Job Description
Paid Internship Opportunities at Pacific Shipyards
Summer 2025! Positions Summary Pacific Shipyards International (PSI) is the largest privately owned shipyard in Hawaii, with two of the largest dry docks in the state. We have been in business since 1944 and have a large labor force of skilled craftsman with a full support staff of professionals who comprise of engineering, project management, QA, EHS, accounting, contracts, and human resources.
PSI offers paid Internships for anyone 16 or older, including current high school students and recent high school graduates. No special skills or prior experience necessary but you should be committed to being on time, demonstrate your readiness to try new things and put in your best effort every day to contribute to a professional team. Ideal candidates will commit to a minimum of 20 hours a week for two months, though there may be some flexibility if requested ahead of time. All shifts begin at 6:45am.
Each department offers unique, hands-on learning experiences that will broaden your skills and provide valuable exposure to different aspects of the ship repair industry. You’ll be an integral part of a team, contributing to real-world projects while developing technical, mechanical, and organizational expertise that will set you apart in your career.
Compensation $15 per hour for current high school students; $18-20 per hour for high school graduates, depending on their previous experience and educational background.
This would be a great opportunity for anyone who might be curious about future careers and gaining experience in:
For current HS students & recent HS graduates - Engineering Department : Dive into a dynamic blend of office and hands-on “deckplate” experience! You’ll gain exposure to reading and interpreting detailed technical drawings, designing simple parts, creating fabrication drawings, and collaborating directly with skilled trades to ensure projects stay on track. You’ll also assist with drydock calculations and support drydock pumping operations, gaining invaluable insight into large-scale ship repairs.
- Ship Superintendent : Step into the heart of maritime operations with a Ship Superintendent Internship at a top-tier ship repair company—where you’ll lead, manage, and oversee critical repairs that keep global fleets sailing smoothly. Make your mark in the world of shipbuilding and repair while gaining hands-on experience with industry experts.
- Quality Assurance : Set sail on a career of precision and excellence with a Quality Assurance Internship at a leading ship repair company – where attention to detail meets the open waters, and your skills will ensure the safety and performance of some of the world’s most critical vessels.
- Labor Department: Get your hands dirty and gain a solid introduction to the ship repair industry. You’ll assist with routing temporary services, performing fire watch duties, and providing essential labor across various jobsites. This entry-level role is perfect for those looking to start their career in the industry, with straightforward tasks that don’t require technical equipment or power tools.
- Mechanical Department: Take part in hands-on mechanical work, from removing and installing valves to overhauling sophisticated shipboard machinery, such as cranes and davits. You'll gain practical experience working on complex mechanical systems, enhancing your problem-solving and technical skills.
- Project Management and/or Planning & Estimating: Experience the business side of ship repair! In this department, you’ll learn how to manage project schedules, track physical progress, and oversee budgeting, gaining valuable insights into how projects come together from start to finish. This is a great opportunity for those interested in the organizational and financial aspects of large-scale engineering projects.
For HS graduates only - Coatings Department: Join the team responsible for ultra-high-pressure water blasting, sandblasting, mechanical coating removal, and painting. You’ll work both in the shop and aboard ships, contributing to the maintenance and preservation of ship exteriors. This department offers a great mix of practical and technical tasks that will broaden your experience in surface treatment and coatings.
- Structural/Pipe Department : Get hands-on with exciting structural and piping projects, including a major tugboat dry-docking and ship alterations to its seawater system. You’ll be involved in pipe bending, fitting, and welding (steel and CUNI), gaining practical experience in critical ship repair processes that keep vessels seaworthy.
Qualification/Requirements - Must show proof of your legal right to work in the United States
- This position requires US Citizenship
- Must be able to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
Our Values Legacy: Family-owned throughout its history, PSI strives to fulfill the goals that motivated our founder in 1944: we dedicate ourselves wholly to caring for our customers so that they can continue to serve our community.
Commitment: PSI approaches every project with teamwork, determination, and focus. Commitment makes it possible for the most challenging of projects to be completed safely and on time to consistently exceed our customer’s expectations.
Integrity: Transparency, humility, and accountability are critical to every facet of our business. Leading with integrity allows PSI to continue to operate as the highest-performing commercial shipyard in the state.
Loyalty: At PSI, every employee relies on teammates without question and supports each other without pretense. Built on the foundations of trust, loyalty to one another is paramount.
We hope you will consider joining our team! Applications are accepted continuously, year-round. Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply by submitting their resumes and cover letters to hr@pacificshipyards.com . Visit to learn more about PSI or apply for non-internship jobs.
Job Tags
Hourly pay, Temporary work, Summer work, Summer internship, Work at office, All shifts,