Summer 2026
College Intern-Mechanical Engineering
Posted on 1/12/2026
Huntington Ingalls Industries
Naval shipbuilding and defense technologies
No salary listed
Biloxi, MS, USA
In Person
40-hour work week for a minimum of 10 weeks.
 Mechanical Engineering (1) |
|---|
- Be at least 18 years of age before the start of the summer intern program (Mid-May)
- Be enrolled in a degreed program that supports the company’s business requirements. Typically in the following areas: Mechanical Engineering
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher (Most recent college transcripts will be required and must be uploaded in the system at the time of application)
- Attend a college/university (undergraduate or graduate program) in the fall following the internship
- Successfully complete a criminal background investigation, physical and a hair follicle drug screen
- Work a 40-hour work week for a minimum of 10 weeks during the summer
- Intern will gain experience in technical or administrative positions during the internship program.
- Some engineering, technical, and waterfront positions may require the ability to physically access a wide variety of work sites, including those aboard ships under various stages of construction or overhaul, including the use of vertical and inclined ladders, and may involve limited kneeling, stooping, standing, etc.
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) designs, builds, and maintains advanced ships and defense technologies for national security. It operates through three divisions: Ingalls Shipbuilding and Newport News Shipbuilding, which construct ships such as aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, destroyers, and other naval assets for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, and Mission Technologies, which develops cybersecurity, unmanned systems, and C5ISR solutions using artificial intelligence and machine learning to support military operations. The company combines traditional naval shipbuilding with advanced tech like space operations, electronic warfare, and autonomous systems across land, sea, and air. This makes HII different from competitors by integrating end-to-end ship construction with high-tech defense solutions under one umbrella. Its goal is to help maintain global security and national defense by delivering reliable ships and integrated defense technologies to customers.
Company Size
N/A
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Newport News, Virginia
Founded
2011
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- US Navy 2026 plan allocates $40B for 12 destroyers and 10 submarines benefiting HII.
- Global UUV market grows 15% yearly to $8.5B by 2030 leveraging HII's dominance.
- DoD Replicator initiative awards $2B for unmanned systems aligning with REMUS expansions.
What critics are saying
- Operating margins fall from 5.9% to 5% due to inflation eroding returns by Q2 2027.
- Outsourcing 2.5M hours to Gulf Coast fabricators delays destroyer deliveries in 2027.
- Dependency on carriers and submarines risks 30-40% revenue loss if Congress cuts budgets.
What makes Huntington Ingalls Industries unique
- HII leads as world's largest REMUS UUV producer with 750+ vehicles delivered.
- HII builds Virginia-class submarines and nuclear carriers as one of two providers.
- HII integrates REMUS with torpedo tube launch from USS Delaware in June 2025.
Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?
Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
401(k) Company Match
Tuition Reimbursement
Employee Discounts
Wellness Program
Mental Health Support
Childcare Support
Company News
Class action filing stems from Huntington Ingalls tobacco surcharge compliance. * Hall Benefits Law, LLC * April 23, 2026 Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc., a military shipbuilding company, is the latest to face a class action lawsuit over its tobacco surcharge practices under its employee health plan. The plaintiffs claim that the company has violated the anti-discrimination provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) regarding health-related surcharges for plan participants. More specifically, the plaintiffs allege that Huntington Ingalls' $600 yearly penalty for tobacco users covered by the health or critical illness insurance plan violates federal law, as the company provides no legally valid wellness program allowing tobacco users to avoid the surcharge. According to the plaintiffs, the company also refuses to retroactively reimburse the surcharge to employees who later complete tobacco cessation programs. ERISA generally prohibits group health plans from charging participants higher premiums