WELDER - ENTRY LEVEL

About the Role

Strength. Curiosity. Potential. Begin Your Welding Career. Are you ready to start a hands‑on career that helps build America's most advanced naval vessels? As an Entry‑Level Welder at Ingalls Shipbuilding, you'll join a skilled team that shapes the steel foundations of the U.S. Navy's fleet. You don't need years of experience — just a willingness to learn, a commitment to safety, and the drive to grow your skills. You will receive training in core welding processes, learn to follow weld specifications, and support the structural work that keeps our ships strong and mission‑ready. If you're eager to begin a rewarding career at Mississippi's largest private employer — "America's Shipyard" — your opportunity starts here.

What You Can Earn

• Starting pay: $21.58 per hour
• Additional opportunities for overtime, skills training, and long‑term career growth

What You'll Do

• Learn and perform basic welding processes, including SMAW ("stick") and FCAW ("wire")
• Join metal materials that support ship construction and repair
• Work in a dynamic shipyard environment — heights, confined spaces, varied weather conditions, and multiple shifts
• Follow detailed weld instructions, safety procedures, and guidance from experienced welders
• Support evolving production needs across active shipbuilding programs
• Must be available to work any shift in a 24/7 manufacturing environment

Why This Work Matters

Entry‑Level Welders help build the ships that protect our sailors and safeguard our nation. Every weld you learn to make contributes to the strength and reliability of vessels operating around the world. Your growth and determination directly support the teams who deliver the Navy's most capable ships.

What You Bring

• A welding training program or technical certification (required)
• A willingness to learn and develop new welding skills
• Ability to pass military‑standard weld tests in vertical (3G), horizontal (2G), and overhead (4G) positions
• Comfort working in active industrial environments
• Strong commitment to safety, craftsmanship, and teamwork

Must Have

• This position requires a minimum of six months to 1 year of work experience or completion of a skilled trade class in FCAW (Flux Core) and SWAW (Stick) welding
• The ability to pass military standard tests in the vertical (3G), horizontal (2G) and overhead (4G) positions
• Successful completion of a welding technical training certification program will be allowed in lieu of experience requirement
• Qualified applicants will be required to pass a hands-on skill assessment; the weld test is for x-ray quality

Nice to Have

• High School Diploma or Equivalent is preferred
• Previous experience in shipbuilding is preferred