Mid-Level Naval Architect

Zel Technologies LLC; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

401k immediate vesting with company

Flexible Spending Accounts

Health Savings Account with company

Bonuses for performance

Voluntary life/AD&D

Educational assistance

Vacation & leave

Job summary

ZelTech is seeking a Naval Architect to support design, analysis, and integration of manned and unmanned maritime vessels, including UUVs and USVs, focusing on hull form development, hydrostatics, seakeeping, and structural assessment.

The candidate will apply naval architecture principles and modeling tools to contribute through the lifecycle from concept to testing and delivery. Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams is essential.

Qualifications

• US citizen with an active clearance is required.
• Bachelor's degree in Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, Ocean Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years of naval architecture, ship design, or marine engineering experience.
• Proficiency with Rhino, Orca3D, GHS, NAPA; familiarity with AutoCAD or Ship Constructor.
• Strong understanding of structural principles, hydrostatics, and seakeeping.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for engineering documentation.

Responsibilities

• Design and analyze marine hull forms, including geometry, weights, and hydrostatic properties.
• Perform hydrodynamic and seakeeping analyses to assess stability and performance.
• Assist in structural analysis and survivability assessments for maritime platforms.
• Support CFD simulations, model testing, and correlate results with trials.
• Prepare and maintain design documentation, drawings, and reports.

Skills

US citizen

Active SECRET clearance

3+ years naval architecture

Structural principles

Hydrostatics

Seakeeping

Strong communication

Technical writing

Background check

Education

BA in Naval Architecture / Marine Engineering / Ocean Engineering

Tools

Rhino

Orca3D

GHS

NAPA

AutoCAD

Ship Constructor

Job description

Locations

West Bethesda, MD

Job Summary

ZelTech is seeking a Naval Architect to support the design, analysis, and integration of manned and unmanned maritime vessels, including unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) with a focus on hull form development, hydrostatics, seakeeping, and structural assessment. The ideal candidate will apply naval architecture principles and modeling tools to contribute to the engineering lifecycle from concept development through testing and delivery.

Responsibilities

• Support the design and analysis of marine hull forms, including development of geometry, weights, and hydrostatic properties.
• Conduct hydrodynamic and seakeeping analyses to evaluate vessel stability and performance.
• Assist in structural analysis and survivability assessments for maritime platforms.
• Support CFD simulations, model testing efforts, and correlation of results with physical trials.
• Prepare and maintain design documentation, including drawings, technical reports, and compliance packages.
• Contributes to the development of technical documents such as stability reports, hull drawings, and system integration data.
• Use modern naval architecture tools to support design validation and ensure compliance with ABS, USCG, NAVSEA, and other relevant standards.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams (mechanical, systems, software, electrical) throughout the system development lifecycle.

Requirements

• Must be a US citizen.
• BA, in Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, Ocean Engineering, or a closely related engineering field.
• Must have an active SECRET clearance.
• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in naval architecture, ship design, or marine engineering.
• Proficiency with key naval architecture tools such as Rhino, Orca3D, GHS, NAPA, and familiarity with AutoCAD or Ship Constructor.
• Demonstrated understanding of structural principles, hydrostatics, and seakeeping.
• Strong communication and technical writing skills with the ability to support the preparation of engineering documentation and reports.
• Successful background and drug screening check.

Preferred Requirements

• Familiarity with modeling and simulation (M&S) techniques, CFD tools (e.g., Star-CCM+, OpenFOAM), or Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools like Cameo or SysML.
• Experience working in collaborative engineering environments and participating in technical design reviews.
• Pursuit of or eligibility for Professional Engineer (PE) licensure.

Physical Demands Or Work Environment

The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

• The majority of the time is spent in an office setting.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance, vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus.

About ZelTech

Founded in 1988 by Ret. Col. Jack L. Ezzell Jr., Zel Technologies is a trusted leader in national security, providing comprehensive research, development, engineering, and operational support to the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, and federal agencies. Originally focused on leveraging operational and software expertise to improve time-critical targeting capabilities for the military, the company advanced its capabilities to provide scientific and HUMINT expertise for CBRNE collection and analysis. In the wake of 9/11, Zel Technologies rapidly expanded its capabilities to provide turnkey ISR support services to US Special Operations Forces (SOF), as well as advanced technical & operational intelligence, physical & data science, and engineering support services to the greater Intelligence and SOF Communities supporting global counterterrorism and CWMD operations.

Today, Zel Technologies remains at the forefront of intelligence missions, advancing CWMD and global counterterrorism efforts, while also addressing emerging threats posed by near-peer adversaries. Our team remains committed to delivering adaptive, innovative, and cost-effective solutions across multiple domains, in alignment with the mission priorities of the U.S. Government and its partner nations.

Our Mission

Through our commitment to innovation and quality, our skilled teams deliver robust, technology driven solutions and insights that empower our customers to overcome complex challenges and achieve their mission objectives.

Our Workforce

ZelTech team members represent a wide range of backgrounds, skills, experience, and personalities bound together by common objectives and mutual respect. You will join a caring community of professional, including many military veterans who challenge and support each other in seeking the right solutions to important matters.

Benefits

This position is eligible for a $500 ZelTech Non-Employee Referral fee.

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• 401k immediate vesting with company match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Account with company contributions
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Bonuses for performance
• Voluntary life/accidental death & dismemberment
• Educational assistance and special training programs
• Voluntary benefits (accidental, critical illness, whole life)
• Group life insurance (Company paid)
• Short-term and Long-term Disability Insurance (Company paid)
• Paid Time Off (PTO), Holiday Leave, Jury Duty, and Military Leave
• Health and fitness reimbursement
• Referral bonusesEmployee discounts on various services and products

Equal Opportunities

ZelTech is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, marital status, military status, genetic predisposition, or any other basis protected by law.