based on health status-related differences, including tobacco use. However, group health plans may charge different premiums for certain groups as part of a bona fide wellness program that meets federal requirements. These programs, including those with tobacco-free goals, must meet various conditions to be valid under federal law and to avoid discrimination that violates ERISA. For instance, the wellness program must: * Be reasonably designed to promote health or prevent disease; * Provide a reasonable alternative standard to any individual who does not meet the initial standard based on a health factor-related measurement; and * Not be overly burdensome or a ploy to discriminate based on a health factor. The Huntington Ingalls lawsuit is one of numerous cases nationwide filed against plan sponsors alleging illegal imposition of tobacco surcharges. Some of the legal issues raised in these lawsuits include inadequate notice to plan participants, failure to offer valid alternative standards, and failure to retroactively reimburse participants who later comply with plan standards. For example, Bokma v. Performance Food Grp., Inc., is a similar case pending in the federal district court for the Eastern District of Virginia. That employer charges annual tobacco surcharges for employee and their spouses or domestic partners. Although the employer offered a smoking cessation program for tobacco users, the plaintiffs claim that the surcharge nonetheless violates ERISA's anti-discrimination provision, fails to provide participants with adequate notice of reasonable alternative standards, and constitutes a breach of fiduciary duty. Likewise, the Tennessee federal court case of Bailey v. Sedgwick Claims Mgmt. Servs. Inc. involves a tobacco surcharge. The court allowed the case to move forward, finding that the plaintiff had standing to bring claims that the surcharge violated ERISA, including failure to notify and breach of fiduciary duty claims. That court also noted that the employer can refund the surcharge and operate within ERISA's confines moving forward. In addition to the text of ERISA, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued guidance on ERISA compliance for employers that wish to impose tobacco surcharges on health plan participants. The DOL clarifies in its guidance that if a participant has a reasonable opportunity to enroll in a tobacco cessation program to avoid the surcharge at the beginning of the plan year, the employer does not need to offer another opportunity during the plan year. In other words, the employer is not required to offer enrollment in a cessation program until renewal of or reenrollment in the health insurance policy for the following plan year. Nonetheless, the DOL also opines that a plan may include rewards, including pro-rated rewards, if a person enrolls in a cessation or other wellness program at any time during the plan year. ERISA applies to all rules used for "underwriting purposes" by health plans, which include: * Rules for the determination of eligibility for benefits; * Computation of premium or contribution amounts; and * Other activities related to the creation, renewal, or replacement of health insurance contracts. Additionally, these regulations prohibit plans from using genetic information for underwriting purposes, and may not request, require, or purchase this information before an individual's enrollment. Nonetheless, plans may request genetic information for research purposes under certain circumstances, provided it is voluntary. Interestingly, the Secretary of Labor has the authority to assess penalties for violations of the genetic information provisions in ERISA. However, the Secretary also may not assess penalties for violations with reasonable cause that plans correct within 30 days, and also may waive penalties for violations if excessive. The ongoing litigation challenging tobacco surcharges in health plans can be complex for plan sponsors. The legal theory that unites these lawsuits remains untested in many U.S. jurisdictions, which creates uncertainty for employers when it comes to tobacco-related wellness programs. As a result, plans should take extra care to ensure that wellness programs meet all regulatory requirements, particularly regarding notice of reasonable alternative standards, availability of cessation programs, and retroactive reimbursement requirements. Plans should also maintain clear documentation of their efforts toward compliance and of how their wellness programs genuinely promote health. The outcome of these suits, including the Huntington Ingalls case, may provide additional guidance on the continued use of tobacco surcharge