Senior Submarine Structures Specialist (FEA)

Matchtech Group; Halifax, Ottawa, Victoria; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Matchtech Group is seeking a Senior Submarine Structures Specialist (FEA) to support naval client taskings. The role involves leading complex FEA analyses for submarine pressure hulls, providing robust design and assessment guidance, and ensuring high-quality deliverables within a multidisciplinary team.

The ideal candidate has a degree in Marine Engineering or Naval Architecture, 10+ years of naval architecture experience, and holds or can obtain Canadian and international security clearances;

Qualifications

• Degree in Marine Engineering or Naval Architecture.
• 10+ years in Naval Architecture.
• Extensive FEA experience on submarine structures.
• Eligible for Canadian and international security clearance.
• Willingness to deploy internationally (minimum 3 months per year).

Responsibilities

• Provide Naval Architecture advice to clients and internal teams.
• Act as Technical Lead and Technical Assurer on projects.
• Manage own technical work and contribute to best practices.
• Coordinate with Shipyards, Dockyards, Owners, Class and OEMs for surveys and design changes.
• Maintain CPD to sustain technical knowledge.

Skills

FEA experience

Security clearance eligible

Travel readiness

Technical leadership

Education

Marine Engineering or Naval Architecture degree

Tools

FEA software

Job description

Purpose of the Role:

The Senior Submarine Structures Specialist (FEA) is responsible for professionally and efficiently executing work in support of client taskings for submarines.

Responsibilities and Tasks include:

General:

• Provide Naval Architecture advice and support to external and internal customers.
• Manage your own technical work and evaluate its effectiveness to improve best practice.
• Work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Comply with relevant business and ethics codes of conduct.
• Undertake engineering and non-engineering activities in a way that contributes to best practice.
• Act as Technical Lead on specified projects.
• Act as Technical Assurer on specified projects.
• Act as Project Manager (PM) on specified projects.
• Work within the Quality Management System (QMS) processes and procedures.
• Maintain your technical competency in your area(s) of specialization.
• Promotes building a positive team culture through input, feedback and participation in team building and wellness activities.

Role Specific:

• Proven experience in the use of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software creating models and running analyses. Pressure Hull Inelastic Collapse Assessment
• Experienced in FEA for Pressure Hull Inelastic Collapse Assessment, including ability to define and implement a process that defines the collapse and operational depths of the pressure hull based on design standards, FEA results, uncertainty and safety factor knock-down approach.
• Familiar with the design and analysis process of submarine pressure hulls, both for existing platforms and new design.
• The ability to search for different failure modes, due to the incorporation of different construction defects, both for existing platforms and new design.
• The ability to provide clear direction on how to obtain different failure modes, under different construction defects, both for existing platforms and new design.
• The ability to calculate and reduce uncertainties using numerical and real experiments, both for existing platforms and new design.
• Familiar with submarine pressure hull structural features.
• Highly skilled in performing non-linear FEA.
• Experience using and addressing the challenges of the risk-method, and/or the arc-length method.
• Experience creating the "paper" submarine pressure hull.
• Experience implementing Verification & Validation in solid mechanics simulations. Pressure Hull Fatigue Analysis
• Familiar with fatigue assessment using design standards such as PD5500.
• Highly skilled in performing linear FEAs and stress linearization. Non-resistant Structures Design
• Familiar with pressure hull non-resistant structures including deck, soft tanks, and foundations.
• Highly skilled in performing linear FEAs.
• Highly skilled in performing linear, modal, response spectrum and transient FEAs.
• Familiar with naval shock standards such as STANAG 4142. General
• Work with Shipyards, Dockyards, Owners, Class and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) to conduct ship surveys for design and engineering changes, mid-life upgrades and vessel condition documentation.
• Maintain a program of Continuing Professional Development to sustain your technical knowledge.
• Work with Capability Manager to identify the levels of suitably qualified and experienced personnel (SQEP) required to fulfil current and projected demand.
• Work with Capability Manager to identify training or other developmental opportunities to develop SQEP within the company.
• Work with Capability Manager to identify resources for project work, training and development opportunities.
• Mentor staff who are developing skills, qualifications and experience in their domain.
• Arbitrate on disputes concerning technical content within their domain.
• Stamp and Seal Professional Engineering deliverables in area of practise.

In addition to these duties, the position holder may be required to carry out such other duties as may reasonably be required, from time to time, to achieve the above role purpose.

Authority, Accountability and Working Relationships:

The role is responsible and accountable to:

• Capability Manager or delegate for utilization and career development,
• Project Manager for assigned projects.

Required to forge effective working relationships with:

• Clients,
• Project Managers,
• Engineering personnel within cross-discipline teams.

Employment Conditions:

• Permanent, full-time hours (or as otherwise agreed) in accordance with the region of employment.
• Halifax, NS, Kanata, ON or Victoria, BC as defined in employment contract; however, the role requires a minimum 3-month international deployment every 12 months.
• Occasional travel to other offices or client sites as required from time to time.

Key Knowledge, Experience and Skills:

Essential:

• Degree in Marine Engineering or Naval Architecture;
• Minimum 10 years of experience in Naval Architecture;
• Extensive experience conducting FEA on submarine structures;
• Existing registration or ability to obtain registration with Professional Engineering governance body in Province of work;
• Eligible for a Canadian and International security clearance; and,
• Hold a valid passport and be able to travel internationally on a minimum of a 3-month deployment every 12 months.

Desirable:

• Detailed knowledge and experience in designing and conducting FEA analysis on composite materials.
• Experience working in a shipyard during the in-service support of naval systems and/or engineering design.