-day operations for multiple fabrication programs.
• Develop Statements of Work for outsourced items.
• Coordinate between planning, production, engineering, and leadership.
• Monitor budgets, schedules, and performance; report to teams and customers.
• Build relationships with Navy customers and subcontractors to grow markets.
• Identify and resolve project challenges; drive productivity improvements.
• Create systems for performance monitoring and process optimization.
• Provide hands-on operational support to meet deadlines.
• Maintain technical docs: work packages, procedures, trip reports.
• Ensure safety, quality, and compliance across fabrication operations.

Skills

DoD contracts knowledge

Fabrication operations

Change management

Leadership of industrial teams

Cost & schedule analysis

Safety compliance

Vendor management

Make/buy decisions

Quality assurance

Communication with customers

MS Office proficiency

Safety governance

DoD clearance eligibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's degree in related field

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

CAD software

Job description

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Requisition Number:30323

Required Travel: 11 - 25%

Employment Type:Full Time/Salaried/Exempt

Anticipated Salary Range:$143,088.00-$190,000.00

Security Clearance:Ability to Obtain

Level of Experience:Management

This opportunity resides with Global Security (GS).Mission Technologies' Global Security (GS) group comprises live, virtual, constructive (LVC) solutions; fleet sustainment; nuclear and environmental; and Australia business.
As a trusted partner to our military customers, HII designs, develops and operates the largest LVC enterprise that prepares warfighters for cross-domain battle. With advanced technologies to enable mission readiness, HII understands that preparation requires full coordination-not readiness in piece-parts.
For more than 40 years, the U.S. Navy has entrusted HII to maintain and modernize the vast majority of its fleet. With a holistic approach to life-cycle maritime defense systems-from small watercraft to submarines, surface combatants and aircraft carriers-HII ensures a high state of readiness.
HII supports the Department of Energy's national security mission through the management and operation of its sites, as well as the safe cleanup of legacy waste across the country. HII meets clients' toughest nuclear and environmental challenges.

Leadership at HII – Mission Technologies
Leadership at HII is a mindset, not a title. Through our Leadership Capability Framework, we define how every employee grows, leads, and contributes—regardless of role. It sets the standard for how you can develop yourself and what you can expect from leaders across our organization. We look for candidates who want to grow in alignment with these capabilities:

• Know & Grow Your People – Develop talent, empower teams, and build an inclusive environment.
• Build Relationships– Strengthen trust, collaboration, and cross-functional partnerships.
• Take Ownership– Drive accountability, execution excellence, and results.
• Customer First– Anticipate mission needs and deliver value to our partners.
• Shape the Future – Inspire innovation and align work with strategic priorities.
• Act with Urgency– Make informed decisions and move with purpose.

These capabilities define how leaders inspire teams, deliver results, and shape the future of Mission Technologies.

Summary

Join a mission-driven team supporting Fleet Sustainment as our Senior Fabrication Program Manager, a senior leader shaping and driving all fabrication operations across the organization. Reporting directly to the VP of Operations, this role leads the full lifecycle of fabrication activity, including strategic make/buy decisions, production oversight, and continuous improvement of operations.

We're looking for a hands-on, highly skilled fabrication expert who thrives in fast-paced operational environments, demonstrates an unwavering commitment to safety and quality, and brings strong familiarity with U.S. Navy standards, work environments, and customer expectations. This is a high-impact position with visibility across leadership, customers, and industry partners.

• Champion a culture of integrity, safety, quality, respect, and accountability in all fabrication operations.
• Lead planning, execution, and performance across complex metal fabrication, piping, and sheetmetal work packages, ensuring cost, schedule, and technical objectives are met.
• Develop comprehensive Statements of Work for work-items being outsourced.
• Direct day to day operational execution for multiple fabrication projects, serving as the central point of coordination between planning, production, engineering, and leadership.
• Efficiently manage workload distribution, scheduling, and task assignments across multiple fabrication programs/projects.
• Monitor performance, budgets, and schedules; prepare clear, actionable reports and present updates to internal teams and external customers.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Navy customers and subcontractors to grow existing markets and seek new opportunities.
• Identify and resolve project challenges proactively, driving improvements in productivity, quality, and customer satisfaction.
• Develop and implement systems for performance monitoring, problem resolution, and project optimization.
• Provide hands on operational support when needed to resolve technical issues or meet critical deadlines.
• Create and maintain technical documentation including controlled work packages, procedures, test documents, and trip reports.
• Recommend enhancements to policies and processes to support improved safety, efficiency, and operational results.
• Lead, mentor, and develop team members through clear communication, performance guidance, and mission focused direction.
• Ensure all projects meet budget, schedule, and performance targets, preventing rework, delays, and cost impacts.

