Ship Superintendent

Position Type: Full-Time
Industry: Shipbuilding / Maritime
Department: Shipyard Operations

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Ship Superintendent to oversee vessel construction, outfitting, and commissioning activities from project award through final delivery. This position serves as a key on-site leader responsible for coordinating production activities and ensuring work is executed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with project schedules, quality requirements, and applicable maritime regulations.

The ideal candidate brings extensive shipyard experience, strong production leadership, and a proven ability to coordinate multiple trades and stakeholders throughout complex vessel construction and repair projects. This individual should be comfortable leading projects through all phases of construction, outfitting, testing, commissioning, and sea trials.

Key Responsibilities

Shipyard & Production Leadership

• Serve as an on-site leader for vessel construction, repair, outfitting, and commissioning activities.
• Oversee daily shipyard operations associated with assigned vessel projects.
• Provide leadership and direction to supervisors, trades, subcontractors, vendors, and field personnel.
• Coordinate labor, subcontractors, equipment, materials, and other resources required to support vessel construction.
• Monitor production progress and ensure work is performed according to established schedules, budgets, and quality requirements.
• Participate in construction planning, sequencing, and resource allocation.
• Identify potential schedule impacts, production constraints, and resource conflicts and work with project teams to develop solutions.

Vessel Construction & Outfitting

• Oversee vessel construction activities from structural fabrication through outfitting, system installation, testing, commissioning, and delivery.
• Coordinate work across multiple disciplines, including:
  • Structural and hull construction
  • Outfitting
  • Piping
  • Mechanical and machinery systems
  • Electrical systems
  • HVAC
  • Equipment installation
• Ensure construction activities follow approved drawings, specifications, production plans, and accepted shipbuilding practices.
• Review engineering drawings, specifications, and schedules to ensure alignment between design requirements and field execution.
• Work with engineering and production teams to address constructability issues and resolve field discrepancies.

Project Execution

• Drive assigned vessel projects toward established schedule, budget, quality, and delivery objectives.
• Coordinate closely with project management, engineering, production, quality, and commissioning teams.
• Monitor project milestones and proactively address delays, technical challenges, material issues, and trade conflicts.
• Support effective communication between engineering and production throughout vessel construction.
• Assist with planning and coordinating major construction milestones and vessel delivery activities.

Testing, Commissioning & Sea Trials

• Support installation, testing, and commissioning of vessel mechanical, electrical, and auxiliary systems.
• Coordinate with commissioning personnel, production teams, vendors, and technical representatives during system startup and testing.
• Support deficiency identification, corrective actions, and completion of outstanding work.
• Participate in dock trials, sea trials, inspections, and final vessel turnover as required.
• Ensure construction and commissioning activities are properly coordinated to support vessel delivery schedules.

Regulatory & Quality Compliance

• Ensure vessel construction activities comply with applicable ABS and U.S. Coast Guard requirements and other relevant maritime regulations.
• Coordinate with quality personnel, classification representatives, regulatory authorities, owners' representatives, and third-party inspectors.
• Support inspections and resolution of deficiencies or non-conforming work.
• Ensure construction activities meet applicable customer specifications and project quality requirements.

Safety

• Promote and enforce a strong safety culture throughout assigned vessel projects.
• Ensure personnel comply with applicable shipyard safety procedures and requirements.
• Identify unsafe conditions and ensure appropriate corrective actions are taken.
• Work closely with production leadership and safety personnel to support safe and efficient construction activities.

Customer & Stakeholder Coordination

• Interface with vessel owners, owner's representatives, inspectors, subcontractors, vendors, and regulatory organizations.
• Participate in project and production meetings and communicate construction progress, priorities, and outstanding issues.
• Coordinate stakeholder requirements with engineering, production, project management, and commissioning teams.
• Maintain professional communication throughout construction and vessel delivery.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of 10+ years of progressive shipyard experience, including vessel new construction, repair, outfitting, and/or commissioning.
• Previous experience as a Ship Superintendent, Area Superintendent, Production Superintendent, Construction Superintendent, or similar shipyard leadership position.
• Strong understanding of vessel construction methods, sequencing, production workflows, and shipyard operations.
• Experience coordinating multiple marine disciplines, including structural, mechanical, piping, electrical, HVAC, and outfitting.
• Ability to manage supervisors, trades, subcontractors, vendors, and other field personnel.
• Experience supporting vessel testing, commissioning, and project turnover.
• Working knowledge of marine electrical and integrated vessel systems preferred.
• Familiarity with ABS, U.S. Coast Guard, and other applicable marine regulatory requirements.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, production schedules, and construction documentation.
• Experience working directly with vessel owners, subcontractors, vendors, classification representatives, and third-party inspectors.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and resolve production issues in a fast-paced shipyard environment.

Preferred Experience

• Experience supporting complex vessel new construction programs.
• Experience with ferries, hybrid propulsion vessels, specialized commercial vessels, or other technically complex vessel programs.
• Experience with high-specification or government-funded marine projects.
• Familiarity with vessel commissioning, dock trials, and sea trials.
• Technical background in Marine Engineering, Naval Architecture, shipbuilding, or a related discipline.
• Experience leading vessel projects through multiple phases of construction from initial fabrication through final delivery.

Work Environment

• Position requires regular presence in an active shipyard environment.
• Work will involve time in production areas, fabrication facilities, outdoor work areas, and aboard vessels under construction or repair.
• Regular walking, climbing, and movement throughout vessels and production areas should be expected.
• Work is performed around active construction activities, heavy equipment, machinery, and multiple shipbuilding trades.
• Appropriate PPE and compliance with all applicable shipyard safety requirements are required.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary based on experience.
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and retirement benefits.
• Long-term opportunity supporting complex vessel construction and marine projects.