Hydrodynamic Lead Engineer

Nautilus Dynamics; Nice; Hybrid; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Job summary

Nautilus Dynamics is seeking an engineer to shape hydrodynamics work from our Nice office. You will lead studies, support colleagues and translate complex system behaviour into clear engineering decisions.

Responsibilities include ownership of hydro and mooring studies, building and challenging OrcaFlex models, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver robust offshore solutions. French language skills are a plus for the Nice team.

Qualifications

• Requires background in naval architecture, ocean engineering, hydrodynamics or related discipline.
• Experience with offshore engineering is preferred.
• Strong analytical and communication skills in English; French helpful in Nice office.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of hydrodynamic and mooring studies, from client discussion through calculation, checking and reporting.
• Build, review and challenge OrcaFlex models for floating systems, moorings, hoses, cables and marine operations; choose appropriate assumptions.
• Interpret vessel response, environmental loading, coupled behaviour and fatigue; relate analysis to design decisions.
• Define analysis plans and checking approaches; review results with colleagues and explain conclusions to clients.
• Collaborate with structural, subsea and CAD specialists across concept, FEED, detailed design and offshore preparation.
• Mentor less experienced engineers and improve scripts, post-processing tools and methods used by the team.
• Contribute technical input to proposals and help organise the hydrodynamics discipline work.

Skills

Python scripting

English communication

French language

Project leadership

Naval architecture understanding

Education

Naval architecture / ocean engineering

Tools

OrcaFlex

Job description

Help shape the hydrodynamic work at Nautilus Dynamics. From our Nice office, you will lead studies, support colleagues and turn complex system behaviour into clear engineering decisions.

The work you will help shape

• Take ownership of hydrodynamic and mooring studies, from the first discussion of a client’s needs through calculation, checking and technical reporting.
• Build, review and challenge OrcaFlex models for floating systems, moorings, hoses, cables and marine operations; choose assumptions that suit the engineering question.
• Interpret vessel response, environmental loading, coupled behaviour, extreme conditions and fatigue, keeping the limits of each method visible.
• Define analysis plans and checking approaches, review results with colleagues and explain conclusions clearly to clients.
• Work closely with structural, subsea and CAD specialists across concept, FEED, detailed design and offshore preparation.
• Help less experienced engineers develop their judgement, and improve the scripts, post-processing tools and methods used by the team.
• Contribute technical input to proposals and help organise the work of the hydrodynamics discipline.

What you bring

• A background in naval architecture, ocean engineering, hydrodynamics or a closely related discipline, supported by practical offshore engineering experience.
• Confident, hands‑on use of OrcaFlex and the ability to explain, check and defend a model rather than simply produce results.
• A sound understanding of wave loading, vessel motions, mooring response and the relationship between analysis assumptions and design decisions.
• Experience leading an engineering scope and reviewing technical deliverables with care.
• An interest in calculation automation and reproducible workflows; Python and diffraction‑analysis tools are valuable additions.
• Clear technical English, a collaborative approach and a willingness to ask thoughtful questions. French is useful in our Nice office.

What you will find here

• A role based in our Nice, France office, working with an international network of colleagues and clients.
• Responsibility for meaningful engineering decisions and the opportunity to help develop the hydrodynamics team.
• Direct collaboration across disciplines, with access to specialist analysis tools and computing resources.
• Room to develop methods, share knowledge and follow the connection between a study and the project it serves.
• Contract arrangements, start date and individual terms discussed with you during the recruitment process.

We welcome different backgrounds and paths into engineering. If you need an adjustment to take part in the recruitment conversation, please tell us.