Composite Engineer (Naval Architect)

Royal National Lifeboat Ins titution (RNLI); Poole; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

26 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Health and dental plan

Job summary

RNLI is seeking a Composite Engineer to design, analyse and improve composite structures for its floating assets. You will work across design, manufacture and lifecycle support, delivering cost‑effective solutions and maintaining accurate design records.

The role requires around 2–3 years of relevant experience in composite design or manufacture, with a practical, hands‑on approach and strong teamwork. Flexible working and a culture of safety underpin RNLI’s engineering ethos.

Qualifications

• Practical experience in composite design or manufacture.
• Ability to investigate technical problems, assess evidence and develop practical solutions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Teamwork, organisation and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop composite structures, components, repairs and tooling for RNLI assets.
• Produce and review CAD models, drawings and manufacturing instructions.
• Support surveys, testing and troubleshooting at RNLI sites and on lifeboats.
• Maintain design information through engineering change and configuration control.
• Collaborate with production, procurement and suppliers to resolve issues.

Skills

Composite design

Manufacture experience

Problem solving

Communication skills

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

SolidWorks

Rhino

Job description

As an Engineer within the team, you'll help develop, assure and improve composite structures and components across the RNLI's floating assets. You'll work closely with engineering, production, procurement, maintenance and operational colleagues, supporting projects from concept and detailed design through manufacture, trials, introduction into service and through-life support. Your work will focus on the following areas:

• Design and develop composite structures, components, repairs and tooling for RNLI assets.
• Produce and review CAD models, drawings, specifications, construction details, reports and manufacturing instructions.
• Apply composite materials, manufacturing and structural-analysis knowledge to deliver practical, repeatable and cost-effective designs.
• Work with production teams, suppliers and contractors to resolve build issues, defects and non-conformances, and develop repair solutions.
• Support surveys, investigations, testing, trials and troubleshooting at RNLI sites, suppliers and onboard lifeboats.
• Maintain accurate, traceable design information through engineering change and configuration control.
• Deliver work within multidisciplinary teams to applicable standards, RNLI processes, quality, cost and schedule requirements.
• Provide technical support and develop towards delegated engineering-signatory responsibilities.

We're seeking a Composite Engineer or Naval Architect with experience in composite design with around 2-3 years of relevant experience to join our Engineering Transformation team. This team leads the delivery of the RNLI's major asset engineering programmes, including the Coastal Lifeboat, Atlantic-85 Mk4 and SIMS replacement projects. You may come from a naval architecture, marine, structural, mechanical or manufacturing background, but you will have gained practical experience in either composite design or composite manufacture, with desirable skills in stability, vessel design or hydrodynamics. Marine experience is welcome but is not essential; relevant experience from sectors such as aerospace, automotive, motorsport, defence or advanced manufacturing will also be considered. You'll be a practical, output-focused engineer who enjoys working at the interface between design and manufacture, with the ability to turn engineering requirements into safe, practical, manufacturable and cost-effective solutions will help us deliver the next generation of lifesaving capability.

To be considered for this role, you will need:

• A relevant engineering qualification and around 2-3 years' industrial experience.
• Practical experience in composite design or manufacture, with knowledge of relevant materials, construction and bonding processes.
• Practical experience in either composite design or composite manufacturing. This is the central requirement for the role.
• An understanding of composite materials and construction methods, which may include glass or carbon-fibre reinforcement, sandwich construction, cores, resins, adhesives, bonding, infusion, prepreg, wet lay-up or similar processes.
• Experience producing, reviewing or working from engineering drawings, CAD models, specifications, work instructions or manufacturing documentation.
• An understanding of how design decisions affect tooling, production, inspection, repair, quality, cost and through-life support.
• The ability to investigate technical problems, assess evidence and develop proportionate, practical solutions.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical information clearly to different audiences.
• Strong teamwork, organisation and attention to detail.
• A positive approach to professional development and a willingness to build broader capability in marine structures, vessel design and through-life asset engineering.

Experience in one or more of the following would be advantageous, but is not essential:

• Marine craft, boatbuilding or ship structures
• Composite structural calculations or finite element analysis
• Structural surveys, defect assessment or composite repair design
• Production support, quality assurance or non-conformance resolution
• Relevant maritime regulations, classification requirements or industry standards
• Configuration management and engineering change control
• CAD software such as SolidWorks, Rhino or similar packages

Other organisations may describe this position as Composite Design Engineer, Composite Manufacturing Engineer, Marine Composite Engineer, Structural Engineer or Naval Architect.

Our purpose is simple: to save lives at sea. 24 hours a day, every day, RNLI lifesavers are ready to launch to the rescue.

Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.

• Salary £35,853 to £42,181 (dependent on experience)
• Flexible working
• 26 days' annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Outstanding pension scheme, with contributions of up to 16% of basic salary
• Life assurance
• Health and dental cash plan