Shipfitter

SHIPFITTER EXPERIENCED - STEEL FABRICATION/TACK WELDING

Location:
Newport News, Virginia, United States

Date: Oct 1, 2026

Req ID: 49494
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. Want to be part of the team? Apply today! We look forward to meeting you.

The Role

Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of HII, is hiring Shipfitters with a minimum of 4 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)

Please click here to learn more:

Must Have

Candidates must have a minimum of 4 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. Has received and can provide a certificate or diploma in Shipfitting or a directly related field , including Welding (SMAW, GMAW), Plasma Cutting and/or Oxy-Fuel Cutting, Construction Maintenance, Carpentry, Auto Body, and/or Sheet Metal Fabrication

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 programs, savings plan options (401K), financial education and planning tools, life insurance, tuition reimbursement, employee discounts, early childhood and post-secondary education scholarships, and more. Some benefits may vary depending on your specific division or work location.

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 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 View phone number on click.appcast.io for assistance. Press #2 for Newport News Shipbuilding.