On Saturday, April 11, 2026, more than 1,300 people lined up outside the former Crystal Mall in Waterford, Connecticut, not to shop but to interview for jobs at General Dynamics Electric Boat.
The turnout marked a sharp reversal for the shopping center, which had seen sparse attendance in recent years as retail declined. Instead, the mall’s vast parking lots and corridors filled with applicants seeking work in trades ranging from welding and pipefitting to engineering and IT — roles critical to the company’s goal of hiring 8,000 people this year across Connecticut and Rhode Island to support production of Virginia-class attack submarines and Columbia-class ballistic-missile vessels for the U.S. Navy.
Alex Hatem, manager of talent acquisition at Electric Boat, said the energy of the crowd reinforced confidence in meeting hiring targets. “It invigorates all of us, and makes us believe and know that we can hit those numbers,” he told CT Insider. “There are many people in this area that want to work at EB.”
The company deployed approximately 225 staff to manage the event, aiming to conduct around 1,000 interviews. By midmorning, the event had reached full capacity, prompting organizers to restrict entry to those with scheduled appointments or already in line by 10 a.m., according to WJAR.
Rep. Joe Courtney shared images of the gathering on social media, calling it “vivid proof of the historic expansion of [Connecticut’s] submarine industrial base.” The event underscored how a once-struggling retail site has become a focal point for revitalizing the region’s defense manufacturing workforce.
Beyond immediate hiring needs, the surge in interest reflects broader shifts in the local economy, where traditional retail spaces are being repurposed to support high-skill industrial employment tied to national security priorities.
Why did Electric Boat choose the former Crystal Mall for its hiring event?
The company selected the vacant retail space due to its large, accessible layout and central location in Waterford, which allowed it to accommodate a high-volume recruitment drive while signaling investment in the community’s economic transition.
What types of jobs were available at the event?
Openings included skilled trades such as mechanics, painters, carpenters, welders, pipefitters, shipfitters, and electricians, as well as roles in operations supervision, engineering, design, planning, information technology, and supply chain management.
