This position will oversee and mentor a team of designers while ensuring engineering deliverables are technically accurate, production-ready, compliant with applicable regulatory requirements, and delivered according to project schedules. The Structure & Outfitting Lead will work closely with Engineering, Production, Purchasing, and Project Management to develop practical, buildable designs that support efficient vessel construction.

Structure & Outfitting Lead

Department: Engineering
Industry: Shipbuilding / Maritime Engineering
Employment Type: Full-Time
Region: Northeast USA

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Structure & Outfitting Lead to lead the design and coordination of structural and outfitting systems for vessel construction projects.

This position will oversee and mentor a team of designers while ensuring engineering deliverables are technically accurate, production-ready, compliant with applicable regulatory requirements, and delivered according to project schedules.

The Structure & Outfitting Lead will work closely with Engineering, Production, Purchasing, and Project Management to develop practical, buildable designs that support efficient vessel construction.

Key Responsibilities

Structural & Outfitting Design

• Lead the development and coordination of vessel structural and outfitting designs.
• Oversee structural arrangements, foundations, equipment supports, platforms, ladders, handrails, doors, hatches, deck fittings, and other vessel outfitting components.
• Review 2D and 3D engineering drawings, models, and production packages for technical accuracy and constructability.
• Ensure structural and outfitting designs meet project specifications, vessel requirements, and accepted shipbuilding practices.
• Review and resolve design conflicts, interferences, and production issues.
• Support design changes, revisions, redlines, and as-built documentation throughout vessel construction.

Design Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and provide technical direction to structural and outfitting designers.
• Review design work for accuracy, quality, completeness, and production readiness.
• Coordinate design priorities and deliverables to support engineering and production schedules.
• Help develop consistent design practices and improve engineering workflows.
• Support the technical development of junior designers and engineering personnel.

Production & Shipyard Support

• Work closely with shipyard production teams to ensure designs are buildable, efficient, and aligned with fabrication and installation methods.
• Provide technical support during fabrication, assembly, and vessel construction.
• Resolve field/design issues affecting structural or outfitting installation.
• Incorporate production feedback into design revisions and future work.
• Support ship checks and field verification as required.
• Maintain a strong understanding of shipyard fabrication methods and constructability requirements.

Cross-Discipline Coordination

• Coordinate structural and outfitting designs with:
  • Piping
  • Machinery
  • HVAC
  • Electrical
  • Naval Architecture
  • Production
• Work with Purchasing to support material and equipment requirements.
• Coordinate with Project Management to maintain engineering schedules and project priorities.
• Support resolution of technical issues that affect multiple vessel systems or production disciplines.

Regulatory & Quality Compliance

• Ensure designs comply with applicable ABS, USCG, classification society, regulatory, and contractual requirements.
• Support drawing reviews, technical reviews, and design-quality processes.
• Maintain accurate engineering documentation and revision control.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline; equivalent significant shipbuilding/design experience may be considered.
• Approximately 8–10+ years of ship design or shipbuilding engineering experience.
• Previous leadership, supervisory, or design-team leadership experience strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of vessel hull structure and outfitting systems.
• Experience developing and reviewing 2D/3D design drawings and production packages.
• Strong understanding of shipyard fabrication, vessel construction, and design-for-production/constructability.
• Experience coordinating engineering work with Production, Purchasing, Project Management, and other technical disciplines.
• Knowledge of ABS, USCG, and other applicable maritime regulatory/classification requirements.

Software

Strong experience with:

• ShipConstructor
• AutoCAD
• Navisworks
• Other relevant 2D/3D ship-design and engineering software

Preferred Background

The strongest candidates will bring experience with:

• Commercial or military vessel construction
• Newbuild shipyard programs
• Hull structural design
• Structural fabrication and assembly
• Vessel outfitting
• Production engineering
• Shipyard design-to-production coordination
• Multidiscipline 3D model coordination
• Design-team leadership
• Classification society and regulatory review

Work Environment

This position combines engineering/design responsibilities with support of an active shipyard and vessel-construction environment.

Candidates should be comfortable conducting ship checks and working in production areas as necessary, including onboard vessels, around fabrication activities, and in environments requiring PPE. The original position also requires the ability to navigate typical shipyard environments, including ladders, confined spaces, elevated areas, and other active production conditions.

Disclaimer

This description is intended to summarize the primary responsibilities and qualifications of the position and is not an exhaustive list of all duties. Responsibilities may change based on project and operational requirements.

. Skillset Required: Structural design, Outfitting design, Design coordination, Vessel construction projects, Team leadership, Mentoring, Engineering deliverables accuracy, Technical accuracy review, Production-ready design, Regulatory compliance, Project scheduling, Structural arrangements, Foundations, Equipment supports, Platforms, Ladders, Handrails, Doors, Hatches, Deck fittings, Review of 2D engineering drawings, Review of 3D engineering drawings, Model review, Production package review, Production readiness, Design conflict resolution, Design interference resolution, Production issue resolution, Design changes, Revisions, Redlines, As-built documentation, Technical direction, Design quality review, Design completeness, Design priorities coordination, Engineering workflows improvement, Junior designer development, Shipyard production support, Fabrication methods understanding, Assembly support, Vessel construction support, Field verification, Cross-discipline coordination, Piping coordination, Machinery coordination, HVAC coordination, Electrical coordination, Naval architecture coordination, Purchasing support, Engineering schedule maintenance, Project priorities support, Multi-system technical issue resolution, ABS compliance, USCG compliance, Classification society requirements, Contractual requirement compliance, Drawing reviews, Technical reviews, Design-quality processes, Documentation control, Revision control, Shipyard environment navigation, PPE usage, Ship checks