programs in health plans. Therefore, plan sponsors should regularly evaluate their programs in light of changes in the law resulting from court rulings. HBL has experience in all areas of benefits and employment law, offering a comprehensive solution to all your business benefits and HR/employment needs. Hall Benefits Law, LLC help ensure you are in compliance with the complex requirements of ERISA and the IRS code, as well as those laws that impact you and your employees. Together, Hall Benefits Law, LLC reduce your exposure to potential legal or financial penalties. Learn more by calling 470-571-1007. Search. Are you an attorney? Let's talk! Request your free book. Case Studies in ERISA: Why It Matters And How It Benefits You, A Plan Sponsor's Guide To Employee Benefits Legal Compliance
HII hosts PAE Maritime Christopher Miller at Ingalls Shipbuilding. * Ingalls Shipbuilding * News Release PASCAGOULA, Miss. (April 9, 2026) - HII (NYSE: HII) hosted Christopher Miller, the U.S. Navy's portfolio acquisition executive for maritime (PAE Maritime), at its Ingalls Shipbuilding division Wednesday. During the visit, Miller met with company leadership and received updates on current ship programs, facility investments and Ingalls' expanding production capacity to support the Navy's current and future fleet requirements. "Ingalls is fully committed to our partnership with the Navy and the Marine Corps and our shared mission to strengthen the fleet with urgency," Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Blanchette said. "The skill and determination our shipbuilders apply to every destroyer and amphibious ship are essential to that mission, and we were honored to show Mr. Miller firsthand the commitment they bring to accelerating the Navy's needs." HII has invested more than $1 billion in infrastructure, facilities and advanced tools at Ingalls to prepare for next-generation shipbuilding requirements. These investments, combined with the shipyard's expanding distributed shipbuilding network across the Gulf Coast, ensure Ingalls is ready to support the Navy's "Golden Fleet" of advanced surface combatants while continuing to deliver destroyers and amphibious assault ships. The visit marked Miller's first trip to Ingalls since assuming the PAE Maritime role in March 2026. In addition to meeting with leadership, he toured several areas of the shipyard, including amphibious transport dock Harrisburg (LPD 30), currently under construction. "The critical work happening at Ingalls reflects the strength and technical expertise of our nation's shipbuilding industrial base," Miller said. "As the Navy prepares for future demands, our industry partners and their experienced workforce are pivotal to delivering the platforms and capacity needed. The maritime industry is critically important to our national defense and I am committed to supporting the industrial base efforts needed to deliver at speed and scale." Miller also visited HII's Newport News Shipbuilding division at the end of March, where he met with leadership and toured construction progress on aircraft carrier programs at the shipyard. Together, the visits reinforced the shared commitment between HII and Navy leadership to deliver the platforms that strengthen the fleet, advance future capability and ensure sailors and Marines have the ships they need. HII is America's largest shipbuilder, delivering the world's most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world. With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII's workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit: * HII on the web: HII.com * HII on Facebook: facebook.com/TeamHII * HII on X: x.com/WeAreHII * HII on Instagram: instagram.com/WeAreHII MEDIA CONTACT Kimberly Aguillard [email protected] (228) 355-5663 General Inquiries: [email protected] Download text file
HII teams with GrayMatter Robotics to integrate Physical AI into manned and unmanned shipbuilding. GlobeNewswire | HII Today at 6:01pm PDT CARSON, Calif., April 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - HII (NYSE: HII) and GrayMatter Robotics (GMR) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) today to explore the integration of GMR's Physical AI into shipbuilding operations that could accelerate throughput, strengthen the maritime industrial base, and augment the shipbuilding workforce. This will include bringing autonomous surface preparation, coating, and inspection technologies into shipbuilding. The MOU signing ceremony took place at GrayMatter Robotics' headquarters and was attended by Eric Chewning, HII's executive vice president of maritime systems and corporate strategy, and Ariyan