Naval Architect

Zen Technologies Limited; Hyderabad; On-site; INR 2,800,000 - 5,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Zen Technologies Limited in Hyderabad seeks an experienced Naval Architect to lead the design and development of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), focusing on hull design, hydrodynamics, structural integrity, and overall vehicle architecture.

You will translate performance requirements into robust hull and structural designs, collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams, and guide CFD and CAD workflows to ensure safe, manufacturable, and high-performance underwater systems.

Qualifications

• B.E./B.Tech or M.E./M.Tech in Naval Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Marine Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in Hull Design, Structural Engineering, Hydrodynamics, Naval Architecture, or Marine/Underwater Vehicle Development.
• Strong hands‑on experience in hull design and structural engineering for marine, underwater, submarine, AUV/UUV, or similar platforms.
• Strong understanding of Hydrodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Hydrostatics, Buoyancy, Stability, Drag, and Resistance.
• Experience with pressure hull / pressure vessel design principles for underwater applications.
• Proficiency in CAD tools such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, CATIA, or equivalent.
• Experience with CFD simulation and hydrodynamic analysis tools.
• Strong understanding of structural loads, material behaviour, underwater pressure, and environmental operating conditions.
• Experience in selecting and working with lightweight, high-strength, and corrosion-resistant materials for marine or underwater applications.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, simulation results, and test reports.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, communication, and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of AUV hulls and associated structural architecture.
• Develop hull concepts and detailed designs considering hydrodynamics, structural integrity, buoyancy, stability, weight, payload, and operational requirements.
• Perform and review hydrodynamic analysis and CFD simulations to optimize hull geometry, drag, resistance, and underwater performance.
• Carry out structural design and analysis of hulls and underwater structures for operational and hydrostatic/hydrodynamic loads.
• Design and optimize structures considering underwater pressure, operating depth, environmental conditions, and safety requirements.
• Evaluate and select suitable lightweight, high-strength, and corrosion-resistant materials for underwater applications.
• Develop and maintain detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, engineering drawings, and design documentation using SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or equivalent tools.
• Work closely with Mechanical, Propulsion, Electrical, Electronics, Autonomy, Systems Engineering, and Manufacturing teams for overall AUV integration.
• Assess the impact of hull design on vehicle drag, buoyancy, stability, endurance, payload capacity, manoeuvrability, and overall mission performance.
• Support prototype development, design verification, testing, trials, troubleshooting, and design validation of AUV structures.
• Analyse design issues arising during fabrication, assembly, testing, and underwater trials and drive appropriate engineering modifications.
• Ensure structural designs are suitable for manufacturing, assembly, maintenance, and field deployment.
• Support technical reviews, design reviews, engineering documentation, and configuration management activities.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of design methodologies, engineering standards, and best practices for underwater vehicle development.
• Provide technical guidance to junior engineers and collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams throughout the product development lifecycle.

Skills

Hull design

Structural engineering

Hydrodynamics

Naval Architecture

CAD modelling

CFD analysis

Pressure hull design

Materials selection

Teamwork

Communication

Education

B.E./B.Tech or M.E./M.Tech in Naval Architecture or related engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

CATIA

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Naval Architect to lead the design and development of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), with a strong focus on hull design, hydrodynamics, structural integrity, underwater performance, and overall vehicle architecture.

The role involves translating AUV operational and performance requirements into robust hull and structural designs, while ensuring the vehicle meets requirements related to hydrodynamic efficiency, pressure resistance, buoyancy, stability, weight, safety, manufacturability, and underwater operating conditions.

The ideal candidate should have strong expertise in Naval Architecture, Hull Design, Structural Engineering, Hydrodynamics, CAD modelling, and CFD analysis, with relevant experience in AUVs, UUVs, submarines, underwater vehicles, marine vessels, or similar engineering applications.

• Lead the design and development of AUV hulls and associated structural architecture.
• Develop hull concepts and detailed designs considering hydrodynamics, structural integrity, buoyancy, stability, weight, payload, and operational requirements.
• Perform and review hydrodynamic analysis and CFD simulations to optimize hull geometry, drag, resistance, and underwater performance.
• Carry out structural design and analysis of hulls and underwater structures for operational and hydrostatic/hydrodynamic loads.
• Design and optimize structures considering underwater pressure, operating depth, environmental conditions, and safety requirements.
• Evaluate and select suitable lightweight, high-strength, and corrosion-resistant materials for underwater applications.
• Develop and maintain detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, engineering drawings, and design documentation using SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or equivalent tools.
• Work closely with Mechanical, Propulsion, Electrical, Electronics, Autonomy, Systems Engineering, and Manufacturing teams for overall AUV integration.
• Assess the impact of hull design on vehicle drag, buoyancy, stability, endurance, payload capacity, manoeuvrability, and overall mission performance.
• Support prototype development, design verification, testing, trials, troubleshooting, and design validation of AUV structures.
• Analyse design issues arising during fabrication, assembly, testing, and underwater trials and drive appropriate engineering modifications.
• Ensure structural designs are suitable for manufacturing, assembly, maintenance, and field deployment.
• Support technical reviews, design reviews, engineering documentation, and configuration management activities.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of design methodologies, engineering standards, and best practices for underwater vehicle development.
• Provide technical guidance to junior engineers and collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams throughout the product development lifecycle.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• B.E./B.Tech or M.E./M.Tech in Naval Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Marine Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in Hull Design, Structural Engineering, Hydrodynamics, Naval Architecture, or Marine/Underwater Vehicle Development.
• Strong hands‑on experience in hull design and structural engineering for marine, underwater, submarine, AUV/UUV, or similar platforms.
• Strong understanding of Hydrodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Hydrostatics, Buoyancy, Stability, Drag, and Resistance.
• Experience with pressure hull / pressure vessel design principles for underwater applications.
• Proficiency in CAD tools such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, CATIA, or equivalent.
• Experience with CFD simulation and hydrodynamic analysis tools.
• Strong understanding of structural loads, material behaviour, underwater pressure, and environmental operating conditions.
• Experience in selecting and working with lightweight, high-strength, and corrosion-resistant materials for marine or underwater applications.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, simulation results, and test reports.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, communication, and teamwork skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in AUV, UUV, submarine, underwater vehicle, or autonomous marine platform development.
• Experience with underwater pressure hulls and deep-water applications.
• Exposure to composite materials and advanced lightweight materials for marine/underwater applications.
• Experience in prototype development, fabrication, integration, and physical testing of underwater structures.
• Knowledge of applicable marine engineering standards, classification requirements, or underwater vehicle design standards.
• Experience with advanced CFD/hydrodynamic simulation and structural analysis tools.
• Exposure to propulsion, control surfaces, ballast systems, buoyancy systems, or other AUV subsystems.
• Experience working in multidisciplinary defence, aerospace, marine, robotics, or autonomous systems R&D environments.