WELDER/STRUCTURE- CERTIFIED

Huntington Ingalls Industries; Newport News (VA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Prescription drug coverage

Dental and vision plans

On-site health centers

Tele-medicine

Wellness resources

401K savings plan

Life insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Employee discounts

Education scholarships

Job summary

Huntington Ingalls Industries—Newport News Shipbuilding is seeking a Welder/Structure-Certified to join the X18 WELDERS team in Newport News, VA. The role starts with training in our shipyard welding school and progresses to structural and pipe welds across ship construction using SMAW, FCAW, GMAW, and GTAW.

The position requires U.S. citizenship, provides full-time hours across multiple shifts, and includes a salary range of $59,675.20 to $62,067.20 with standard benefits.

Qualifications

• One or more certificates of completion or diploma in Welding or a related field from a vocational program, college, trade school, apprentice program, or military equivalent.
• Must be able to take measurements or be willing to learn.
• Must be willing to undergo a background investigation and drug screen
• Must be able to pass a physical agility test
• Must be able to kneel, squat, crawl, bend, stoop, and climb daily
• Must be able to lift at least 40 pounds
• Must be able to perform overhead work
• Must be able to work overtime as needed
• Must be clean shaven to wear a respirator
• Must perform outdoor work year-round in all weather
• Must be able to work at extreme heights and in small, confined spaces
• Must be willing to work any shift

Responsibilities

• Qualified through shipyards welding school before performing structural or pipe welds.
• Welds performed with SMAW, FCAW, GMAW, and GTAW in all positions.
• Welds must satisfy nondestructive testing requirements (visual, MT, UT, radiographic).
• Receive additional training including inspection, fire watch, carbon arc, and equipment troubleshooting.

Skills

Welding knowledge

Measurement reading

Physical stamina

Overtime readiness

Respirator readiness

Education

Diploma or Welding certificate

Job description

WELDER/STRUCTURE- CERTIFIED

Location:

Newport News, Virginia, United States

Date: Oct 26, 2026

Req ID: 50518

Team: X18 WELDERS

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: $59,675.20 to $62,067.20

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

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

As a welder, you will first be qualified through the shipyards state of the art welding school. After completion of welding school, you will use a wide range of welding filler metals and welding processes to perform structural and/or pipe welds in all phases of ship construction. Welders perform tack, fillet, and full penetration welding on steel foundations and structural and pipe joints in production on aircraft carriers and submarines. This will be done using various welding processes including SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding), FCAW (Flux Cored Arc Welding), GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding), and GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding). These welds are made in all positions using both manual and mechanized processes and will satisfy all nondestructive tests requirements (visual inspection, magnetic particle inspection, ultrasonic inspection, radiographic inspection). Welders will also receive additional training including certified visual inspection, fire watch, carbon arcing, and troubleshooting minor welding equipment problems.

Watch this video to learn more: https://youtu.be/FETHnJ854Qs?si=HS0UmOkcAxVuILrS

Must Have

• One or more certificates of completion or diploma in Welding or a directly related field from a high school vocational program, community college, trade school, technical college, apprentice program, post–secondary institution, or military equivalent.
• Must be able to take measurements or be willing to learn.
• Must be willing to undergo a background investigation and drug screen
• Must be able to pass physical agility test
• Must be able to kneel, squat, crawl, bend, stoop, and climb on a daily basis
• Must be able to lift at least 40 pounds
• Must be able to perform overhead work
• Must be able to work overtime as needed
• Must be able to be clean shaven to wear a respirator
• Must be able to perform work outdoors, year- round, in all weather conditions
• Must be able to work at extreme heights
• Must be able to work in small, tight, confined spaces
• Must be willing to work any shift

Nice to Have

• High school graduate or equivalent preferred

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.

• medical
• prescription drug
• dental and vision plan choices
• on-site health centers
• tele-medicine
• wellness resources
• employee assistance programs
• savings plan options (401K)
• financial education and planning tools
• life insurance
• tuition reimbursement
• employee discounts
• early childhood and post-secondary education scholarships

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. U.S. Citizenship may be required for certain positions.

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 e-mail address.

Additionally, you may also call 1-844-849-8463 for assistance. Press #2 for Newport News Shipbuilding.