Principal Designer

Seaway7; Westhill; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Seaway7 is seeking a Principal Designer to lead advanced design and drafting activities, producing complex drawings and coordinating a design team to meet project objectives.

You will oversee resource planning, check work for quality, and liaise with Project Engineers on installation drawings, ensuring compliance with QA/HSE and industry standards. Proven leadership and extensive CAD experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Clear communication and organizational skills.
• Highly organized with attention to detail.
• Solid understanding of design and drafting techniques.
• Experience with cross-functional teams and concurrent engineering.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, Inventor and Vault Professional.

Responsibilities

• Produce complex drawings and sketches per standards.
• Assign, oversee, check, and approve design work.
• Plan, organize and manage work for self and team.
• Interface with Project Engineers on installation drawings.
• Ensure QA, HSE, and company procedures compliance.
• Lead and mentor junior staff; participate in recruitment.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Mentoring/people development

Education

Associate degree in Drafting and Design

Tools

AutoCAD

Autodesk Inventor

Vault Professional

ERP systems

Job description

What will you be doing?

Reporting to the Design Supervisor or Design Office Manager, the Principal Designer applies advanced design and drafting techniques to produce complex drawings and sketches in line with good engineering practice and company procedures.

The role includes responsibility for checking and overseeing the work of other designers and draughts persons and may involve leading a team or managing all or part of the design services for a project.

• Produce complex drawings and sketches that meet good engineering practice and company standards.
• Assign, oversee, check, and approve design work to ensure accuracy, quality, and consistency.
• Plan, organize, and manage work for yourself and team members.
• Liaise directly with Project Engineers on installation drawings and sketches.
• Ensure lessons learned are captured and applied to improve safety, quality, and risk mitigation.
• Maintain familiarity with relevant codes and standards used in design and drafting.
• Identify project resource needs and communicate these to the Design Supervisor or Design Office Manager.
• Review resource requests and provide feedback on feasibility, deliverables, and timescales.
• Interface with project discipline leads to ensure CAD deliverables are on schedule and within budget.
• Ensure adequate Design Office input into procurement activities.
• Encourage awareness and reporting of project variations.
• Provide input into project CTR estimates for the department.
• Ensure design services comply with company standards, processes, and procedures (including BMS and PM7).
• Ensure compliance with company QA, HSE procedures, and applicable legislation.
• Participate in technical audits of projects and studies.
• Support and maintain engineering control and reporting systems to improve planning, forecasting, and cost tracking.
• Manage internal and external Design Office interfaces.
• Agree, monitor, and review performance objectives with direct reports.
• Identify performance improvement needs and recommend adjustments to organisation, tools, processes, or people.
• Support induction, mentoring, and training of junior employees and new starters.
• Support apprentice recruitment and training where applicable.
• Participate in recruitment of permanent and contract personnel.
• Advance team learning by promoting knowledge sharing, best practices, and technical proficiency.
• Support department structure development and succession planning.
• Encourage awareness of departmental capabilities and competencies.
• Participate in reviews and contribute to the development of departmental procedures and work methods.
• Support the development of standard project deliverables and improved efficiencies.
• Encourage Engineering Improvements to enhance company systems and services.
• Stay informed about emerging technologies, digital tools, and methods to keep the business aligned with the latest industry developments.
• Stay current with professional learning to support ongoing growth.

What experience would we like you to have?

• Clear communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Highly organised with a high level of attention to detail.
• Solid understanding of design and drafting techniques and engineering terminology.
• Ability to work in a cross-functional, concurrent engineering environment.
• Ability to prioritise workloads, manage time effectively, and communicate constraints clearly.
• Collaborative, inclusive leadership style that encourages team motivation and ownership of results.
• Advanced user of AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, and Vault Professional.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Drafting and Design with 15+ years’ relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of mechanical engineering principles, design reviews, and calculations.
• Extensive knowledge of design and drafting techniques.
• Familiarity with ERP systems, document control, offshore vessels, and installation principles.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.