Buildsubmarines com: The Guide to America’s Submarine Workforce Platform (2026)

Buildsubmarines com is the official national career and recruitment platform for the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Industrial Base (SIB).

It serves as the central hub connecting job seekers — from fresh graduates and transitioning military veterans to seasoned skilled tradespeople — with thousands of open positions across the companies and suppliers that manufacture, maintain, and modernise America’s nuclear-powered submarine fleet.

The platform is more than just a job board. It is a comprehensive workforce development resource offering career path guides, training program listings, employer tools, supplier resources, and educational materials — all unified under one mission: recruiting and developing the next generation of submarine builders.

The site is paid for by the U.S. Department of the Navy in partnership with BlueForge Alliance, the nonprofit organisation that manages and operates the platform.

Contents

The Organisation Behind It: BlueForge Alliance

Buildsubmarines com is operated by BlueForge Alliance (BFA), a national nonprofit organisation founded in late 2022 and headquartered in Bryan/College Station, Texas.

BFA was created as an offshoot of the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), and its co-founder and chief executive, Kiley Wren, previously served as the executive director of TEES’s applied programs department.

BFA describes itself as a “neutral integrator” — an independent, mission-driven body that sits between the U.S. Navy, its prime shipbuilders, and the broader network of more than 16,000 suppliers across the country.

It does not build submarines itself. Instead, it focuses on three strategic pillars:

Workforce Development — recruiting, training, and retaining the skilled workers the submarine industry urgently needs
Supply Chain Optimisation — helping suppliers scale up their capacity to meet Navy production targets
Advanced Technology — deploying and scaling emerging manufacturing technologies such as additive manufacturing, robotics, automation, and enhanced non-destructive testing

In September 2024, the U.S. Navy awarded BlueForge Alliance a sole-source contract valued at up to $980 million to support the planning, resourcing, coordination, and “uplifting” of the U.S. Submarine Industrial Base.

This followed an earlier $500 million in Navy funding already directed toward the organisation, bringing its total Navy-backed support to nearly $1.5 billion.

The contract marked the first direct Navy prime contract awarded to BlueForge Alliance.

The Mission: Why America Urgently Needs Submarine Workers

To understand Buildsubmarines com, it is essential to understand the scale of the challenge it was created to address.

The U.S. Navy is in the middle of a once-in-a-generation effort to recapitalise its submarine fleet. Its goal is to produce one Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine and two Virginia-class attack submarines every year for the foreseeable future.

At the same time, the Navy’s existing fleet faces a maintenance backlog of three years or more, and it has committed to supplying nuclear-powered submarines to Australia under the AUKUS international security agreement.

The problem is workforce. A U.S. Navy study found that the submarine industrial base will need approximately 100,000 additional workers over the next decade to meet these combined goals. The warning signs had been building long before the crisis became acute.

In 2012, the Chief of Naval Research told Congress that more than half of the submarine industrial workforce would reach retirement age by 2020.

By 2022, the Government Accountability Office confirmed that the industry was short roughly one quarter of the workers needed just to build the Virginia-class submarines already on order.

The Navy currently fields 49 attack submarines against a requirement of 66, and maintenance delays mean that even fewer are operationally available at any given time. Meanwhile, the AUKUS commitment only deepens the pressure.

Buildsubmarines com was launched precisely to address this urgent national shortfall — to find, attract, train, and place the workers America needs to close the gap.

The “We Build Giants” Campaign

The public face of Buildsubmarines com is its “We Build Giants” brand campaign — a large-scale national advertising and outreach effort designed to make submarine manufacturing careers visible and appealing to audiences who may never have considered them.

The campaign’s tagline — “We Build Giants, Because It Takes One to Build One” — positions submarine workers not as anonymous factory hands but as the architects of some of the most complex machines ever made by human beings.

Target audiences include:

High school and college graduates exploring trade and technical careers
Military veterans and service members transitioning to civilian employment
Skilled tradespeople in welding, machining, and manufacturing looking for a new challenge
STEM students and engineering graduates seeking purpose-driven careers

The campaign spans television and digital advertising, social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, and YouTube), sponsorships, and community outreach events across the country.

Since its launch, the Buildsubmarines com website has accumulated more than 3 million visits and over 147,000 candidate job application clicks.

High-Profile Sponsorships and Outreach

One of the most unconventional elements of the Buildsubmarines com effort is its use of major sports sponsorships to reach potential workers where they already spend their time.

