Lead Naval Architect

Lead Naval Architect

Company Overview:

Gulf Copper LLC a subsidiary of Davie Defense is a leading Marine Repair and New Construction company based in Galveston Texas with more than 75 years of ship repair and fabrication experience on the Gulf Coast. Gulf Coppers primary business is the repair and refurbishment of marine vessels ship construction and fabrication for transportation government and oil and gas markets.

Benefits:

• 401k Retirement Plan
• Section 125 Plan (Pre-Tax Health/Dental Insurance Premium Deduction)
• Group Health & Dental Plan
• Short & Long Term Disability Insurance
• Life & Voluntary Life Insurance
• Holiday & Vacation Pay
• Employee Assistance Program

Position Overview and Purpose

The Lead Naval Architect for the Arctic Security Cutter program is responsible for providing technical direction oversight and leadership for all naval architecture activities supporting the design development production test and life cycle planning of Arctic-capable vessels. This role ensures the hull form structural design stability hydrodynamics and overall vessel performance meet program requirements regulations and operational needs in extreme Arctic environments.

The Lead Naval Architect will manage design integration with other engineering disciplines production teams and external partners while guiding a growing technical team to meet schedule quality and compliance expectations.

1. Lead all naval architecture efforts for the Arctic Security Cutter program including hull design hydrostatics hydrodynamics structural analysis and vessel performance.
2. Oversee the development review and approval of technical calculations drawings and design documentation.
3. Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements (Class Flag State USCG SOLAS IMO Polar Code and applicable miliary standards).
4. Provide technical expertise for ice-class design considerations cold-weather operability and Arctic mission capability.
5. Collaborate with marine mechanical electrical and systems engineers teams to ensure design compatibility across all disciplines.
6. Support the development of general arrangements weight estimates load calculations and stability documentation.
7. Lead design reviews technical evaluations risk assessments and configuration changes throughout the project lifecycle.
8. Support model testing simulations and analytical validation of vessel performance.
9. Act as primary naval architecture contact for internal leadership shipyard teams customers and government stakeholders.
10. Assist with schedule planning resource forecasting and prioritization of design deliverables.
11. Troubleshoot design challenges affecting cost schedule or engineering execution and developing effective solutions.
12. Participate in production support activities including addressing design inquiries and verifying as-built conditions.
13. Provide mentorship coaching and daily guidance to junior naval architects and designers.
14. Promote best practices in design methodology documentation modeling and analysis.
15. Support talent development process improvements and knowledge sharing within the engineering team.

Required Education & Experience:

1. Bachelors degree in Naval Architecture Marine Engineering or a related field.
2. Seven (7) years of experience in naval architecture within ship design shipbuilding defenses programs or related maritime projects.
3. Professional Engineer license or eligibility.
4. Strong knowledge of stability structures hydrodynamics hull design and classification/regulatory standards.
5. Familiarity with Polar Code Arctic operations or military/Coast Guard cutter programs.
6. Familiarity with modeling tools (GHS Rhino NASTRAN ShipConstructor FEMAP etc.).
7. Experience working with classification societies or government agencies (ABS USCG NAVSEA etc.)
8. Ability to lead technical efforts and manage multiple design tasks in fast-paced program environment.
9. Strong communication documentation and problem-solving skills.

Working Conditions:

1. Office and shipyard environments.
2. Occasional travel for program reviews or supplier coordination may berequired.

Necessary Equipment Operation:

1. MS Office (Outlook Word Excel Power Point etc.).
2. Ability to useCustomerSupplied programs or websites.
3. Office equipment including telephone scanner computer printer etc.

Special Skills:

1. Technical leadership
2. Attention to detail and accuracy
3. Cross-disciplinary collaboration
4. Innovation in cold-weather and heavy-icy design
5. Strong decision-making skills.
6. Ownership and accountability.

* An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.Equal Employment Opportunity Posters. If youd like to view a copy of the companys affirmative action plan or policy statement please email:emailprotected. If you have a disability and you believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to submit an online application please e-mail:emailprotected.