Naval Architect

Navantia UK is a new force in British industry, supporting the UK’s defence, security and energy transition ambitions. We’re doing this by creating state-of-the-art sovereign defence capabilities, investing in the UK to modernise industrial facilities, and bolstering the nation's energy security. Established in 2022, Navantia UK is a subsidiary of Navantia SA, a Spanish state-owned company with over 300 years of naval shipbuilding history. In January 2025, Navantia UK completed the acquisition of Harland & Wolff and its four historic facilities in Belfast, Appledore, Methil, and Arnish. By combining Harland & Wolff’s proud heritage and facilities with Navantia’s global expertise, Navantia UK is well-positioned to strengthen Britain’s defence, maritime and energy industrial capabilities, supporting jobs and economic growth across the UK.

Responsible for providing naval architecture capability primarily for projects within the Appledore Shipyard but also providing support to other Navantia UK business units. You will be providing solutions in support of Navantia UK requirements. This role will:

• Conduct tasks such as rules based and direct structural analyses, stability analyses, defining specifications and scope of supply, managing subcontracts/ design partners.
• Participate in a wide range of activities including functional design, detailed design, production support, delivery and in service support to a variety of projects

Responsibilities

• Provide naval architecture support to new build programs from within the Appledore Technical Team.
• The following covers the high-level tasks of the team that a successful candidate will support or lead:
  • Precontract award, provide engineering support to bid team, review equipment specifications, buildability of concept and provide depth of knowledge to back the development of work winning bids.
  • Post contract award, develop functional vessel design, obtain class approval and support procurement department with the down selection of suppliers. Archive key client approval milestones. Manage specification / requirements evidencing. Develop build strategies with production.
  • Support subcontracted detailed design effort. Manage subcontractor, QA design out puts, ensure compliance with program, provide production support to all departments. Support development of trials and commissioning activities. Develop lifting and turning manoeuvres, lease with on site class, MCA and client team.
• Responsible and accountable for planning and delivery of engineering technical activities.
• Quality assurance of work performed, ensuring compliance and alignment to all company procedures, industrial standards, and specific client requirements.
• Subcontract management of equipment suppliers and detailed design partners.
• As required provide input / support to tendering and business development activities carried out by bid team.
• Liaise closely with the Chief Naval Architect to ensure they remain informed of all technical issues.
• Attend project meetings, project progress report ,liaising with Clients, class and flag and updating project status, taking the lead as directed.
• Detailed engineering work, including but not limited to, rules and direct structural calculations, stability analysis, weights engineering, production support, design reviews.
• Assist with any other duties as and when required.
• Conducting structural analyses using Rules, Finite Element Analysis software and theoretical methods
• Conducting stability analyses using Maxsurf or NAPA naval architecture software.
• Development of functional design 3D model, structural & outfit.
• Design of ship modifications and capability upgrades (support of Appledore Refit Business)
• Undertaking the technical analysis required for drydocking and undocking of ships. Operation of the Appledore Shipways.
• Lending expertise to the through-life maintenance and support of ships
• Participating in a wide range of activities including functional, detailed design, support to build, delivery and in service support to a variety of platforms
• Drafting, vetting and editing technical reports or other documents relevant to, or required by, a particular task in order to ensure that technical findings can be successfully communicated with recipients
• Participation in the preparation and submission of technical proposals and tenders as required

On-Time Delivery of Engineering Milestones

• ≥ 90% of assigned engineering tasks and design packages delivered by agreed deadlines.

Effective Support to Production

• Provide engineering responses to production queries within 2 working days on average.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Attention to detail
• Excellent communication skills
• Business alignment
• Focused on customer, results & improvements
• Planning & Organisation
• Working with others
• Developing self and others

Education and Experience

Qualified to degree level, usually MEng, in Naval Architecture /Marine Technology/ Ship Science.

Demonstrable knowledge and, ideally, experience in a number of the following:

• • • Structural Design / Scantling definition/ Structural Details
    • Stability assessments, intact and damage, probabilistic and deterministic, production of stability booklets.
    • Powering and Propulsion, assessments through regression software, definition of tow tank specifications, propeller and propulsion definition.
    • Drydocking and slipway principles.
    • Manoeuvring and seakeeping awareness
  • Have experience of the commercial implications of subcontracting and dealing with new build contracts.
  • Development of drawing packages for class approval and experience in vessel new building.
  • Engineering material selection and use, particularly according to British Standards/ Euronorms/
• Classification Society standards and Defence Standards

Desirable:

• Experienced in Structural Analysis.
• Previous Project Management experience
• Working towards CEng
• Experience in one or more programming language;
• Surface ship design standards and processes (IMO, NES, DefStan, Classification Rules)

• Understanding of the whole ship engineering design process.
• Understanding of the hydromechanic aspects of surface ship design, principally stability
• Familiarity of naval architectural software
• Experience of CAD software such as AutoCAD, Inventor
• Awareness of Product Safety and SHE
  
  

Equal Opportunity: We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. To ensure equal opportunities for all candidates, we commit to a fair and unbiased recruitment process at every stage. This includes ensuring hiring managers are aware of legislation, providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities, and actively seeking to eliminate any form of discrimination based on race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic. Our goal is to create a recruitment environment where every candidate feels valued and has an equal chance to succeed.

If you experience difficulties or are unable to apply for a role on-line please contact us at people.skills@harland-wolff.com and one of the team will be in contact to help you.

We are an Opening Doors employer, committed to equal opportunity and an inclusive workplace. Our approach, shaped by our values of service, trust, excellence, agility, dedication, and you, we focus on removing barriers and recognising potential. We are committed to fairness at every stage, including providing reasonable adjustments and actively working to eliminate discrimination.

We believe talent is everywhere, and by widening access to opportunity and welcoming diverse experiences, we aim to create a workplace where every person feels valued and has an equal chance.

If you experience difficulties or are unable to apply for a role on-line please contact us at people.skills@harland-wolff.com and one of the team will be in contact to help you.