NASCAR — RFK Racing: BlueForge Alliance entered a multi-year partnership with RFK Racing, placing the Buildsubmarines com brand on Brad Keselowski’s No. 6 Ford and Chris Buescher’s No. 17 Ford across numerous NASCAR Cup Series races.

The sponsorship targets NASCAR’s large, blue-collar fan base — an audience that overlaps significantly with the skilled trades and manufacturing workers the submarine industry needs most.

Major League Baseball: BlueForge Alliance announced a partnership with Major and Minor League Baseball to promote Buildsubmarines com across ballpark activations, digital platforms, and community events throughout the baseball season.

WNBA — Connecticut Sun: Buildsubmarines com partnered with the Connecticut Sun for the 2025 season, with particular focus on community engagement in Groton, Connecticut — a major submarine manufacturing hub home to General Dynamics Electric Boat.

The partnership supported STEM education for young girls in the local community, with BlueForge donating $20 to local STEM programming for every free throw made by a Sun player during home games.

U.S. Naval Academy Football: BlueForge Alliance announced an official sponsorship of the Naval Academy’s football team, using the platform to raise awareness of Buildsubmarines com among service-oriented audiences and to highlight the connection between military service and submarine manufacturing careers.

These sponsorships reflect a deliberate strategy to go beyond traditional job boards and reach potential workers through the cultural moments they already participate in.

Career Paths on Buildsubmarines com

The platform organises its job listings into clearly defined career paths, both by specialty and by experience level. Below is a thorough overview of each.

Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing — commonly known as 3D printing — is playing an increasingly important role in submarine construction.

Professionals in this field use CAD-driven 3D printing technology to create precise prototypes, components, and replacement parts for next-generation submarines.

Workers with backgrounds in CAD software, materials science, or industrial design will find growing demand here.

Median salaries in maritime additive manufacturing reach approximately $103,000 per year — significantly higher than most entry-level alternatives in other sectors.

CNC Machining

Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining is one of the most sought-after skills in submarine manufacturing.

CNC machinists use CAD/CAM software and G-Code programming to cut, shape, and fabricate the highly precise components that go into submarine hulls, propulsion systems, and mechanical assemblies.

Tolerances in submarine manufacturing are often measured to within one-thousandth of an inch — making the skill and precision of CNC machinists fundamental to both performance and safety.

Welding

Welding is the backbone of submarine construction. Welders create the structural bonds that hold a submarine together under the crushing pressures of deep ocean operation.

The work demands a mastery of multiple welding techniques, a deep understanding of materials science, and the ability to meet some of the most exacting quality standards in any manufacturing industry.

Welding careers in maritime manufacturing offer average salaries of approximately $61,000 per year, with significant scope for advancement.

Blasting and Spraying

Before submarine components can be assembled, they must be properly prepared and protected.

Blasting and spraying specialists strip, clean, and coat submarine components and surfaces with specialised coatings that protect them from corrosion, pressure, and the unique environmental demands of undersea operation.

The role requires precision and an understanding of materials compatibility and coating specifications.

Design

Designers in submarine manufacturing work at the intersection of creativity and engineering.

They translate conceptual requirements and engineering specifications into detailed technical drawings, 3D models, and system layouts that guide the physical construction of the vessel.

Designers work closely with engineers and planners to ensure that every component fits, functions, and meets the Navy’s performance standards.

Engineering

Engineering roles span a wide range of disciplines — mechanical, electrical, structural, systems, and naval engineering among them.

Engineers in the submarine industrial base are responsible for designing and developing the complex systems that bring submarines to life: propulsion, navigation, weapons systems, life support, communications, and more.

It is problem-solving at the highest level of technical complexity, applied to one of the most demanding environments on earth.

Metrology

Metrology is the science of precise measurement and quality control.

In submarine manufacturing, metrology specialists use advanced inspection technologies to verify that every component meets exact dimensional and material specifications before it is incorporated into a vessel.

A single out-of-tolerance part in a submarine can have consequences that extend well beyond the factory floor — making the metrology role one of the most critical quality assurance functions in the industry.

Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)

Non-destructive testing professionals evaluate the integrity of submarine components and assemblies without damaging them.

Using techniques such as ultrasonic testing, radiography, magnetic particle inspection, and dye penetrant testing, NDT specialists identify flaws, cracks, or weaknesses that could compromise a vessel’s performance or the safety of its crew.

Certification in NDT methodologies is a key requirement for these roles, and demand for qualified NDT professionals across the submarine industrial base is consistently high.

Planning

Behind every submarine is a complex logistics and scheduling operation.

Planners in maritime manufacturing orchestrate the resources, timelines, procurement schedules, and workflows that ensure submarine production progresses efficiently from design to launch.

