Weights & Lifting Structural Engineer

NAVANTIA UK; Belfast; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading shipbuilding company in Belfast is seeking a Structural Weights & Lifting Engineer to join the Production Engineering team. This role involves developing safe lifting plans, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and working collaboratively with production teams. Ideal candidates should be degree-qualified engineers with CAD/CAM experience and a passion for solving technical challenges. This position offers competitive benefits and opportunities for career development.

Benefits

Company pension

Life Assurance

Learning & Development opportunities

Qualifications

• Strong CAD/CAM and 3D modelling experience.
• Experience producing calculations for heavy lifting using recognised software tools.
• Strong writing skills for engineering reports.

Responsibilities

• Produce calculations and documentation for safe lifting operations.
• Develop lifting plans to support project design.
• Review your lifting designs on-site and gather feedback.

Skills

CAD/CAM experience

3D modelling

Engineering analyses for heavy lifting

Clear communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Degree in Structural Engineering or Naval Architecture

Tools

Engineering software

Job description

Navantia UK is a UK incorporated company, subsidiary of Spanish Navantia, created to work with UK industrial partners in shipbuilding, defence and in offshore wind energy. With a history that goes back more than 300 hundred years, Navantia is a world reference in the design, building, integration and life cycle support of state‑of‑the‑art war ships for the Spanish Navy and international customers and has extensive experience in ToT programmes.

Job Description

At Navantia UK, we are delivering some of the most ambitious shipbuilding and heavy‑engineering projects in the country. We are looking for a talented StructuralWeights & Lifting Engineer to join our Production Engineering team in Belfast and help ensure that every major lift, turn and movement of critical structures is executed safely, efficiently and with engineering excellence.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of large‑scale marine and defence programmes—where your expertise will directly influence production performance, operational safety and project success.

About the Role

As a Weights & Lifting StructuralEngineer, you will be the technical authority for all lifting and turning operations across the shipyard. You’ll apply engineering analysis, modelling and strong problem‑solving skills to develop safe, practical and cost‑effective lifting plans and methodologies.

You will collaborate closely with production teams, clients and third‑party specialists, ensuring that every operation meets rigorous industry standards and reflects best practice. You’ll also play a hands‑on role by attending key lifts on‑site to confirm compliance and continuously improve our engineering processes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Produce detailed calculations, analyses, drawings and documentation for safe heavy lifting and turning operations.
• Develop lifting plans and reports to support work packages and project design books.
• Assess lifting requirements against yard capabilities, lifting equipment inventory and industry good practice.
• Maintain forward planning for workload, deadlines and resource needs, in collaboration with the Production Engineering Manager.
• Deliver solutions that are safe, cost‑effective and fit for purpose.
• Maintain an electronic database of lifting arrangements and documentation.
• Engage with clients, attend site visits and participate in reviews as required.
• Support operational teams during execution of lift activities and provide expert guidance on best lifting practices.
• Keep up to date with relevant standards, legislation and regulations (BS, API, DCR, HS&E, EU directives).
• Review the implementation of your lifting designs on‑site and feed lessons learned back into future designs.

Qualifications

You are an analytical, detail-driven engineer who thrives on solving complex technical challenges. You enjoy working collaboratively with colleagues at all levels, and you bring a practical mindset to safety-critical operations.

Skills & Experience:

• Strong CAD/CAM and 3D modelling experience.
• Demonstrable experience producing calculations and engineering analyses for heavy lifting operations using recognised software tools.
• Confident communicator, able to work effectively with technical teams, clients and operational personnel.
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear and concise engineering reports.
• Degree-qualified Structural Engineer or Naval Architect (or equivalent).
• Postgraduate experience or technical project/process management experience in relevant heavy engineering environments.
• Involvement in on‑site lifts may include working at height or within confined spaces (with full safety measures provided).

Additional Information

Equal Opportunity: We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. To ensure equal opportunities for all candidates, we commit to a fair and unbiased recruitment process at every stage. This includes ensuring hiring managers are aware of legislation, providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities, and actively seeking to eliminate any form of discrimination based on race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic. Our goal is to create a recruitment environment where every candidate feels valued and has an equal chance to succeed.

If you experience difficulties or are unable to apply for a role on‑line please contact us and one of the team will be in contact to help you.

• Company pension
• Life Assurance
• L&D opportunities