SHEET METAL WORKER TRAINEE OR CERTIFIED - FOR 2026 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS OR GRADUATES - SIGN-ON BONUS

Huntington Ingalls•Newport News, VA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

This Job Listing is for recent or upcoming 2026 High School Graduates. Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of HII, is offering a $500 sign-on bonus to Trade Trainee hires. In addition, Newport News Shipbuilding is offering $500 in relocation bonus to Trade Trainee new hires that live 50 miles or greater from Newport News, VA. Job seekers who apply are eligible for the sign-on bonus and relocation bonus. 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. The sign-on bonus is for external new hires. Current Newport News Shipbuilding employees are ineligible for the sign-on bonus. This position is for job seekers with no trades experience willing to complete two weeks of unpaid training in the Sheet Metal trade or for job seekers with a certificate in a related trades field. Candidates who have received and can provide a certificate or diploma in Sheet Metal Fabrication or directly related field are encouraged to apply and may be eligible to waive the completion of the trainee program. Directly related fields include Sheet Metal Fabrication, HVAC, Facility Maintenance, Auto Body/Automotive Repair, Residential/Commercial Construction, Welding, and/or Carpentry. Newport News Shipbuilding has partnered with the Virginia Ship Repair Association and local Virginia community colleges and maritime training facilities to offer several course-to-hire Marine Trades Training (MTT) programs for individuals interested in learning a trade and working full-time for Newport News Shipbuilding. Courses are offered once a month with 8-10 students per class. The Sheet Metal Trainee program is offered at Tidewater Community College 120 Campus Drive Portsmouth, VA 23701 . This (UNPAID) program is 2-weeks (80 hours), 7:00am – 3:30pm (Monday thru Friday). The Sheet Metal Department is a highly skilled team responsible for fabricating, assembling and installing a wide variety of components on aircraft carriers and submarines. These components include ventilation systems, metal joiner bulkheads, framing, furniture, cabinetry, lockers, ladders, handrails, foundations, weapons spaces, and wet spaces. As a sheet metal worker, you will work according to detailed technical documents and procedural guidelines. Sheet Metal workers will utilize a variety of hand tools and power equipment, including drills, rivet guns, grinders, miter saws, band saws, nibblers, plasma arc cutters, rollers, shears, press brakes and CNC fabricators. The Sheet Metal Department will provide formal and on the job training, covering basic sheet metal techniques and tack welding, as well as any specific training requirements for your role. Working at Newport News Shipbuilding often involves performing tasks in various weather conditions, at extreme heights on scaffolding, ladders, or elevated platforms and in small, confined spaces such as tanks, compartments, or voids in a ship. These environments require a strong focus on safety, precision, and adaptability, as well as physical agility and comfort working in challenging conditions. To learn more about the Marine Trades Training (MTT) programs and how the process works, please visit: https://hii.com/careers/nns-marine-trades-trainee-programs/ Watch this video to learn more: https://youtu.be/TT-5LxB4tgA?si=cpzc5gfY3hreqlWOMust Have

Requirements

Candidates must be 18 years of age or older and legally eligible to work in the U.S.
Must be able to pass a 2-week (UNPAID) program (80 hours), 7:00am – 3:30pm (Monday – Friday) OR present one or more certificates of completion or diploma in Sheet Metal 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 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 able to work ANY shift