Kabir, GrayMatter Robotics CEO and co-founder. "We are in the midst of an American shipbuilding renaissance and we are extremely excited to partner with GrayMatter Robotics to explore incorporating their state-of-the-art physical AI models into our shipbuilding operations," Chewning said. "Our shipbuilding throughput was up 14% in 2025 and we are looking for an additional 15% increase in 2026. By working with new partners like GMR we can further augment our workforce and speed up U.S. Navy shipbuilding production. I look forward to jointly developing autonomous AI-based manufacturing solutions and integrating them into our High-Yield Production Robotics (HYPR) initiative that leverages physical AI technologies to our shipbuilding processes. Navigating this transformational partnership has the potential to increase our throughput efficiency without sacrificing quality." HII and GrayMatter Robotics will work to identify and potentially pursue future opportunities in four areas that include autonomous shipbuilding capability development, integration of GMR technologies with other shipbuilding technology initiatives, workforce training to extend automation, and acceleration and scaling of unmanned system production. Together with other innovative shipbuilding technologies, GMR would augment the shipbuilding workforce, automate structural production, and accelerate throughput to advance national security objectives. "GrayMatter Robotics is proud to be leading the charge to bring Factory SuperIntelligence to bolster our national security in this partnership with HII," Kabir said. "We are partnering with HII to solve difficult problems. We will push to drive down delivery time, build our arsenal, build the essential components for our war fighters, and we have to do this very, very quickly. Bridging that gap between demand and capacity is of utmost importance - right after making sure we are delivering the right quality and consistency, and eliminating the scrap, repair, and rework." Following the MOU signing ceremony, attendees from HII, local dignitaries and GMR stakeholders walked the GrayMatter Robotics' Physical AI experience center and observed demonstrations. The demonstrations showcased how GMR's AI-driven robotic systems are applicable to naval fabrication work, ranging from sanding, grinding and blasting to coating and inspecting. The demonstrations exhibit how GMR's AI systems can adapt to the high-mix and high-variability of shipyard production, while maintaining high standards at speed, and with the efficient use of materials. Currently, HII shipbuilders are combining advanced digital tools, modernized facilities and time-honored craftsmanship to build the Navy's most complex ships. While welding automation and other AI technologies continue to advance, much of the work remains hands-on and highly skilled, with tasks such as sandblasting, grinding, and coating that must follow strict adherence to requirements. AI-driven technologies offer promising opportunities to support these critical processes by reducing repetitive work and improving consistency to help accelerate delivery timelines and meet the U.S. Navy's growing demand. HII is America's largest shipbuilder, delivering the world's most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world. With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII's workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit: About GrayMatter Robotics Headquartered in Carson, California, GrayMatter Robotics is building Factory SuperIntelligence that powers the autonomous factories of the future. Founded in 2020, the company develops Physical AI technologies and deploys autonomous factories that handle complex, high-mix tool-manipulation applications such as surface preparation, coating, and inspection processes across some of the most demanding production environments in the world - delivering up to 12x the throughput of skilled manual labor and a 95% reduction in rework. Its air-gapped, edge-deployed architecture ensures full data sovereignty for defense and enterprise-critical operations. To date, GrayMatter Robotics has processed over 30 million square feet of surface area across 20+ industries, serving customers in aerospace, defense, shipbuilding, specialty vehicles, and consumer products. The company is on a mission to reindustrialize American manufacturing and bolster our National Security, bridge the gap between demand and capacity of our industrial base, and ensure the industrial resilience the nation depends on. For more information, visit: https://graymatter-robotics.com/. This is a paid placement. For further inquiries, please contact GlobeNewswire directly.