Minimum Qualifications

• 8 years relevant progressive experience with Bachelors in related field; 6 years relevant progressive experience with Masters in related field; or High School Diploma or equivalent and 12 years relevant progressiveexperience.
• Demonstrated expertise in a wide range of DoD contract types, including CPIF, CPFF, FPIF, and FFP, with the ability to interpret contract requirements, assess cost and schedule impacts, and ensure compliance throughout execution.
• Skilled in preparing and submitting Condition Found Reports, accurately identifying growth work, and coordinating with program managers to validate scope, develop estimates, and support timely resolution.
• Experienced in end to end change order management, including scope definition, impact analysis, proposal development, negotiation support, and incorporation of approved changes into cost, schedule, and performance baselines.
• Strong, practical knowledge of fabrication operations including welding processes, paint booth and blasting operations, and metalworking equipment such as shear, brake, and plasma tables; proficiency in safe operation of fabrication equipment.
• Formal experience with quality assurance programs to include executing work under NAVSEA Standard Items and Joint Fleet Maintenance Manual (JFMM).
• Ability to interpret NAVSEA technical documentation, standards, and procedures for naval structural installations, welding, and painting; with demonstrated ability to apply ABS Rules, AWS/ASME welding and fabrication codes, and commercial/industry standards as shop work expands beyond Navy programs.
• Experience estimating and planning fabrication bids.
• Ability to qualify, manage, and evaluate fabrication subcontractors, machine shops, paint vendors, and structural fabricators for outsourced work.
• Proven experience leading teams performing project based work in industrial environments with ability to deliver results through direct reports and lower level supervisors.
• Strong proficiency in standard computer applications including word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and email.
• Effective communication skills with teams, leadership, and customers.
• Ability to enforce and comply with safety protocols.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance and base access credentials.

Preferred Requirements

• Experience managing welding fabrication operations.
• Experience overseeing paint and coatings operations.
• Familiarity with multiple welding processes.
• Knowledge/experience with SubSafe / Level 1 requirements.
• Ability to interpret drawings and models in CAD or similar tools for fabrication planning.
• Ability to lead make/buy decisions using cost benefit analysis, schedule impact evaluations, and vendor capability assessments.
• Familiarity with introducing new fabrication technologies (e.g., CNC plasma programming, robotic welding, improved coatings systems).
• Shipboard experience strongly preferred.
• Understanding of Navy operations, environments, and mission requirements.

Physical Requirements

Job performance may require working in an industrial or shipboard environment. Normally not required to lift more than 40 pounds higher than three feet above feet/floor level.

The listed salary range for this role is intended as a good faith estimate based on the role's location, expectations, and responsibilities. When extending an offer, HII's Mission Technologies division takes a variety of factors into consideration which include, but are not limited to, the role's function and a candidate's education or training, work experience, and key skills.

Meet HII's Mission Technologies Division

Our team of more than 7,000 professionals worldwide delivers all-domain expertise and advanced technologies in service of mission partners across the globe. Mission Technologies is leading the next evolution of national defense – the data evolution - by accelerating a breadth of national security solutions for government and commercial customers. Our capabilities range from C5ISR, AI and Big Data, cyber operations and synthetic training environments to fleet sustainment, environmental remediation and the largest family of unmanned underwater vehicles in every class. Find the role that's right for you. We look forward to meeting you.

HII is more than a job - it’s an opportunity to build a new future. We offer competitive benefits such as best-in-class medical, dental and vision plan choices; wellness resources; employee assistance programs; Savings Plan Options (401(k)); financial planning tools, life insurance; employee discounts; paid holidays and paid time off; tuition reimbursement; as well as early childhood and post-secondary education scholarships. Bonus/other non-recurrent compensation is occasionally offered for qualified positions, and if applicable to this role will be addressed by the recruiter at the screening phase of application.

Why HII

We build the world's most powerful, survivable naval ships and defense technology solutions that safeguard our seas, sky, land, space and cyber. Our workforce includes skilled tradespeople; artificial intelligence, machine learning (AI/ML) experts; engineers; technologists; scientists; logistics experts; and business administration professionals.

Recognized as one of America's top large company employers, we are a values and ethics driven organization that puts people’s safety and well-being first. Regardless of your role or where you serve, at HII, you’ll find a supportive and welcoming environment, competitive benefits, and valuable educational and training programs for continual career growth at every stage of your career.

Together we are working to ensure a future where everyone can be free and thrive.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, or veteran status or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.

Do You Need Assistance?

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Reasonable accommodations are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only those inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address. Additionally, you may also call 1-844-849-8463 for assistance. Press #3 for HII Mission Technologies.