WELDER/STRUCTURE-ENTRY-LEVEL - FOR 2026 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS OR GRADUATES - SIGN-ON BONUS
About The Position
This Job Listing is for recent or upcoming 2026 High School Graduates. Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, is offering a $500 sign-on bonus to entry-level welder new hires. In addition, NNS is offering $500 in relocation bonus to Entry-Level welder new hires that live 50 miles or greater from Newport News, VA. Job seekers who apply are eligible for the sign-on 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. Welders perform tack, fillet, and full penetration welding on steel foundations and structural joints in production on aircraft carriers and submarines. This is 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 using both manual and mechanized processes to satisfy all nondestructive test requirements (visual inspection, magnetic particle inspection, ultrasonic inspection, radiographic inspection). 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.
Requirements
- Candidates must be 18 years of age or older and legally eligible to work in the U.S.
- Climb ladders and work at extreme heights.
- Work in small, tight, or confined spaces.
- Kneel, squat, crawl, bend, stoop, and climb on a daily basis.
- Lift heavy objects weighing 40 lbs. or more
- Work while repeatedly reaching overhead.
- Work indoors or outdoors year-round in all weather conditions.
- Work in areas with radiation.
- Take and pass a respirator fit test.
- Work assigned shift as production needs.
- Take and pass a Physical Agility Test.
Nice To Haves
- High school graduate or equivalent preferred
Responsibilities
- Perform tack, fillet, and full penetration welding on steel foundations and structural joints in production on aircraft carriers and submarines.
- Use 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).
- Make welds using both manual and mechanized processes to satisfy all nondestructive test requirements (visual inspection, magnetic particle inspection, ultrasonic inspection, radiographic inspection).
- Perform structural and/or pipe welds in all phases of ship construction.
- Receive additional training including certified visual inspection, fire watch, carbon arcing, and troubleshooting minor welding equipment problems.
Benefits
- 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.
- 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.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