AML3D secures $9.9M ARCEMY X order from HII for U.S. Navy shipbuilding. AML3D Limited, an Australian metal additive manufacturing company, has secured a ~AU$9.9 million order from U.S. defense contractor HII for four ARCEMY X large-scale metal 3D printing systems. Announced on March 17, 2026, the systems will be deployed at Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), a division of HII, to support shipbuilding and maintenance operations for U.S. Navy programs. The order will increase the number of ARCEMY X systems installed at NNS to six. According to AML3D, all four systems are expected to be installed and operational by the third quarter of FY2027. Large-scale wire additive manufacturing for ship components The ARCEMY X systems are based on AML3D's proprietary Wire Additive Manufacturing (WAM) process, which uses welding-based deposition to produce large metal parts. The machines ordered by NNS are custom variants of the ARCEMY X 6700 platform, configured with an approximately 11,000 kg positioner to enable high-capacity builds. AML3D states that its WAM-based systems are designed to produce metal components more efficiently than traditional casting and machining processes, while reducing material waste and lead times. At Newport News Shipbuilding, the systems are expected to be used for a range of applications including the fabrication and replacement of ship components. HII, the parent company of Newport News Shipbuilding, is the largest military shipbuilder in the United States, delivering aircraft carriers, submarines, and other naval vessels. The continued expansion of ARCEMY systems at NNS forms part of a broader effort to integrate additive manufacturing into defense production workflows. AML3D CEO Sean Ebert said the order reflects increasing demand for large-scale additive manufacturing in the U.S. defense sector and supports the company's expansion strategy in the region. The systems will be supplied from AML3D's U.S. Technology Centre in Ohio, which was established as part of its plan to scale local production capacity. Welding-based additive manufacturing for large metal components The expansion of ARCEMY systems at NNS reflects growing adoption of welding-based additive manufacturing for large metal components, particularly in defense supply chains where long lead times and part availability remain critical constraints. Naval programs have explored additive manufacturing to reduce production times and improve readiness, while aerospace applications have demonstrated that wire-based directed energy deposition can produce structural titanium components at scale. Compared to powder-based systems, wire-fed deposition processes offer higher deposition rates and are suited to producing large components with lower material cost and reduced lead times, making them applicable to shipbuilding and heavy industry use cases. At the same time, advances in process monitoring and data-driven control have improved repeatability and enabled integration into Industry 4.0 manufacturing workflows, supporting the transition of wire-based additive manufacturing from experimental use to production-scale deployment. 3D Printing Industry is inviting speakers for its 2026 Additive Manufacturing Applications (AMA) series, covering Energy, Healthcare, Automotive and Mobility, Aerospace, Space and Defense, and Software. Each online event focuses on real production deployments, qualification, and supply chain integration. Practitioners interested in contributing can complete the call for speakers form here. Explore the full Future of 3D Printing and Executive Survey series from 3D Printing Industry, featuring perspectives from CEOs, engineers, and industry leaders on the industrialization of additive manufacturing, 3D printing industry trends 2026, qualification, supply chains, and additive manufacturing industry analysis. Feature image shows ARCEMY X system. Photo via AML3D.
HII to open Romulus USV production hub in Louisiana. HII has unveiled a plan to establish a new assembly center in Louisiana to support the manufacture of its Romulus unmanned surface vessel (USV) family. The facility will be established in partnership with local shipyard Breaux Brothers Enterprises and utilize space at its existing site in New Iberia. Once operational, the line will construct vessels ranging from about 20 to 190 feet (6 to 58 meters). Along with the announcement, the company introduced its High-Yield Production Robotics (HYPR), which integrates automated welding and material handling as well as digital quality systems into manufacturing activities. HYPR is designed to enable simultaneous hull fabrication, increase output, and reduce build times while maintaining consistent quality across vessel classes. HII plans the solution's proof-of-concept demonstrations in 2026, with a full pilot program targeted for early 2027. "HYPR applies next-generation industrial robotics to shipbuilding processes that have traditionally been labor-intensive and difficult to automate," said Eric Chewning, executive vice president at HII. "For ROMULUS, this means fewer labor hours per hull, greater schedule predictability, and a manufacturing model that can scale efficiently as volumes increase." HII's Romulus drone ship. The Romulus USV is designed for missions including intelligence collection, mine countermeasures, and strike operations. The platform spans 190 feet (58 meters) long and is fitted with HII's proprietary Odyssey AI-enabled autonomy suite. It has a speed of more than 25 knots (46 kilometers/29 miles per hour) and a range of up to 2,500 nautical miles (4,630 kilometers/2,880 miles). A prototype of the drone ship is now under construction in Louisiana as the company moves toward higher-rate, standardized production. In addition to Breaux, HII is working with local partners, including Incat Crowther, across vessel design and production. "ROMULUS is engineered from the outset for scale," said Andy Green, president of HII's Mission Technologies division. "By pairing a purpose-built assembly line with automation...we are driving predictable production outcomes and lowering the cost." Slide to Verify