Director, Engineering (Naval Shipbuilding)

Hanwha Defense USA, Inc.; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Hanwha Defense USA (HDUSA) seeks a Director, Engineering – Naval Shipbuilding to serve as deputy leader of a growing U.S. naval shipbuilding engineering organization. This role integrates international design and production expertise with U.S.

Navy requirements and will drive engineering strategy and execution. The position leads staffing, processes, and standards, and provides technical oversight of design, production engineering, and systems integration across ship design disciplines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in naval architecture, marine engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 15+ years of engineering experience in naval ship design, construction, or integration.
• 5+ years in an engineering leadership role.
• Experience contributing to U.S. Government proposals, including cost and schedule estimating.
• Ability to travel, including periodic international travel; travel concentrated around milestones.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance; US Citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Serves as deputy to the engineering organization lead, with authority to act on their behalf.
• Leads development of the engineering organization, staffing plans, and engineering standards.
• Oversees design, production engineering, systems integration, and naval architecture.
• Translates international shipyard practices to meet U.S. Navy specifications and reviews.
• Leads technical input to proposals, including labor and schedule estimates.
• Represents HDUSA at senior customer, industry, and partner engagements.
• Coordinates ship specifications, deviations, and regulatory responses.
• Ensures compliance with ITAR/EAR and other security requirements with international partners.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in naval architecture, marine engineering, or related engineering

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Arlington, VA, US

Salary Range: $175,000.00 To $250,000.00 Annually

Job Title: Director, Engineering – Naval Shipbuilding
Location: Washington, DC (On-site)

The Opportunity:

Hanwha Defense USA (HDUSA) is seeking a Director, Engineering – Naval Shipbuilding to serve as the deputy leader of a growing U.S. naval shipbuilding engineering organization. This role helps build and lead the engineering function that supports U.S. Navy and government shipbuilding pursuits and programs, integrating international design and production expertise with U.S. Navy requirements.

Responsibilities:

• Serves as deputy to the engineering organization lead, with authority to act on their behalf in technical, organizational, and customer matters
• Leads development of the engineering organization, including staffing plans, hiring, team structure, processes, and engineering standards
• Exercises technical oversight of design and production engineering across ship design, systems integration, and naval architecture disciplines
• Leads the translation of international shipyard design and production practices into deliverables that meet U.S. Navy specifications, standards, and review requirements
• Leads engineering inputs to proposals, including technical volumes, basis-of-estimate development, labor and schedule estimates, and ground rules and assumptions
• Represents HDUSA at senior-level customer, industry, and partner engagements, delivering professional presentations to executives and VIPs
• Coordinates development of ship specifications, deviations and waivers, and responses to customer and regulatory body issues
• Ensures engineering processes comply with export control (ITAR/EAR), CUI handling, and other applicable security requirements, particularly in collaboration with international partners and affiliates

Qualifications Required:

• Bachelor's degree in naval architecture, marine engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• 15+ years of engineering experience in naval ship design, construction, or integration, including at least 5 years in an engineering leadership role
• Demonstrated experience leading engineering contributions to U.S. Government proposals, including cost and schedule estimating
• Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to engage executives, government customers, and international partners
• Ability to travel, including periodic international travel; travel is typically concentrated around program and proposal milestones rather than evenly distributed
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance. US Citizenship is required to obtain a Secret clearance.

Desired Additional Skills:

• Experience at a U.S. or international shipyard supporting U.S. Navy, Military Sealift Command, or MARAD programs
• Knowledge of NAVSEA acquisition processes, FAR/DFARS requirements, ship design review cycles, and milestone events
• Experience working across cultures with international shipbuilders, including technology transfer under export authorizations

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

This is an on-site position and could require up to 25% travel both domestic and international. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to have adequate mobility to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, or crouch, in an office and/or manufacturing environment. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty (20) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

Hanwha Defense USA is committed to pay transparency and equitable compensation practices. The salary range listed for this position represents a good faith estimate of the base pay we reasonably expect to offer for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant skills/experience, education and certifications, market and business considerations, and internal pay equity. In addition to base salary, employees may be eligible for discretionary annual bonuses, benefits, and other forms of compensation as part of Hanwha Defense USA's total rewards package.

Hanwha Defense USA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.