Graduate Mechanical Engineer in Southampton

About SailGP Technologies

SailGP Technologies is the high performance design, engineering and manufacturing arm of SailGP, the global purpose‑led sail grand prix championship. The Rolex SailGP Championship is the most exciting racing on water, where anything can happen in short, adrenaline‑fueled battles between national teams at iconic stadium destinations worldwide. Top athletes fly in identical high‑tech F50 catamarans faster than the wind, at speeds in excess of 100km/h (60mph). Founded in 2018, SailGP is one of the world’s fastest‑growing sports and entertainment properties, now in its sixth season. SailGP’s constantly evolving design, composites engineering, software and data expertise is rooted in decades of experience at the forefront of cutting‑edge sail racing. Previously established and located in New Zealand since 2001, SailGP Technologies has relocated to Southampton, UK, with the new state of the art facility which opened in Spring 2024.

Job Summary

As a Graduate Engineer at SailGP Technologies, you will join a small engineering team working on the F50 race platform from day one. You will contribute to real engineering and production activities early, building a strong understanding of the platform before taking on increasing design responsibility over time. You will work across both mechanical and structural problems, supporting design, analysis, and build activities in a highly collaborative environment. You should be comfortable working in an environment where expectations are high and learning is continuous. The breadth of exposure in this role is significantly wider than a typical graduate scheme.

Programme Context & Development

You will join a team currently focused on the production and maintenance of the F50 fleet, as well as delivering a structured safety upgrade programme. Alongside this, there is an evolving pipeline of future developments, including a youth/feeder league boat and next‑generation race marks and appendages. Initial work will focus on current F50 production delivery priorities, with opportunities to support development work as your experience grows.

Key Responsibilities

• Support engineering and production activities to develop a detailed understanding of the F50 platform, its systems, and manufacturing processes.
• Contribute to CAD modelling and the creation of engineering drawing packs, supporting live design updates and improvements.
• Carry out engineering calculations and analysis tasks, with both CAD‑ and FEA‑focused candidates encouraged to apply.
• Support composite production activities, including ply book generation, kit definition, and general build support.
• Assist with design changes, upgrades, and engineering development work on the existing fleet.
• Support prototype builds, testing activities, and validation work.
• Support material, component, and design investigations.
• Maintain clear and accurate engineering documentation and drawing records.
• Work across a range of projects and tasks, gaining exposure to different systems and disciplines.

Key Expectations

• Get involved – take an active role in engineering work from the outset rather than waiting to be directed.
• Be curious – ask questions, seek feedback, and take ownership of your learning.
• Be adaptable – work across a variety of tasks and problems rather than focusing on a single area.
• Work collaboratively – operate closely with others in a small team where informal interaction is key.
• Develop quickly – build the capability to take on increasing responsibility and ownership over time.

Success in this role is demonstrated by developing the confidence and capability to take ownership of design tasks and contribute meaningfully to engineering delivery within the team.

About You

• A minimum 2:1 degree in Mechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture, or a closely related discipline (MSc or higher qualifications are advantageous).
• Strong academic foundation, but equally important is enthusiasm, curiosity, and a willingness to learn and contribute.
• Demonstrated capability in CAD and/or FEA through academic or project work (both skillsets are valued).
• Experience with modern CAD environments (e.g. CATIA 3DEXPERIENCE, SolidWorks, Rhino or similar) is beneficial.
• Interest in composite structures and advanced materials (experience is not required but willingness to learn is essential).
• Strong interest in high‑performance engineering and complex mechanical systems.
• Exposure to real‑world engineering environments (e.g. internships, summer placements, design office experience) is beneficial but not required.
• Comfortable working in a small team environment where you will be expected to engage, ask questions, and take on varied tasks.

Development Approach

We recognise that graduates will arrive with different strengths and interests. We aim to understand these early and, where possible, align work to support development in those areas. At the same time, this role sits within a live engineering programme, and there will be periods where work is driven by business priorities and specific delivery needs. We will support development toward professional accreditation (e.g. IMechE, RINA) where appropriate.

SailGP Technologies is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace committed to building a team culture that celebrates diversity and inclusion.