At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design of innovative marine structures for sustainable shipping.
- Company: Join a pioneering maritime tech company focused on environmental impact.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, excellent benefits, hybrid work, and career growth opportunities.
- Other info: Hands-on role with high technical ownership and exposure to full product lifecycle.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in decarbonising global shipping with your engineering skills.
- Qualifications: Degree in relevant engineering field and 5-10 years of design experience.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Shape the Future of Sustainable Shipping
Are you an experienced Design Engineer looking to apply your expertise to technology that delivers real environmental impact? We're partnering with an innovative maritime technology company that is transforming the future of global shipping. As the business continues to grow, they are seeking a Principal Design Engineer to play a key role in the development of next‑products. This is a rare opportunity to take ownership of critical structural and mechanical systems from concept through to production, working within a highly collaborative and mission‑driven engineering team. If you're motivated by complex engineering challenges, sustainability, and the opportunity to influence the development of world‑class clean technology, we'd love to hear from you.
The Opportunity of the Principal Design Engineer
Reporting directly to the Head of Engineering, you will lead the design and structural development of key product subsystems, ensuring solutions are robust, compliant, manufacturable, and ready for real‑world deployment. This is a hands‑on technical leadership role where you'll combine advanced structural engineering expertise with practical design ownership, helping to shape products that will be deployed across the global shipping fleet.
What You'll Be Doing
- Lead the mechanical and structural design of critical product subsystems
- Own the development of wing geometry, balancing performance, structural integrity, and manufacturability
- Develop and manage load cases covering classification requirements and operational environments
- Translate complex loading scenarios into clear engineering requirements
- Define structural design philosophies and ensure compliance with relevant classification standards
- Perform and oversee structural analysis, verification, and validation activities
- Develop and enhance in‑house structural analysis tools and methodologies
- Lead technical engagement with classification societies and approval bodies
- Act as the subject matter expert for stress, fatigue, and structural integrity analysis
- Support and mentor junior engineers where appropriate
- Champion engineering excellence, safety, quality, and sustainability across the development process
What We're Looking For
Essential Experience
- Degree‑qualified in Naval Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Marine Engineering, or a related discipline
- Approximately 5–10 years' experience designing marine structures approved by classification societies
- Strong 3D modelling and parametric design experience
- Proficiency with Siemens NX, Autodesk Inventor, or similar 3D CAD platforms
- Strong background in structural analysis, including FEA and hand calculations
- Proven ability to translate load cases into validated engineering solutions
- Experience working directly with classification societies and supporting technical approvals
- Familiarity with DNV, Lloyd's Register (LR), ClassNK (NK), or similar organisations
- Excellent understanding of structural integrity, DFMA principles, and manufacturability
- Pragmatic, solution‑focused engineering mindset
- Comfortable operating within a fast‑paced, evolving technology environment
Desirable Experience
- Fatigue analysis, buckling assessment, and large welded structures
- Aero‑structural systems or performance‑driven structural design
- Validation of analytical models against real‑world test data
- Structural testing, verification, and manufacturing processes
Why Join?
This is far more than a design role. You'll be joining a business developing tangible technology that is helping decarbonise one of the world's most important industries. You'll have the opportunity to influence product direction, take ownership of critical engineering decisions, and see your designs deployed in real‑world applications.
What's on Offer
- Excellent benefits package
- Relocation assistance available
- Visa sponsorship support for eligible candidates
- Hybrid working model
- High levels of technical ownership and autonomy
- Exposure to the full product lifecycle, from concept through to production
- Career progression opportunities as the business scales
- The chance to contribute directly to meaningful climate‑impact technology
Apply Today
If you're a Mechanical, Structural, Naval, or Marine Engineer looking for a technically challenging role where your work will make a measurable environmental difference, we'd love to hear from you.
Principal Design Engineer in Southampton, Hampshire employer: Energy Jobline CVL
Join an innovative maritime technology company in Southampton, where as a Principal Design Engineer, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping sustainable shipping solutions. With a strong focus on collaboration and environmental impact, the company offers an excellent benefits package, hybrid working options, and significant opportunities for career progression, all while working on cutting-edge technology that directly contributes to decarbonising the shipping industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Design Engineer in Southampton, Hampshire
✨Get Your Hands Dirty at Engineering Events
Join local engineering meetups or industry conferences related to mechanical engineering. Whether it's a workshop or a career fair, these events are goldmines for networking and getting a foot in the door. Plus, you can showcase your passion and enthusiasm directly to potential employers like Energy Jobline CVL.
✨Connect with Professors & Peers
Tap into your university’s resources—professors often have connections in the industry. Don’t be shy to ask about potential openings or recommendations. Your classmates might also know of companies hiring. Often, it’s who you know that gets you in front of the right people!
✨Highlight Your Projects and Practical Experience
When you land those interviews, make sure to talk about your hands-on projects or internships. Whether it's a design project or hands-on experience with CAD software, specific examples will make you stand out. Companies like Energy Jobline CVL love to hear about practical applications of your skills.
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
Check out the careers page of Energy Jobline CVL and apply directly through there. It shows initiative and interest in their specific values. Plus, you'll often find openings that aren't advertised on job boards, giving you a better chance to land that full-time gig!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Design Engineer in Southampton, Hampshire
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Expertise:In mechanical engineering, it’s vital to highlight your technical skills and projects. Make sure to include relevant software proficiency (like CAD tools) in your CV. If you've worked on specific engineering projects, detail your key contributions — we want to see how you’ve applied your skills in a practical setting!
Focus on Problem-Solving Examples:Employers in mechanical engineering love to see how you handle challenges. Use your cover letter to share specific instances where you’ve solved a complex problem or improved a design. This will show us you're not just knowledgeable but also capable of applying that knowledge effectively.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Include any relevant certifications or training that can set you apart from the competition. Whether it's coursework from your degree, a recognised certification, or extra training in new technologies, we love to see candidates who continuously improve their skill set. This tells us you're serious about your career in engineering!
Tailor Your CV for the Role:Don’t forget to customise your CV for Energy Jobline CVL and the Principal Design Engineer in Southampton, Hampshire role specifically. Pull examples from your experience that align with the job description — it shows us you've done your research and are genuinely interested in becoming part of the team. We recommend applying through our website to ensure your application gets to the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at Energy Jobline CVL
✨Brush Up on Your CAD Skills
Since mechanical engineering often involves design processes, be ready to showcase your proficiency in CAD software like SolidWorks or AutoCAD. Bring along a digital portfolio or even some sketches that demonstrate your design capabilities — it’s a great way to show what you can bring to the table at Energy Jobline CVL.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions that test your understanding of engineering principles and problem-solving skills. You might get hypothetical scenarios where you need to design a component or troubleshoot a mechanical system. Practising these types of questions will give you the confidence to tackle whatever comes your way!
✨Show Your Team Spirit
As a full-time mechanical engineer, collaboration is key! Be ready to share examples of past team projects or any experiences where you contributed to solving a complex problem with others. Demonstrating your ability to work in a team will resonate well with the interviewers at Energy Jobline CVL.
✨Discuss Your Future Goals
Since this is a full-time position, your long-term vision is important. Be open about your career aspirations, whether it’s mastering a specific tool or leading projects. This shows that you're committed not just to learning but also to growing with Energy Jobline CVL, making you a more appealing candidate.
