SHIPFITTER EXPERIENCED - STEEL CONSTRUCTION/CARPENTRY

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.; Virginia; On-site; USD 74,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly paychecks

Paid time off

Medical benefits

401K match

Job summary

Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, is hiring Shipfitters with a minimum of 3+ years of experience. You will read blueprints to place and fabricate steel hull structures, using a range of tools to measure, cut, grind, fit and tack weld parts from tiny details to large sub-assemblies.

Fitters work across the shipyard, including shops and aboard ships, and may face high elevations and confined spaces.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3+ years of Fitting/Fabrication experience.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints for steel structures.
• Willingness to complete welding school or related training.

Responsibilities

• Read and interpret blueprints to place, maneuver, or fabricate steel hull structures.
• Measure, cut, grind, fit, align and tack weld parts from small to large sub-assemblies.
• Work in shipyard locations including shops and aboard ships; climb to heights and in confined spaces.
• Attend welding school and become qualified through the shipyard program.

Skills

Fitting/Fabrication

Blueprint reading

Carpentry

Education

High school diploma

Welding or HVAC certification

Job description

SHIPFITTER EXPERIENCED - STEEL CONSTRUCTION/CARPENTRY

Location: Newport News, Virginia, United States

Date: Jul 29, 2026

Req ID: 47510

Team: X11 FITTERS

Entity: Newport News Shipbuilding

US Citizenship Required for this Position: Yes

Full-Time

Shift: Multiple

Relocation: No relocation assistance available

Virtual/Telework Opportunity: No - Not eligible for telework

Travel Requirements: No

Clearance Required: No - Clearance Not Required to Start

Salary Range: $74,297.60 to $85,196.80

The anticipated salary range represents the estimated base pay for this role. Final compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors, and may vary from the posted range.

Meet HII's Newport News Shipbuilding

With more than 25,000 employees - including third-, fourth- and even fifth-generation shipbuilders - HII's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division is the largest industrial employer in Virginia. We're the sole designer, builder and refueler of U.S. Navy nuclear aircraft carriers and one of two providers of U.S. Navy nuclear submarines. Our diverse and innovative team of professionals ranges from skilled trades to project managers, engineers and software developers to solution architects, technical subject matter experts, and system users. We collaborate together at the forefront of technology, manufacturing, and integration of the most powerful and survivable naval ships in the world.

The Role

Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of HII, is hiring Shipfitters with a minimum of 3 or more years of experience. Newport News Shipbuilding offers competitive pay, weekly paychecks, paid time off, paid holidays, medical benefits including an on-site health center, 401K company match, employee discounts, and more.

Fitters are often called the "carpenters" of shipbuilding or "Artists of Steel" because they need to read and interpret blueprints or plans to place, maneuver, or fabricate steel structures or hulls of ships. Fitters use a variety of tools to measure, cut, grind, fit, align and tack weld parts as small as a fingernail to the large sub-assemblies and super lifts that form the structural body of a ship. Fitters also build in-place all interior structures, hatches, doors, bulkheads, etc., to complete all the steel work in the ship.

Fitters at NNS attend and become qualified through the shipyard's state of the art welding school. Fitters are expected to climb and work in high areas, crawl and work in cramped, confined spaces, and perform tasks in all kinds of weather conditions. A fitter will apply their skills in various locations across the shipyard, including the shops, platens or concrete and metal structures, dry-docks, and onboard ships in support of new construction, ship repair, and ship overhauls.

If you have experience* related to the following, you might be a good fit for this job.

• Construction work (e.g., erecting structures, reading blueprints, framing houses)
• Carpentry (e.g., framing, cutting metal, using angles)
• Auto Mechanic or Autobody work
• Structural iron work (e.g., welding, building structural frameworks, understanding of metals)

Must Have

• Candidates must have a minimum of 3 or more years of Fitting/Fabrication experience
• Must be able to work at extreme heights or small confined spaces.
• Must be able to kneel, squat, crawl, bend, stoop, and climb.
• Must be able to lift 40 lbs and must take and pass a respirator fit test.
• Must be able to work assigned shift as production needs.
• Must be able to pass Physical Agility Test.
• Must be able to work all assigned shift.
• Must be able to take measurements or be willing to learn

Nice to Have

• High school graduate or equivalent preferred. Completion of Welding or HVAC certification and/or trades training for an industry certified trade school or program.

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. HII's diverse 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.

Working at HII is more than a job - it's an opportunity to build a future. We offer comprehensive benefits including: medical, prescription drug, dental and vision plan choices, on-site health centers, tele-medicine, wellness resources, employee assistance pr