Principal Design Engineer

Principal Design Engineer

Southampton (Hybrid – 3 days per week on-site)
£65,000–£75,000 + Excellent Benefits Package
 

Shape the Future of Sustainable Shipping

Are you an experienced Design Engineer looking to apply your expertise to technology that delivers real environmental impact?

We're partnering with an innovative maritime technology company that is transforming the future of global shipping. t

As the business continues to grow, they are seeking a Principal Design Engineer to play a key role in the development of next-generation products. This is a rare opportunity to take ownership of critical structural and mechanical systems from concept through to production, working within a highly collaborative and mission-driven engineering team.

If you're motivated by complex engineering challenges, sustainability, and the opportunity to influence the development of world-class clean technology, we'd love to hear from you.

The Opportunity of the Principal Design Engineer

Reporting directly to the Head of Engineering, you will lead the design and structural development of key product subsystems, ensuring solutions are robust, compliant, manufacturable, and ready for real-world deployment.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role where you'll combine advanced structural engineering expertise with practical design ownership, helping to shape products that will be deployed across the global shipping fleet.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead the mechanical and structural design of critical product subsystems
• Own the development of wing geometry, balancing performance, structural integrity, and manufacturability
• Develop and manage load cases covering classification requirements and operational environments
• Translate complex loading scenarios into clear engineering requirements
• Define structural design philosophies and ensure compliance with relevant classification standards
• Perform and oversee structural analysis, verification, and validation activities
• Develop and enhance in-house structural analysis tools and methodologies
• Lead technical engagement with classification societies and approval bodies
• Act as the subject matter expert for stress, fatigue, and structural integrity analysis
• Support and mentor junior engineers where appropriate
• Champion engineering excellence, safety, quality, and sustainability across the development process

What We're Looking For

Essential Experience

• Degree-qualified in Naval Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Marine Engineering, or a related discipline
• Approximately 5–10 years' experience designing marine structures approved by classification societies
• Strong 3D modelling and parametric design experience
• Proficiency with Siemens NX, Autodesk Inventor, or similar 3D CAD platforms
• Strong background in structural analysis, including FEA and hand calculations
• Proven ability to translate load cases into validated engineering solutions
• Experience working directly with classification societies and supporting technical approvals
• Familiarity with DNV, Lloyd's Register (LR), ClassNK (NK), or similar organisations
• Excellent understanding of structural integrity, DFMA principles, and manufacturability
• Pragmatic, solution-focused engineering mindset
• Comfortable operating within a fast-paced, evolving technology environment

Desirable Experience

Fatigue analysis, buckling assessment, and large welded structures

Aero-structural systems or performance-driven structural design

Validation of analytical models against real-world test data

Structural testing, verification, and manufacturing processes

Why Join?

This is far more than a design role.

You'll be joining a business developing tangible technology that is helping decarbonise one of the world's most important industries. You'll have the opportunity to influence product direction, take ownership of critical engineering decisions, and see your designs deployed in real-world applications.

What's on Offer

• Excellent benefits package
• Relocation assistance available
• Visa sponsorship support for eligible candidates
• Hybrid working model
• High levels of technical ownership and autonomy
• Exposure to the full product lifecycle, from concept through to production
• Career progression opportunities as the business scales
• The chance to contribute directly to meaningful climate-impact technology

Apply Today

If you're a Mechanical, Structural, Naval, or Marine Engineer looking for a technically challenging role where your work will make a measurable environmental difference, we'd love to hear from you.