Design & Proposal Engineer Defence & Security

Damen; Gorinchem; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Damen Offshore & Specialized Vessels (OSV) is seeking a Design & Proposal Engineer to translate customer requirements into technically feasible vessel concepts and proposals. You will work with Sales, Tender Management and engineering to develop ship designs, specifications, costs and delivery inputs for defence and security projects.

The role offers exposure to complex government vessel opportunities, with guidance for junior staff or leadership for senior candidates.

Qualifications

• Completed technical education in a naval discipline.
• Study and apply ship design standards in proposals.
• Experience in ship design, naval architecture or proposal engineering.
• Open to junior, medior and senior candidates.
• Familiarity with defence/government vessel projects is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Translate customer requirements into vessel concepts and technical solutions.
• Prepare ship designs, technical specs, scope descriptions, and proposal documentation.
• Provide cost calculations and input on delivery times and planning.
• Support Sales and Tender Management with technical input during bids.
• Collaborate with Product Specialists, Engineering, Production and Supply Chain.
• Identify risks, interfaces and design trade-offs; document for decisions.
• Contribute to proposal handovers and standardisation efforts.

Skills

Ship design

Naval architecture

Proposal engineering

Cost awareness

English communication

Team collaboration

Stakeholder management

Education

Technical education in Shipbuilding/Naval Architecture/Marine Engineering

Tools

2D/3D design tools

Job description

We offer you an Ocean of Possibilities. Join our family.

ABOUT US

Damen Offshore & Specialized Vessels (OSV) designs, builds and delivers complex maritime projects for markets such as defence & security, offshore, public transport and dredging. We operate in an international, multidisciplinary environment and work closely with customers, suppliers, subcontractors, engineering teams and shipyards around the world.

For our Product Group Defence & Security we are looking for a Design & Proposal Engineer.

THE ROLE

As Design & Proposal Engineer within our Product Group Defence & Security, you translate customer requirements into technically feasible, competitive and attractive vessel solutions. In close cooperation with Sales, Tender Management, Product Specialists and engineering stakeholders, you prepare ship designs, technical specifications, scope definitions, cost calculations and delivery‑time input during the commercial and tender phase.

You play an important role in shaping proposals for complex defence and governmental vessel opportunities. Depending on your level of experience, you may work on vessel concepts and proposal deliverables with guidance from senior colleagues, or take a leading role in optimizing existing designs, developing new vessel concepts and supporting colleagues in proposal work. We are looking for the right person for the job and can shape the challenge to match your experience.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

In this role, you will:

• Translate customer, market and tender requirements into vessel concepts, proposal designs and technical solutions in line with Damen standards.
• Prepare and maintain ship designs, technical specifications, scope descriptions, assumptions, exclusions and proposal documentation.
• Calculate cost price elements, determine technical feasibility and provide input for delivery time, planning and commercial decision‑making.
• Support Sales and Tender Management during the bidding phase with technical input, presentations, clarifications and proposal reviews.
• Work closely with Product Specialists, Research, Engineering, Production, Supply Chain, Services and other internal stakeholders to develop complete and reliable proposals.
• Optimize standard and customer‑specific designs to improve quality, reliability, functionality, competitiveness and manufacturability.
• Identify technical risks, interfaces, deviations and trade‑offs, and document them clearly for internal decision‑making and customer discussions.
• Contribute to proposal handovers, lessons learned, product improvements and further standardisation of the Defence & Security portfolio.
• Ensure that proposal activities are performed in line with Damen governance, HSSEQ, ethics, export‑control, compliance and approval processes.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

To be successful in this role, you bring:

• A completed technical education, preferably in Shipbuilding, Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering or a comparable discipline.
• Relevant experience in ship design, naval architecture, proposal engineering, product development or a comparable technical environment. We are open to junior, medior and senior candidates.
• Affinity with complex vessels, defence and security markets, governmental customers and engineering‑to‑order projects.
• Good understanding of customer requirements, technical trade‑offs, design standards, cost awareness and proposal processes.
• Experience with ship design tools and engineering software; knowledge of 2D and/or 3D design tools is considered an advantage.
• The ability to combine technical accuracy with commercial awareness and customer focus.
• Strong communication skills in English; Dutch language skills are considered an advantage.
• A structured, proactive and collaborative way of working, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel occasionally to customers, shipyards or other Damen locations when required.

COMPETENCIES

You are a technically strong and customer‑oriented engineer who enjoys working at the interface of design, sales and product development. You bring structure to complex questions, ask the right questions and are able to translate requirements into clear and realistic solutions. You take ownership, work accurately and remain pragmatic when balancing customer wishes, technical feasibility, risk, cost and standardisation.

You communicate easily with different stakeholders, both technical and non‑technical, and you are comfortable working in an international and multidisciplinary environment. You have a hands‑on mentality, a can‑do attitude and the curiosity to keep improving vessel designs, proposal quality and ways of working.