Senior Director, Electrical, Automation, Safety & Nautical in Southampton

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Director – Electrical, Automation, Safety & Nautical (EASN) to provide senior technical leadership and act as Carnival Corporate Shipbuilding’s recognised technical authority across the electrical, automation, safety and nautical disciplines within newbuild programs as well as providing support to the in‑service fleet of ships owned by the corporation. CCS is Carnival Corporation’s internal department responsible for the new ship acquisition process and in‑service support for all eight brands operating over 90 ships sailing globally.

At CCS we work in a project‑based agile way, building empowered project teams through talented colleagues that are organised into Chapters. Our Chapters are made of up colleagues with similar skills, knowledge and expertise in a given specialism who collaborate on talent development, knowledge sharing and problem solving. We believe in the power of diversity to drive success, valuing a blend of backgrounds, experiences, and skills. If you’re passionate about shipbuilding, let’s talk.

This pivotal role carries end‑to‑end accountability for technical excellence, strategic direction, governance and risk management across electrical power generation and distribution, automation and control systems, and integrated safety and nautical systems, influencing vessel design from early concept through construction and commissioning. Your involvement won’t stop there; your skills and expertise may also be called upon to support our fleet of ships in service too.

Working in close partnership with the Chapter Lead, you will shape, grow and future‑proof the EASN Chapter through technical leadership, mentorship and constructive challenge. Operating within a complex, matrix environment, you will collaborate extensively with brands, shipyards, suppliers, consultants and regulatory bodies, providing final escalation and decision authority on complex and high‑risk technical matters to ensure safe, compliant and optimised outcomes aligned with CCS and the wider corporate strategy.

Key accountabilities

• Provide senior technical leadership and decision authority for the EASN disciplines, acting as final escalation point for complex and high‑risk matters.
• Accountable for technical governance and integrity across supplier selection, system concepts, and high‑ and low‑level design development.
• Ensure end‑to‑end technical oversight across the full vessel lifecycle, from early concept and contract definition through construction, commissioning and delivery.
• Represent CCS as senior technical authority with shipyards, key suppliers, consultants, class societies and regulatory bodies.
• Identify, manage and mitigate technical risk, while driving innovation, standardisation, lessons learned and continuous improvement across newbuild programmes.
• Develop and empower technical leaders within the EASN Chapter through mentoring, delegation and clear accountability, while retaining ownership of outcomes and technical integrity.
• Act as a technical ambassador for the Chapter both within and beyond the organization, fostering strong relationships across the brands, technical communities and external industry stakeholders.

Position Requirements

We’re looking for someone who brings:

• Significant senior technical leadership experience within complex engineering environments, ideally shipbuilding, marine, offshore or similarly regulated industries, with accountability for technical outcomes across multiple projects.
• Proven experience acting as a technical authority and escalation point, resolving complex and high‑risk technical issues and influencing design, specification and delivery decisions.
• Demonstrable experience leading technical strategy, roadmaps and innovation, including contribution to wider organisational technology plans and future capability development.
• Experience working in matrix organisations, collaborating across disciplines, brands, suppliers, shipyards, consultants and corporate stakeholders.
• Track record of mentoring and developing technical capability, supporting succession planning, knowledge transfer and long‑term organisational resilience.

Required Qualifications

• Degree in relevant engineering discipline (e.g., naval architecture, mechanical engineering).
• Chartered Engineer MSc, MEng or MBA.
• Project management recognised accreditation (e.g. Agile, PRINCE2, PMP).

About You

You are someone who thrives in a collaborative environment yet is capable of working with a high degree of accuracy and accountability. Your qualifications in maritime or shipbuilding are just the beginning; we’re looking for team members who are eager to learn, grow, and contribute to our collective success.

Why Join Us?

Positioned within our internal structure from CCS15 (entry level) to CCS1 (Senior Vice President), this role is classified as a CCS04, offered as a full‑time, permanent, position. The role is based in Carnival House, Southampton and requires being office‑based three days a week, including Wednesdays. We offer a dynamic and inclusive workplace where your work makes a real impact. Given the opportunities we provide, we encourage prompt applications. Due to the popularity of our roles and our commitment to finding the best talent, we might close applications earlier than advertised.

About the Team

Corporate Shipbuilding’s core goal is to become the centre of excellence in cruise new builds, assets, refits and innovation for Carnival Corporation. In order to achieve this we are looking to be the employer of choice in the shipbuilding industry, attracting and retaining the best talent. We promote an inclusive culture where difference is respected and valued, within which our people can be themselves, develop and reach their potential. We stand by our Culture Essentials which help us live out our shared commitments across the globe and include our commitment to Speak Up, Respect and Protect, Improve, Communicate, Listen & Learn and Empower.

Carnival Corporation & PLC is a global cruise company and one of the largest holiday companies in the world. Our portfolio of leading cruise brands includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn in North America; P&O Cruises and Cunard Line in the United Kingdom; AIDA Cruises in Germany; Costa Cruises in Southern Europe; and P&O Cruises in Australia. In Corporate Shipbuilding, we are passionate about building world class vessels for all of these brands. Our award winning prestigious brands employ engaged and passionate people to deliver the highest customer service standards to our loyal customers. It takes great passion and real commitment to maintain our position in the cruise market. That’s why we look for people who share our obsession and drive to provide the most memorable experiences imaginable. This is your chance to join us on our journey. With full support to enable you to realise your full potential we ensure your career with us is a successful and enjoyable one.