PASCAGOULA, Miss. (AP) — A shipbuilding firm in Mississippi is hiring hundreds of skilled workers after it was awarded several contracts for the U.S. military.

The Sun Herald of Biloxi reported Thursday that Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula is searching for test engineers, first class welders, pipefitters, pipe welders and shipfitters. Company spokesman Bill Glenn says Ingalls is planning to hire 500 people by the end of the year.

The newspaper reports Ingalls is the largest employers in Mississippi and the solitary builder of U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutters. Ingalls is hosting a hiring fair Aug. 4 for on-site interviews. Applicants must apply beforehand on the company’s website.