Builders, you already know how to do this job. You just haven’t done it in steel yet.

You’ve read the blueprints, laid out the work, checked it for plumb, level, and square, and built it right the first time, often somewhere that wasn’t easy. At Newport News Shipbuilding, Shipfitters do the same thing, at a scale few builders ever see. Our shipfitters are known as Carpenters of Steel.

What you’ll build
The structural body of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and submarines: hull sections, bulkheads, decks, and the framework that holds the most powerful ships in the world together.

How your BU rate translates

• Reading prints → working from written instructions and digital drawings
• Framing and layout → fitting and aligning structural sections
• Measure twice, cut once → precision fit-up where tolerances matter
• Working alongside other rates → collaborating with welders, electricians, pipefitters, and other trades
• Can Do attitude → a crew that grinds, cuts, burns, and fits, with something new every day

Every level of experience is welcome
Whether you did one enlistment or retired as a Chief, there is a Shipfitter level for you. We hire both entry-level and experienced shipfitters, and if you’ve never worked with steel, we’ll train you. Apply to the level that matches your experience, and our recruiters will help place you where you fit best.

Why Newport News Shipbuilding

• America’s only builder of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, and one of only two builders of Navy submarines
• A career that keeps serving the fleet you came from
• Stable, long-term work with real room to advance in the trade
• Located in Hampton Roads, home to one of the largest Navy communities in the countryOne of our shipfitters put it best: someday, one of his grandkids might be on one of the ships he built.

Ready to trade the hammer for a carrier?
👉 See all Shipfitter openings and apply: https://careers.huntingtoningalls.com/search/?q=shipfitter&locationsearch=Newport+News
👉 Learn more about the trade: https://www.hii.com/careers/newport-news-shipbuilding/shipfitters

Questions? Reach out to a fellow Navy veteran (and Seabee).
Pamela McGill, SPHR | Talent Acquisition, Newport News Shipbuilding
[email protected]

We Build, We Fight. Now come build with us.

What you bring

• Experience in construction, carpentry, fabrication, or a related trade. Navy Seabee Builder (BU) experience is a strong fit. Entry-level applicants are welcome, and we’ll train you.
• Ability to read and work from blueprints, drawings, and written instructions
• Comfort with measuring tools and layout, and an eye for plumb, level, and square
• Experience with hand and power tools (grinders, cutting tools, etc.)

What the job asks of you

• Ability to work at heights, in confined spaces, and in varied shipyard conditions (heat, cold, noise)
• Ability to lift and carry at least 40 lbs., and to climb, kneel, and stand for long periods
• Willingness to wear required PPE and follow all safety procedures
• Availability for any assigned shift, plus overtime as needed

Eligibility

• U.S. citizenship
• Must pass a pre-employment drug screen, background check, and physical
• Reliable transportation to the shipyard in Newport News, VA

Helpful, but not required

• Military experience, especially as a Seabee
• Welding, cutting, or burning experience
• Prior shipyard, structural steel, or industrial construction experience
• NCCER or other trade credentials