Principal Sustainability Engineer, Marine Consulting in Southampton

Senior Sustainability Engineer required to join Foreship UK, a leader in ship design and architecture consulting, to support its continued growth strategy. Reporting to the UK MD, you play a leading role in shaping the decarbonisation, environmental performance and energy efficiency strategies of vessels across the maritime sector. Building on Foreship’s recognised expertise in performance optimisation, conversion engineering and regulatory compliance, you will support clients in navigating the transition towards cleaner, more efficient and future-aligned marine operations.

Foreship’s sustainability capability is at the forefront of developing concept and feasibility solutions across the energy transition discipline, advising on fuel consumption optimisation, emissions reduction, energy storage, electrical, battery integration, solar and other alternative fuels. Based out of our Southampton (HQ), Leatherhead, Chippenham or Manchester offices, Foreship UK operates a hybrid working model, though you will be required to travel or shipboard across the UK and internationally occasionally.

Responsibilities

• You will provide senior-level technical insight across feasibility studies, modelling and assessment, retrofit concepts, newbuild support and regulatory advisory activities, including emerging requirements linked to GHG reduction, energy efficiency indices, alternative fuels, and environmental compliance frameworks.
• Your work will draw on a combination of naval architecture, marine engineering knowledge, sustainability expertise, and practical understanding of class and flag expectations.
• Lead sustainability and decarbonisation assessments including EEXI/CII, GHG reduction pathways, and environmental performance evaluations.
• Develop feasibility studies, modelling and technical analyses for energy-efficiency improvements, retrofits, power/propulsion optimisation and alternative-fuel concepts.
• Provide expert guidance on regulatory frameworks (IMO, EU, Class, Flag), ensuring client compliance and supporting documentation for submissions and approvals.
• Produce high-quality technical reports, sustainability assessments, lifecycle analyses and decarbonisation roadmaps tailored to vessel operational profiles.
• Advise clients on fuel-transition strategies, alternative technologies, emissions-reduction options, and cost-benefit implications for future-ready fleet planning.
• Contribute to business development through preparation of technical content for proposals, sustainability-related offerings, and market-facing thought leadership.
• Support industry engagement and collaboration with universities, technology partners and innovation programmes in the sustainability/decarbonisation domain.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Naval Architecture or related discipline; Chartered Engineer (CEng)
• 7+ years’ Naval Architecture experience across concept/basic design, conversions or owner’s engineer roles
• Strong working knowledge of class and statutory frameworks
• Solid understanding and knowledge of current and future regulatory requirements related to GHG emissions, such as EEXI, CII, SEEMP II and ESG Compliance.
• Demonstrable consultancy and client facing skills; experience of coordinating multi-disciplinary inputs.
• Mentoring/coaching experience and participation in industry bodies/technical forums.
• You must be a British citizen or have the right to work in the UK without employer sponsorship.

Foreship is a 100 strong international ship design and marine engineering consultancy, specialising in naval architecture, energy transition, sustainability, stability, performance optimisation and project engineering. The company leads newbuild and conversion projects, supporting a wide portfolio in the ferry, cruise, cargo, offshore and alternative fuels sectors. Since opening in 2022, Foreship UK has rapidly expanded, completing over 200 projects and contributing to major innovation initiatives across the UK Maritime sector.

At RINA, we endeavour to create a work environment where every single person is valued and encouraged to develop new ideas. We provide equal employment opportunities and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected and safe from discrimination or harassment of any kind.