Naval Architect

James Fisher and Sons plc; Renfrew; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

James Fisher and Sons plc is seeking a Naval Architect in Glasgow to provide naval architecture and marine engineering expertise from concept to release for manufacture, and support mobilisations globally. The role ensures solutions align with governance processes, safety, cost, schedule, and compliance requirements.

You will deliver engineering solutions, coach teams, and liaise with sales, procurement, and production to ensure timely, on-budget outcomes. Travel locally and overseas is involved.

Qualifications

• Degree in engineering or relevant industry experience.
• Post-graduate or professional qualification; Chartered status desirable.
• Perform structural design and analysis.
• Expertise in trim and stability analyses.
• Hull form analyses with stability/hydrodynamics/seakeeping knowledge.
• Deck layouts / load-out plan expertise.
• Experience with PLM for engineering packages.
• Coordinate design inputs across disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Produce concepts and solutions for subsea and surface vessel problems.
• Assess technical queries; contribute to new products and existing ranges.
• Prepare ship deck layouts for deployment of submarine rescue assets.
• Conduct structural analysis and seafastening design per standards.
• Survey vessel suitability as mothership for assets.
• Maintain weight, buoyancy, and trim documentation.
• Generate project reports to aid decision making.
• Support mobilisation of assets to vessels of opportunity.
• Interact with operators and customers; ensure timely delivery.

Skills

Naval Architecture

Structural analysis

Trim & stability

Deck layouts

Hull form analysis

Regulatory compliance

Concept development

Documentation review

Project coordination

Submersibles experience

Mobilisation experience

ISO 9001/45001 knowledge

Education

Engineering degree

Chartered Engineer status desirable

Tools

PLM system

Job description

About the Role

Naval Architect
Permanent position
Westway, Glasgow

The Role:

To provide Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering expertise in support of JFD’s design activities from concept design, through to engineering release for manufacture, as well as providing support for mobilising equipment for both planned exercises and in the event of emergency call outs globally.
The role will be delivering engineering solutions that comply with JFD’s engineering strategy, governance framework and processes as well as meeting safety, cost, quality, schedule, and compliance requirements.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Producing and developing concepts, specifications and solutions to subsea and surface vessel problems
• Assessing technical queries and providing engineering design input to new products and support existing product range.
• Preparing ship deck layouts for submarine rescue asset deployment
• Carrying out structural analysis, including seafastening design to Classification Society standards
• Undertaking surveys to assess the suitability of vessels to operate as a mothership for the submarine rescue assets
• Maintaining submersible weight, buoyancy and trim control documents
• Producing and collating project reports and aid in decision making based upon their results
• Supporting the mobilisation of submarine rescue assets to Vessels of Opportunity
• Interacting directly with operators and customers
• Checking detailed manufacturing drawings and documentation and adherence to company standards and processes and compliance to internal and external standards & regulations.
• Liaise with internal JFD departments such as sales, procurement, and production to ensure the best technical solution is provided in all instances.
• Ensuring engineering solutions are provided on time and on budget

What we’re looking for:

You will be a natural problem-solver with excellent written and verbal communication along with efficient organisational skills.
You will have excellent attention to detail and the ability to adapt to changing scope or client demands with the willingness to take ownership and accountability of tasks and drive to completion.
Methodical and thorough whilst generating and checking documentation whilst being delivery focused and able to produce results in challenging technical environments.
You will also need the ability to coach, mentor and develop talent, allowing them to shine independently.

Key skills, knowledge and experience:

• Degree qualified in a relevant engineering discipline or relevant industry experience.
• Post-graduate or professional qualification, e.g., Chartered Engineer status, desirable.
• Perform structural design and analysis.
• Expertise in trim and stability analyses.
• Experience performing analyses of hull forms with knowledge of stability, hydrodynamic performance and seakeeping predictions.
• Expertise in deck Layouts / Load out plans.
• Experience with Product Lifecycle Management system for generating and storage of engineering packages.
• Design integration, coordinating inputs from other engineering disciplines.
• Develop concepts and perform feasibility design studies.
• Review / approval of Naval Architecture deliverables prior to release to client or for manufacture.
• Perform ship general arrangements and configuration drawings.
• Previous experience working on submersibles would be advantageous.
• Support the preparation of class submittals.
• Previous experience of mobilising / de‑mobilising of equipment would be advantageous.
• Familiar with international Quality and Safety standards (ISO 9001, 45001 etc.)
• Ability to apply regulatory body rules (Class Standards, LR, DNV, National Standards, IMCA), ship specifications, and other technical guidance to develop conforming designs and modifications to ships and submersible vehicles.

* You will need a flexible approach to working as there will be some travel involved, both locally and overseas as projects require.
In addition, you will need to be able to pass security clearance to be eligible for this position.
You will also need a full UK driving licence.

Why join us?

Competitive benefits tailored to the division.
Opportunities for career growth and visibility across the organisation.
A supportive, inclusive culture that values your ideas and contributions.
Work that truly makes a difference in safety, innovation, and global capability.

About Us:

James Fisher is a global engineering services company with over 50 years of experience delivering complex offshore energy projects in some of the world’s most challenging environments. We operate across Energy, Defence, and Maritime Transport, leveraging cutting‑edge technology and deep expertise to support the full lifecycle of our customers’ assets.

Who we are:

JFD is the world leading underwater capability provider, serving the commercial and defence markets with innovative diving, submarine and hyperbaric rescue, technical solutions and services.
Operating worldwide, the company is the world’s leading provider of submarine rescue capability and an established provider of submarine escape training. The company is at the forefront of Hyperbaric Rescue, along with being the leading supplier of commercial and defence diving equipment and saturation diving systems to the commercial industry.

www.jfdglobal.com

Visit our website at: www.james-fisher.com

For more information about our values and behaviours, follow the link: About us | James Fisher and Sons plc

Due to the volume of applications, we receive for our vacancies, on occasion applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.

James Fisher and Sons are committed to taking positive action on diversity and strongly encourage applications for candidates from all backgrounds. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and recognise that our success depends on our talented and diverse workforce.