Senior Naval Architect in Southampton

Exceptional Principal Naval Architect required to join Foreship UK, a leader in ship design and architecture consulting, to support its continued growth strategy. You will drive high quality naval architecture deliverables across complex ship design, conversion and sustainability focused projects. You will support the UK MD in shaping the strategic direction of naval architecture, as the Marine sector endeavours to innovate in a world immersed in sustainability augmentation, compliance and regulation. 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

• As a trusted client advisor, you will lead and deliver technically rigorous projects, predominantly on large and complex vessels and high value conversions.
• Technical delivery – Plan, and deliver complex naval architecture projects (i.e. stability, hydrostatics/hydrodynamics and structures interfaces); produce and review calculations, drawings and reports to class/flag and client standards.
• Leadership – Coordinate and manage multidisciplinary engineering teams, including drydock support and on-site supervision.
• Concept & conversion design – Lead feasibility and concept development for conversions and energy‑efficiency upgrades (e.g. battery integration, alternative fuels and next generation vessel concepts).
• Regulatory & class interface – Apply strong regulatory knowledge of IMO, class society rules, and emerging GHG compliance requirements to ensure design conformity and support class approval processes.
• Client engagement – Serve as a technical authority; translate needs into scopes, present findings, and contribute to proposals and thought leadership supporting Foreship’s market presence.
• People & quality – Coach and review the work of junior engineers; apply internal quality procedures and ensure traceability of calculations and assumptions per company standards.

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 within passenger/yacht/ferry/naval or comparable complex vessels.
• Strong working knowledge of class and statutory frameworks.
• Proficiency with naval architecture toolsets (e.g., NAPA, GHS, Maxsurf) and 2D/3D CAD (AutoCAD/Rhino).
• Demonstrable consultancy and client facing skills; experience of coordinating multi‑disciplinary inputs.
• Ideally project delivery experience across decarbonization and/or energy‑efficiency retrofits (battery/hybrid, alternative fuels, SCR, EEXI/CII strategies).
• Prior involvement in model testing/CFD, trials, and performance validation.
• 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.

As part of our growing global team, you’ll find yourself working with world-class professionals and clients. In addition, you will be rewarded with:

• Life Assurance
• 25 days leave (plus bank holidays)
• Option to buy more holiday
• Smart/hybrid Working policy
• Professional development, support with qualifications (i.e. Chartership)
• Pay for professional membership
• Support of Military Reservists – 10 additional paid days
• Cycle to work scheme
• Generous recruitment referral bonus
• 4 half days paid leave for STEM Ambassadors
• Season ticket loan

At RINA, we endeavor 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.