RHINELANDER, Wis. — Trident Maritime Systems in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is part of a regional shipbuilding industry that has a long history of supporting the U.S. Navy.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO. 

 

What You Need To Know

 
  • Trident Maritime Systems makes assemblies used on U.S Navy vessels
  • It is seeking welders and CNC machinists at its Rhinelander plant, as well as positions at other locations
  • The ideal candidate is looking for a long-term career with Trident

The business fabricates and builds equipment used on today’s Navy ships and submarines.

For Derrick Chester and the people working at the Trident Maritime Systems’ facility in Rhinelander, no two days are exactly alike. 

“The variety of parts we build for the Navy, it’s something different every day,” he said. “When I was in the production side of things, I got to work on something different every day. I absolutely loved it. It wasn’t the same thing day in and day out.”

Chester has worked here for two decades, moving up to a fab department team lead.

“I started as a barge welder. We used to build floating bridges for the Navy. From there, it got into more advanced fabrications. I caught on relatively fast,” he said. “Through the years, I moved into an advisor position. After a few more years, I moved into the lead position.”

(Spectrum News 1/Nathan Phelps)

Trident Maritime Services builds parts and assemblies used on navy ships, like cranes, winches and elevators.

It has locations in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

“Our main candidates we need currently are welders and machinists,” said Joe Jaeger, the plant manager in Rhinelander. “Locally, and regionally as well, the number of qualified candidates is low, so we’re looking for people with any experience level that we can help train up into those roles.” 

It is also seeking people for quality assurance inspections, manufacturing engineering and support staff. Assemblers and other positions are being sought at other locations.

“We really want someone who is eager to learn, energetic and looking to make a career out of their opportunity here,” Jaeger said. 

(Spectrum News 1/Nathan Phelps)

Chester said there’s a sense of satisfaction knowing where these parts end up.

“In movies, you’ll see parts we built,” he said. “As far as parts we won’t see, we still take great pride in saying, ‘Hey, I built parts for that submarine or that aircraft carrier.’”

More information about careers at Trident Maritime Services can be found here.