Shipbuilding Production Specialist - Fab and Welding SME

R&P is a small-sized defense contractor providing engineering, logistics, program management, and technical services to government clients. This role supports the US Navy's Frigate Program on-site at the shipbuilder's facility in Pascagoula, Mississippi, playing a crucial role in the construction of the Navy's newest warships.

About the role

As a key member of the PMS 410 Program Office & Supervisor of Shipbuilding (SUPSHIP) support team, you will leverage your expertise in fabrication, ship fitting, welding, and structural testing to oversee and ensure the quality and progress of ship construction. This position offers a dynamic, hands-on environment where you will contribute directly to the delivery of critical assets for our nation's defense.

Responsibilities

• Conduct daily on-site surveys and inspections of structural fabrication and assembly work areas, observing plate cutting, joining, and stiffener alignment.
• Observe foundation installs for major machinery and ensure proper alignment and accuracy control for positioning.
• Document survey findings through inspection cards, detailed reports, and photographic evidence, providing review of executive-level summaries for program management, including the Navy's Program Manager and SUPSHIP Commanding Officer.
• Perform field surveys and inspections of material handling, positioning, alignment, and unit support blocking procedures, periodically verifying dimensional accuracy of structural subassemblies.
• Assess and report the physical percentage of completion for panels, subassemblies, and units/grand blocks under construction.
• Monitor and report on the status of production progress, including the completion and inspection of welds on panels, subassemblies, modules, and hull master butts, ensuring testing procedures (e.g., air tests, vacuum boxes, padeye pull tests) are completed satisfactorily.
• Evaluate shipyard processes to validate the use of effective and efficient manufacturing methods.
• Develop and present recommendations for process improvements based on daily observations of structural fabrication and welding work.
• Proactively identify and report potential challenges to fabrication and welding activities based on personal observation, experience, and skills.
• Ensure fabrication and welding processes are correctly implemented and tests are completed prior to moving to the next phase of construction to avoid rework.
• Assist with the documentation process for field observations and maintain related data.
• Draft detailed reports on conditions found and propose viable solutions.
• Identify emergent issues that could lead to non-compliance with specifications or impact the production schedule.
• Prepare and submit weekly and monthly status reports to the Serco Task Lead, documenting work activities, challenges, and recommended corrective actions.
• Maintain a comprehensive awareness of structural components in fabrication (both on-site and off-site) and a working knowledge of ongoing events.
• Stay informed of overall production processes at the shipyard and its subcontractor facilities, particularly those related to fabrication, welding, flame straightening, and repair cycles.
• Alert production team leadership to potential issues and propose solutions, working closely with SUPSHIP SMEs and Quality counterparts to share information and provide technical support.

Requirements

• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret security clearance.
• US Citizenship.
• High School Diploma or GED.
• 5 years of hands-on experience in a shipyard environment, with a focus on engineering, production, and quality control.
• Comprehensive understanding of shipyard operations and shipbuilding activities.
• Working knowledge of fabrication, welding processes, welding equipment, and standard methods of ship construction, with an emphasis on new construction processes and sequencing.
• Working knowledge of testing methods used to prove air/watertight integrity of structure.
• Proficiency in weld inspection methods, including VT, MT, PT, RT, and UT.
• Familiarity with NAVSEA Technical Manuals, Publications, and MIL-STDs.
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Teams, Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• General understanding of subcontractor flow-down requirements.
• Experience with Navy Quality Assurance (QA) processes and associated reporting requirements.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and standards.
• Ability to work effectively with multiple organizations and stakeholders in a high-stakes production environment.
• Ability to travel up to 10% as required.

Skills

• Prior experience in heavy fabrication and welding, in addition to inspection and quality control experience in Navy shipbuilding or repair programs.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with a diverse range of personnel, from shipyard production floor staff to Navy personnel.
• Experience with accuracy control, including unit/grand block alignment and hull surveying processes to verify keel straightness and identify deviations from the hull’s molded dimensions.
• Firsthand knowledge and experience with heavy lift operations, rollover and transport of assemblies, units, and grand blocks, as well as final erection, alignment, and blocking methods.
• NDT Level I or higher certification.
• Experience working with military programs.
• Related shipyard experience in journeyman, management, estimating, and progressing roles.

Benefits

• Highly competitive compensation package.
• Contributions towards health insurance.
• 401(k) matching.
• Other non-salary benefits.