Senior Structural Engineer – Naval Ship Design

Navantia UK; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and benefits

Hybrid working (minimum 3 days in the office)

Job summary

A leading ship design firm in Bristol is looking for a Senior Structural Engineer to shape the future of naval ship design. The role involves leading structural design projects, producing high-quality design outputs, and mentoring junior engineers. Candidates should have strong experience in steel ship structures and proven FEA expertise. The position offers hybrid working arrangements, competitive salary, and the chance to work on high-profile programmes within a collaborative and inclusive culture.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in steel ship structures, ideally naval or complex commercial vessels.
• Proven FEA expertise and structural analysis capability.
• Confidence using 3D CAD/CAE tools, Siemens NX desirable.

Responsibilities

• Leading and delivering structural design and analysis for naval and commercial vessels.
• Producing high-quality outputs including models, drawings, calculations, and reports.
• Providing technical leadership and mentoring to junior engineers.

Skills

Steel ship structures experience

FEA expertise

3D CAD/CAE tools (Siemens NX)

Problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Structural Engineering or Naval Architecture

Tools

Siemens NX

Job description

Senior Structural Engineer – Naval Ship Design
Bristol, UK | Navantia UK
Full‑time | Part‑time considered | Hybrid working

Help shape the future of naval ship design.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading and delivering structural design and analysis for naval and complex commercial vessels
• Producing high‑quality outputs including models, drawings, calculations, BOMs, weight estimates and reports
• Developing and owning the team’s finite element analysis capability, including standards, workflows and verification
• Building and maintaining a 3D ship structures modelling capability in Siemens NX
• Performing global and local analyses (strength, vibration, fatigue, buckling, stiffness)
• Optimising designs for safety, performance and manufacturability
• Applying MOD, Naval Ship Rules and Classification Society standards
• Providing technical leadership and mentoring to junior engineers
• Supporting design reviews and driving structural best practice

What we're looking for

• Strong experience in steel ship structures, ideally naval or complex commercial vessels
• Proven FEA expertise and structural analysis capability
• Confidence using 3D CAD/CAE tools (Siemens NX desirable)
• Deep understanding of fabrication, fatigue, failure modes and ship structural behaviour
• Excellent problem‑solving and communication skills
• Degree (or HNC/HND with experience) in Structural Engineering, Naval Architecture or similar
• Eligibility for BPSS (SC clearance required for some roles)

Why join Navantia UK?

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Hybrid working (minimum 3 days in the office, project dependent)
• A pivotal technical role with scope to shape structural engineering capability
• The opportunity to work on high‑profile naval and maritime programmes
• A collaborative, inclusive culture where technical excellence is valued

Navantia UK is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are an Opening Doors employer, committed to fairness at every stage, including providing reasonable adjustments and working to eliminate discrimination.