Job Description
As part of General Dynamics Marine Systems, Bath Iron Works (BIW) is a full-service shipyard specializing in the design, building, and support of complex surface combatants for the U.S. Navy. BIW's rich history reflects a continuous pattern of innovation, new technology, and process improvements. Today, we are revolutionizing naval shipbuilding. Since 1884, we have continued our tradition of leadership in technology and innovation. Engineering tasking, responsibilities, and hiring level will be based on experience.
Key Responsibilities
Safety Leadership: Be a safety leader for your team and ensure that each person leaves in the condition they came in. Ensure all safety trainings are completed on time.
Project/Task Execution: Provide analytical, technical, and engineering support to facilitate and expedite resolution of technical issues. Participate in Technical Issues meetings as the lead technical point of contact for LYS; prepare agenda, investigate issues, facilitate discussions with shipyard subject matter experts and propose recommended solutions to the Navy. Act as a direct interface to Navy stakeholders (e.g., NAVSEA, SUPSHIP, warfare centers) for engineering inquiries, issue resolution, and technical briefings. Lead technical assessments, root-cause analysis, and corrective-action planning for emergent issues discovered during engineering, design, construction, and the Navy Fleet. Develop, review, and approve engineering products such as technical disposition packages, engineering change proposals, and Liaison Inquiry responses. Represent BIW engineering at internal and external technical interchange meetings; prepare and present clear, decision-ready material. Mentor engineers and promote disciplined systems engineering, technical rigor, and effective communication across stakeholders. Quarterly travel required to support program reviews and technical meetings along with trials support for all new construction DDG 51 class ships.
Team Collaboration and Communication: Serve as the primary LYS technical liaison with the Navy technical community (PMS400D4, PMS400D5, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, etc…) enabling topics to be efficiently discussed and resolved. Coordinate cross-functional engineering teams (hull, mechanical, electrical, combat systems) to resolve ship-level problems. Collaborate effectively within the team and with other groups both internal and external. Facilitate communication between Engineers and Designers to ensure successful engineering and design processes. Interface with and support Design, Engineering, Program Office, Systems Integration and Concept Design Development, Change Management, Estimating, Contracts, Materials, Planning, Manufacturing, Navy and other customer organizations as required.
Continuous Improvement: Support proper and up to date process documentation for Lead Yard Support processes. Focus on Lean Six Sigma principles to both remove waste and variation from processes. Support creation of plans for areas of improvement and conduct projects to improve efficiency, reduce cost, and reduce cycle times.
Required/Preferred Education/Training
A Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Naval Architecture, or equivalent degree is required.
Required/Preferred Experience
Sr. Engineer - 5+ years of experience required Principal Engineer - 12+ years of experience required Experience with DDG-51 class ships, Aegis combat system integration interfaces, or Navy surface combatant modernization. Demonstrated ability to interface effectively with government customers and resolve issues through structured technical communication. Experience with ship design tools and data (drawings, 3D models, electrical loading, weight reports, interface control documents). Systems engineering background, including requirements traceability and interface management. Prior experience supporting trials, testing, and shipboard troubleshooting. Experience with Engineering Change Process within Lead Yard Support organization. Ability to effectively manage multiple/competing priorities and meet schedule demands. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical information to mixed audiences. Self-motivation and a strong ability to contribute in a team environment are required. Excellent oral and written communication skills are required. Demonstrated ability to work in a positive team environment. Highly motivated, strong attention to detail with proven ability to work independently. Some travel is required. Operation of Microsoft Windows, Windows Software, and Microsoft Office products. CAD skills are preferred.
This position requires you to be able to obtain a government security clearance. You must be a US Citizen for consideration and you must be able to obtain an interim security clearance within the first 45 days of hire. For more information regarding the security clearance process, please visit Investigations & Clearance Process (dcsa.mil).
Shipbuilding has been a way of life along the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, since 1762, when the sailing ship Earl of Bute was launched on the site of present day Bath. The Bath Iron Works (BIW) shipyard, located on the west bank of the Kennebec, just south of downtown Bath, is the namesake of an iron foundry established in 1826.
Brevet General Thomas W. Hyde, US Army (Ret) took over the foundry in 1865, following service with the 20th Maine Regiment during the Civil War. Nearly two decades later, he incorporated his diversified marine business interests as Bath Iron Works, Limited in 1884, before expanding into shipbuilding with the acquisition of the Goss Marine Iron Works in 1888.The first BIW-built vessel was a coastal passenger ship named Cottage City built for the Maine Steamship Co. Since the completion of Hull #1 in 1890, BIW has been awarded more than 425 shipbuilding contracts, including 245 military ships (mostly destroyers and frigates for the US Navy) and over 160 private yachts and commercial vessels. BIW became a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Dynamics in September 1995.
In terms of modern US Navy surface combatant programs -- ones where BIW ships are still in service -- the Lead Ship construction contract for the Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG 7) Class of guided missile frigates was awarded to BIW in 1973, and 24 of these surface combatants were delivered over the next 15 years.
In 1982, the Navy selected BIW as second-source shipbuilder for the Ticonderoga (CG 47) Class of AEGIS guided missile cruisers. The company went on to win contracts for eight of these warships, delivering the final one in 1993. In 1985 BIW won the competition for detail design and construction of USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) , the Lead Ship for the Navy's newest, most capable class of AEGIS guided missile destroyers. BIW has delivered the lead ship and 30 follow ships, with delivery of the final follow ship under the most recent contract expected in 2011. The US Navy has announced that it will acquire further Arleigh Burke class vessels during the next decade.
Under General Dynamics' ownership, BIW solidified its industry leadership position by teaming with the City of Bath and the State of Maine to support a long-term capital investment plan. With the first phase of modernization completed in 2001, BIW began building ships in its new state-of-the-art facility. These improvements ($320 million so far) enable the company to offer unprecedented productivity, quality and affordability to our customer. Further applications of lean manufacturing techniques and advanced modular construction are planned, and the yard has switched to 3D computer-aided design for its latest ships. BIW is building the first of the DDG 1000 class of destroyers, Zumwalt, using these advanced technologies.
BIW is a yard with a history, and a bright future. Throughout Navy circles - and especially with their current and former crews - it's generally recognized that 'Bath Built Is Best Built' a phrase first heard in the early 1900s, and every bit as true today as when it was first said.