Piping Supervisor

Job description

Position Summary

The Piping Supervisor leads pipefitting, pipe installation, testing, and repair activities supporting new construction, overhaul, and modernization work at a major U.S. shipyard. Drawing on hands-on experience that began as a pipefitter, this role directs crews safely and efficiently while ensuring work meets ship specifications, quality standards, production schedules, and applicable military, commercial, and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise pipefitters, welders, helpers, riggers, and subcontract personnel assigned to piping work.
• Plan and coordinate daily work activities, manpower needs, materials, tooling, access, and work sequencing.
• Read and interpret piping drawings, isometrics, spool sheets, P&IDs, work packages, specifications, and shipboard diagrams.
• Oversee installation, removal, repair, fit-up, alignment, pressure testing, flushing, and inspection of shipboard piping systems.
• Ensure piping work complies with approved drawings, tolerances, weld and fit-up requirements, testing procedures, and quality-control standards.
• Coordinate with production, engineering, planning, quality assurance, safety, logistics, and other trades to resolve work conflicts and maintain schedule.
• Monitor job progress, labor hours, material availability, rework, and production constraints; communicate status and recovery plans to management.
• Conduct pre-job briefs, toolbox talks, safety meetings, and daily crew assignments.
• Enforce safe work practices involving confined spaces, hot work, energized systems, lifting and rigging, fall protection, hazardous materials, and shipboard access.
• Identify field problems, document discrepancies, and escalate technical or schedule issues for resolution.
• Mentor pipefitters and apprentices, sharing practical shipboard knowledge and helping develop technical and leadership capability.
• Maintain accurate records for labor reporting, work completion, inspections, testing, material usage, and safety documentation.
• Support continuous-improvement efforts focused on productivity, quality, cost control, and reduced rework.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Significant progressive shipyard piping experience, including prior hands-on work as a pipefitter.
• Demonstrated experience leading crews in a heavy industrial, marine construction, naval repair, or shipbuilding environment.
• Strong knowledge of pipefitting practices, pipe supports, valves, fittings, flanges, hangers, and shipboard piping systems.
• Ability to interpret complex technical drawings, specifications, and production work packages.
• Working knowledge of shipyard safety procedures and quality requirements.
• Ability to organize work, prioritize competing demands, and meet production commitments in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication, coaching, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work aboard vessels and in industrial environments, including ladders, scaffolding, confined spaces, elevated work areas, and varying weather conditions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, commercial vessel, or government shipbuilding programs.
• Previous experience as a lead pipefitter, working supervisor, or foreman.
• Familiarity with naval standards, ABS requirements, NAVSEA processes, or shipyard quality-management systems.
• OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certification.
• Confined-space, hot-work, forklift, aerial-lift, rigging, or supervisory safety-training certifications.
• Experience with computerized maintenance, production, scheduling, or labor-reporting systems.

Desired Background
The ideal candidate began their career as a pipefitter at a major U.S. shipyard and progressed through increasingly responsible roles based on technical skill, reliability, safety leadership, and the ability to lead teams. They bring practical knowledge of shipboard conditions and understand how to translate engineering requirements into safe, high-quality, on-schedule production work.