Job Description

Naval Architect 

Bristol | Hybrid 

Competitive salary, bonus and excellent benefits 

Talent Locker is exclusively supporting an innovative UK engineering organisation as they continue to expand their maritime capability. Due to the nature of the programmes involved, we're conducting a confidential search for an experienced Naval Architect to join a multidisciplinary engineering team delivering advanced maritime platforms for defence and national security customers.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work at the forefront of maritime innovation, contributing to the design and development of next-generation vessels, including autonomous and uncrewed platforms, on programmes that have genuine operational impact.

The Opportunity 

Working across concept and detailed design you'll support the full engineering lifecycle of complex maritime platforms. You'll collaborate closely with systems, structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, while also contributing to cutting-edge R&D initiatives focused on future maritime capability. 

Responsibilities include:

• Shaping practical design solutions for advanced maritime platforms from early ideas through to delivery.
• Carrying out the calculations, analysis and technical documentation needed to support engineering decisions.
• Assessing vessel behaviour and performance, including structural integrity, stability, buoyancy, seakeeping and weight considerations.
• Contributing to feasibility work, design development and refinement of detailed engineering solutions.
• Working side by side with wider engineering disciplines to ensure designs are joined up and buildable.
• Helping ensure outputs align with relevant maritime, defence and classification requirements.
• Taking part in design reviews, technical discussions and meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
• Supporting verification and validation activity, including sea trials where appropriate.
• Acting as a trusted technical point of contact for project teams and stakeholders.

Experience you will need 

We're keen to speak with Naval Architects who enjoy solving complex engineering challenges and want to work on genuinely innovative programmes.

You'll ideally have:

• A degree in Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, Ship Science or a related discipline.
• A background in vessel, ship or maritime design gained in defence, commercial marine, offshore or shipbuilding environments.
• Strong experience with structural aspects of vessel design.
• An understanding of marine systems and how they integrate into wider platform design.
• Exposure to autonomous, uncrewed or highly innovative vessel projects would be a real advantage.
• A solid grasp of vessel behaviour, including hydrodynamics, stability, seakeeping and structural performance.
• Familiarity with tools such as Maxsurf, Orca3D or comparable naval architecture software.
• An appreciation of model-based engineering and systems engineering approaches.
• Confidence producing clear technical outputs, reports and supporting documentation.
• The ability to communicate effectively with engineers, project teams and other technical stakeholders.

Please Note - Due to the nature of the projects, applicants must be eligible to undergo UK security vetting.

If you're a Naval Architect looking to work on some of the UK's most advanced maritime engineering programmes, we'd love to hear from you.

For a confidential discussion, apply today or contact Emma on emma@talentlocker.co.uk