Shipyard Design Manager

Nbutexas; North Kingstown (RI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Career advancement opportunities

Job summary

Nbutexas in North Kingstown, Rhode Island is seeking a Shipyard Design Manager to oversee vessel design projects from concept through delivery. This leadership role requires a strong background in naval architecture and marine engineering, along with proven experience managing engineering teams. The successful candidate will work across various engineering domains to ensure compliance and innovation in ship designs.

The position offers competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career advancement within a growing shipbuilding organization.

Qualifications

• 5–10+ years of ship design or shipyard engineering experience.
• Proven leadership experience managing engineering teams or projects.
• Strong understanding of classification society rules (ABS, DNV) and regulatory frameworks (SOLAS, USCG, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical execution of complex vessel design projects from concept through delivery.
• Own technical risk identification and communicate mitigation strategies to senior leadership.
• Facilitate design reviews, including client-facing technical presentations.

Skills

Naval Architecture

Marine Engineering

AutoCAD

ShipConstructor

Leadership

Microsoft Office Suite

Risk Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Naval Architecture or Marine Engineering

Job description

We are seeking a Shipyard Design Manager to lead the technical execution of complex vessel design projects from concept through delivery. This is a high-impact leadership role bridging engineering, production, and client stakeholders to deliver innovative, compliant, and production-ready ship designs.

Benefits and Compensation

• Competitive base salary (commensurate with experience)
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and holidays
• Career advancement opportunities within a growing shipbuilding organization
• Exposure to high-profile commercial and government vessel programs
• Professional development and training support
• Stable, long-term project pipeline
• Collaborative, team‑oriented engineering environment

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, or related engineering field
• 5–10+ years of ship design or shipyard engineering experience
• Proven leadership experience managing engineering teams or projects
• Strong working knowledge across naval architecture, structures, propulsion, auxiliaries, electrical, and mission systems
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and ShipConstructor
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite and electronic document management systems (EDMS)
• Strong understanding of classification society rules (ABS, DNV) and regulatory frameworks (SOLAS, USCG, etc.)
• Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and technical priorities simultaneously

Must Haves

• Lead full lifecycle development of General Arrangements, midship sections, and production‑level design packages
• Own technical risk identification and communicate mitigation strategies to senior leadership
• Drive integration between structural, mechanical, electrical, and mission systems within vessel designs
• Oversee and track engineering deliverables with strict adherence to production schedules
• Facilitate design reviews, including client‑facing technical presentations and iterative feedback incorporation
• Resolve real‑time design conflicts during vessel construction in collaboration with production teams
• Develop and implement engineering QC processes and internal design standards
• Mentor and develop engineering staff, including drafters and junior engineers
• Support technical proposal development, including concept design input for new business opportunities

Preferred Background & Skills

• Experience designing U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, or other government vessels
• Prior experience leading multi‑disciplinary marine engineering teams
• Familiarity with shipyard production workflows and build strategies
• Experience with 3D modeling and digital shipbuilding environments
• Strong client‑facing communication and stakeholder management skills
• Background in both new construction and vessel repair/conversion projects
• Ability to influence cross‑functional teams in a fast‑paced shipyard environment