They work across engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing teams to identify bottlenecks, resolve conflicts, and keep the build program on track.

The role is critical to the Navy’s goal of producing submarines on schedule and on budget.

Experience Level

Internships

Buildsubmarines com connects students with submarine industry suppliers offering hands-on summer internships.

These programmes are designed to give young people a real-world introduction to maritime manufacturing, expose them to career opportunities they may not have considered, and begin building the pipeline of future skilled workers the industry depends on.

Entry Level

The platform actively recruits entry-level workers with no prior submarine industry experience. Many roles offer on-the-job training and structured career development pathways.

The entry-level section is particularly targeted at recent school leavers, community college graduates, and individuals making a career change from unrelated industries.

Transitioning Military and Veterans

Military veterans represent one of the most valued talent pools for the submarine industrial base.

The discipline, technical aptitude, security clearance eligibility, and mission-driven mindset that service members bring are directly transferable to submarine manufacturing.

Buildsubmarines com features a dedicated career path for transitioning military personnel, connecting them with employers who specifically value and seek out military experience.

Skilled Professionals

For experienced tradespeople, engineers, machinists, welders, and technical specialists already working in manufacturing or related fields, Buildsubmarines com offers a direct pathway into the submarine industry.

Skilled professionals can often move into roles with above-average compensation, strong benefits, and the added dimension of purpose — building machines that directly contribute to national security.

The Career Matchup Tool

Buildsubmarines com includes an interactive Career Matchup feature that allows users to compare different career paths across the submarine manufacturing industry.

The tool helps prospective workers understand what each role involves, how salaries compare, what the likely career trajectory looks like, and how their existing skills map to available opportunities.

It is particularly useful for individuals who know they want to work in the industry but are unsure which pathway is the best fit.

Training Programs

A significant differentiator of Buildsubmarines com is its integration of training resources directly into the job search experience.

Recognising that many potential workers may have the aptitude for submarine manufacturing but lack the specific credentials, the platform lists hundreds of training programmes across all 50 states — many of them free or heavily subsidised.

Training partner organisations include the Advanced Technology Development & Manufacturing (ATDM) institute and the Regional Maritime Training System (RMTS), among others.

These programmes cover core skills such as welding certification, CNC operation, quality control, and non-destructive testing — giving job seekers a clear and accessible route from interest to employment.

The platform’s philosophy is straightforward: if someone has the drive to work in submarine manufacturing but lacks a specific certification, Buildsubmarines com will help them find the training to get there.

The Job Portal: Powered by ZipRecruiter

In September 2023, BlueForge Alliance relaunched Buildsubmarines com with an integrated job portal powered by ZipRecruiter, one of the leading online employment marketplaces in the United States.

The partnership significantly enhanced the functionality of the platform, giving both job seekers and employers access to a best-in-class recruitment interface.

Key features of the job portal include:

Job listings that remain active for 90 days — longer than most competing platforms
Candidate profile creation, allowing job seekers to highlight their skills and experience
A searchable talent pool that employers can actively browse
Availability in both English and Spanish, reflecting the platform’s commitment to reaching as broad a workforce as possible
Employer branding tools, including company logo integration on job listings

Job listings span roles across all 50 states, connecting candidates with the Navy’s network of more than 16,000 submarine industrial base suppliers.

Employers can create accounts, post roles, and access the candidate pool directly through the platform. Pricing for employer listings is available on request by contacting Buildsubmarines com directly.

Resources for Suppliers

Buildsubmarines com is not only a tool for job seekers. It also provides a dedicated section for suppliers — the manufacturers, component makers, and service providers that form the backbone of the submarine industrial base’s supply chain.

Suppliers can use the platform to post open roles, access a pre-qualified pipeline of skilled candidates, and connect with BlueForge Alliance’s team to explore how they can become a certified supplier to the submarine programme.

Given that the submarine industrial base spans more than 16,000 suppliers stretching from small, family-owned precision manufacturers to large-scale defence contractors, the supplier resource section plays an important role in scaling capacity across the entire programme.

Education Resources

Buildsubmarines com maintains a suite of educational resources targeted at teachers, guidance counsellors, parents, and students.

These materials are designed to introduce young people to submarine manufacturing as a viable, well-compensated, and meaningful career path — starting well before graduation.

Resources include information on STEM pathways into submarine careers, guidance on trade and technical education programmes, and tools for educators who want to incorporate submarine manufacturing into career and vocational discussions.

The platform’s partnership with the Connecticut Sun, which includes STEM Night events and court revitalisation projects in Groton, is one example of how this educational mission is carried into local communities.

