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Colonna's Shipyard

1st Class Shipfitter (2nd Shift) - Steel America (Job ID: 1475)

Location

Norfolk, VA

Wage

$28.11 – $35.55/hr

Employment Type

Full-time

Required Skills & Certifications

Stick WeldingFlux-Core Welding
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Posted on August 23, 2026

Job Description

Overview

As a 2nd Shift Shipfitter at Steel America, a division of Colonna’s Shipyard, Inc., you will be responsible for fabricating, assembling, and installing structural components and systems aboard ships, within shipyard facilities, and in heavy industrial environments. This role requires a high level of skill in metalworking, welding, and blueprint interpretation to ensure the structural integrity and alignment of ship components.

Responsibilities

  • Cut and fabricate metal components using various tools and machinery.
  • Accurately read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, and specifications.
  • Assemble and install structural components such as bulkheads, frames, and decks.
  • Perform welding tasks using various techniques, including tack welding.
  • Inspect completed work to ensure it meets industry standards and project specifications.
  • Identify and resolve issues related to fitting and assembly.
  • Collaborate with other tradespeople and departments to complete projects.
  • Effectively perform work on multiple projects concurrently.
  • Mentor department employees and other assigned crew members.

Requirements

  • Must have at least 5 years of experience shipfitting in a marine or shipyard environment.
  • Must be proficient in metalworking, welding, and blueprint interpretation.
  • Must have a strong understanding of ship construction and structural integrity.
  • Must be able to lift heavy materials, work at heights, and operate in confined spaces.
  • Must be proficient in Flux Core Welding (FCAW) with the ability to Tack Weld.

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • 401k
  • PTO

Additional Information

  • Position is located onsite in Norfolk, VA.
  • Position may require limited travel.
  • Flexible schedule availability to support production/operations.
  • Employee may ride ships at sea for extended periods.

Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
401k
PTO
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How this job compares in Norfolk, VA

Pay in context

At roughly $32/hr, this posting lands within a few percent of the $30/hr median for welding jobs in Norfolk, VA, whose middle half runs $27–$35/hr across 15 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 53% of the comparable postings we have wage data for. In other words it is a market-rate offer, so benefits, overtime, and shift schedule are where the real difference between this and the next posting on the list shows up.

The local market in Norfolk, VA

We're tracking 26 other active welding openings in Norfolk, VA right now, from 17 different employers. 5 of them were added in the last week. Across Virginia as a whole we're tracking 171 other active welding openings from 118 employers. A metro this active generally means you have real leverage — employers here are competing for the same welders. Browse every welding job in Norfolk, or widen the search to Virginia.

Colonna's Shipyard currently has 5 other openings live in Virginia, which is usually a sign of either steady growth or steady turnover — worth asking which in the interview.

The most active employers in Virginia at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are HII (6), Mission Technologies, a division of HII (5), and Aerotek (5). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within Virginia, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Newport News at $41/hr, Portsmouth at $37/hr, and Norfolk at $30/hr. Norfolk is among them.

What you'll be running

This posting calls for Stick and Flux-Core work. Stick (SMAW) burns a flux-coated consumable rod and needs no shielding gas, so it works in wind, rain, and on dirty or rusted steel. That tolerance for bad conditions keeps it the default for field, structural, and repair work. Flux-cored (FCAW) runs a hollow wire filled with flux, combining MIG-like deposition rates with the outdoor tolerance of stick. It is the workhorse on heavy structural steel and shipbuilding, where thick sections and long welds reward speed.

See all shipyard welder openings if you want to compare this against similar roles.

Similar openings near Norfolk, VA

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. 1st Class Shipfitter (2nd Shift) - Steel America (Job ID: 1475) figures were last recalculated when this page was built.