QA Representative - Coatings

Vigor Marine Group is a prominent, innovative company with a national presence in marine maintenance, modernization, fabrication, and related maritime services. Operating across four shipyards equipped with six dry docks and over 20,000 feet of pier space, strategically located near U.S. Naval bases and historic shipyards, Vigor Marine Group is recognized for delivering top-tier maritime services to support defense readiness and national security. With a workforce of around 2,500 dedicated employees spanning from the Pacific Northwest to San Diego and Norfolk, the company emphasizes living wage jobs and takes pride in fostering vibrant communities through its employment opportunities and world-class services.

Vigor Marine Group is seeking a skilled Coatings Inspector to join their quality assurance team. This position is an hourly role with a competitive rate of $40.00 per hour. As a Coatings Inspector, you will be responsible for developing, administering, and scheduling tests and inspections related to marine coating applications. The role involves inspecting in-process and final craft work for conformity with regulatory, contractual, and quality standards. The inspector will document results and prepare reports based on test and inspection plans designed by the Quality Department.

Your duties will include developing test and inspection plans in compliance with NAVSEA standards, Coast Guard regulations, and Classification Society requirements. You will act as a liaison between supervisory staff, craft personnel, and regulatory agencies to ensure all testing and inspection requirements are satisfactorily met prior to calls for final inspection. Monitoring workmanship according to marine and shipbuilding standards, ensuring accurate calibration of tools and instruments, and reporting deficiencies requiring corrective action are critical aspects of this role.

This position requires maintaining positive and cooperative relationships with all involved parties including crafts, owner representatives, and regulatory officials. You will assist management in developing process control documentation and provide training to craft supervisors to ensure adherence to quality standards. Additionally, random checks of purchased and installed materials, overseeing subcontractor qualification, and verifying quality assurance requirements imposed by external agencies will be part of your responsibilities.

Working in Vigor’s dynamic shipyard environment demands knowledge of SSPC and NACE acceptance criteria for marine coatings, strong inspection skills, and the ability to interpret complex construction specifications and regulatory documents. The role also requires excellent communication abilities, conflict resolution skills, and the capacity to manage multiple priorities independently. Familiarity with PC and software applications like MS Office is essential, along with a commitment to customer service and quality processes.

This role requires a minimum of five years of experience in coatings inspection within marine, bridge, heavy construction, or industrial manufacturing environments. Preferred certifications include Level 2 or higher from NACE or SSPC for Paint and Coating inspection. Physically, you must be able to handle the demands of shipyard work, including walking between job sites, climbing stairways and ladders, entering confined spaces, and occasionally lifting weights up to 50 pounds. Local and occasional out-of-town travel may be required.

Vigor Marine Group values integrity, responsibility, evolution, and care. Their inclusive workplace is drug, smoke, and vape-free. Employment is restricted to U.S. Persons in compliance with federal contracting requirements. Vigor offers a robust benefits package through union affiliations, including medical, dental, prescription coverage, 401(k), life and AD&D insurance, pension, employee assistance, paid time off, and holidays. The company is committed to equal employment opportunities and accommodates individuals with disabilities to perform their essential job functions.