Newport News Shipbuilding anticipates needing to hire thousands of represented trade employees in 2025. To meet this need, NNS Talent Acquisition will hire most new trade employees from pipeline trade programs. To encourage more high school students to consider trades jobs at NNS, the company is offering $500 in sign-on bonuses and up to $500 in relocation for high school seniors or recent high school graduates who successfully complete trade trainee programs and start work with NNS full time.

NNS has partnered with the Virginia Ship Repair Association (VSRA) and local community colleges and maritime training facilities to offer several course-to-hire Marine Trades Trainee programs (MTT). The training courses are two to three weeks long, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The training offered is free.

High school graduates who successfully complete the training will start work with NNS at more than $23 per hour. For more info on the MTT programs visit: https://hii.com/careers/nns-marine-trades-trainee-programs/.Two-week MTT programs:

• Deck electrician trainee – Virginia Peninsula Community College (Hampton)
• Insulator trainee – QED Systems (Norfolk)
• Machinist (inside or outside machinist) – Camp Community College (Suffolk)
• Marine coatings/painter – Tidewater Community College (Portsmouth)
• Sheet metal trainee – Tidewater Community College (Portsmouth)

Three-week MTT programs:

• Pipefitter trainee – Tidewater Community College (Portsmouth)
• Shipfitter trainee – Camp Community College (Suffolk), Tidewater Community College (Portsmouth) and Virginia Peninsula Community College (Hampton)
• Welder Trainee – Camp Community College (Suffolk), Tidewater Community College (Portsmouth) and Virginia Peninsula College (Hampton)
  • Virginia Peninsula College offers an additional third-shift welder trainee program from 11 p.m.-7 a.m.

Deck electrician trainee – For 2025 high school seniors or graduates – Req #40191

Insulator trainee – For 2025 high school seniors or graduates – Req #40101

Outside machinist trainee – For 2025 high school seniors or graduates – Req #40103

Pipefitter trainee – For 2025 high school seniors or graduates – Req #40102

Sheet metal worker trainee – For 2025 high school seniors or graduates – Req #40099

Shipfitter trainee – For 2025 high school seniors or graduates – Req #40097

Welder/structure trainee – For 2025 high school seniors or graduates – Req #40098

To learn more about each trade trainee position or to apply, visit hii.com/careers and search by division Newport News Shipbuilding, keywords “High School Seniors.” For additional information, contact NNS recruiter Nakita Motley at 688-5064 or via email.

NNS employees are encouraged to share these opportunities. Employees who refer a high school student who is hired could receive a $1,000 cash referral bonus. For more information on how to refer someone, visit https://hii.com/refer-a-friend.