The AUKUS Connection

The urgency behind Buildsubmarines com is amplified by the United States’ commitments under AUKUS — the trilateral security partnership between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia announced in September 2021.

Under AUKUS, the U.S. has committed to helping Australia acquire a fleet of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines — a landmark agreement that will require the U.S. submarine industrial base to produce vessels not only for the U.S. Navy but also for a key ally.

This added demand makes the workforce shortfall even more pressing.

As one U.S. Senator noted in a Wall Street Journal editorial, the United States cannot afford to shrink its own submarine fleet at a time of growing strategic competition — and it cannot deliver on its AUKUS commitments without a significantly expanded industrial workforce.

Buildsubmarines com is, in part, a response to that international commitment.

Salary Comparison: Why Submarine Manufacturing Pays

Buildsubmarines com makes a direct pitch to job seekers on compensation.

The platform contrasts submarine manufacturing salaries with those of common alternative jobs in retail and the gig economy to make the case that careers in the industry are financially superior as well as more meaningful.

Role	Approximate Annual Salary
Additive Manufacturing (Maritime)	~$103,000
Welding (Maritime)	~$61,000
Gig Economy Worker	~$38,000
Retail / Entry-Level Service	~$35,000–$42,000

Beyond base salary, submarine manufacturing roles typically offer comprehensive benefits packages, job stability, and long-term career development pathways — advantages that short-term or gig work cannot match.

The Newsroom

Buildsubmarines com maintains an active newsroom covering developments across the U.S. submarine programme, workforce milestones, new partnerships, and updates on submarine construction progress.

Featured content includes the FY24 Submarine Industrial Base Program Year in Review, which documents progress made across workforce development, supply chain expansion, and technology deployment.

The newsroom serves both as a transparency mechanism — showing the progress of the overall mission — and as a content marketing tool that helps keep the platform visible and relevant to job seekers, suppliers, and industry observers.

How to Use Buildsubmarines com

Whether you are a job seeker, an employer, a supplier, or an educator, here is how to navigate the platform:

For Job Seekers:

Visit Buildsubmarines com and use the Career Paths menu to explore roles by specialty or experience level.
Use the Career Matchup tool to compare options and identify the best fit for your background.
Create a candidate profile on the ZipRecruiter-powered job portal to apply for roles and be discoverable by employers.
If you need additional qualifications, use the Training section to find free or subsidised programmes near you.
Search listings in English or Spanish using the search bar or category filters.

For Employers and Suppliers:

Create an employer account through jobs.Buildsubmarines com.
Post open roles that remain live for 90 days.
Browse the candidate talent pool and contact qualified applicants directly.
Contact BlueForge Alliance to explore supplier certification and partnership opportunities.

For Educators:

Access the Education Resources section for classroom-ready materials on submarine manufacturing careers.
Connect with local STEM outreach initiatives in your region.
Use the platform’s career path guides to help students understand trade and technical career trajectories in the defence manufacturing sector.

Conclusion

Buildsubmarines com is far more than a niche job board. It is the public face of one of the most significant workforce development efforts in modern American history.

A national campaign to recruit, train, and connect 100,000 skilled workers with the companies building the submarines that underpin U.S. national security and international defence commitments.

Backed by nearly $1.5 billion in Navy funding and operated by BlueForge Alliance, the platform offers a rare combination of purpose, compensation, and career longevity that few industries can match.

Whether you are a recent school leaver looking for a trade, a military veteran making the transition to civilian life, or an experienced engineer seeking more meaningful work, Buildsubmarines com presents a concrete and accessible pathway into one of America’s most critical and enduring industries.

The submarines of tomorrow are being built today — and the people building them are being found here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Buildsubmarines com?

It is the official national career and recruitment platform for the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Industrial Base, operated by BlueForge Alliance in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Navy.

Who runs Buildsubmarines com?

BlueForge Alliance, a nonprofit organisation founded in 2022 and headquartered in Bryan/College Station, Texas, operates the platform under a contract with the U.S. Department of the Navy.

Is Buildsubmarines com free for job seekers?

Yes. Job seekers can browse listings, create candidate profiles, and explore training resources at no cost.

What kinds of jobs are listed?

Roles span welding, CNC machining, additive manufacturing, engineering, design, non-destructive testing, metrology, planning, blasting and spraying, internships, and more — at entry, mid, and senior levels.

Do I need experience to apply?

Not necessarily. Many roles are entry-level, and the platform specifically includes training resources to help people gain the qualifications they need to enter the industry.