Senior Naval Architect

Birdon is passionate about innovation, in-house engineering and problem solving. We don't shy away from a challenge; we thrive on it. A proudly Australian manufacturer and industry partner, we provide whole of life solutions to multinational defence, government, maritime, energy and resource sectors.

As we continue to grow, so too does our team. We are looking for the right candidate to take on the role of Senior Naval Architect. This is a Full-Time role with flexibility to be based out of our offices in Port Macquarie, Sydney or Perth.

Position Overview

The Senior Naval Architecture is responsible for delivery of naval architecture design and support to the assigned projects under the direction of Naval Architecture Leads, Ship Design Manager or Project Managers. Primarily working with other Naval Architecture staff, engineering leads, other engineering staff and design authorities, the role focuses on delivery of all aspects of naval architecture, development and validation of engineering concepts into detailed designs in accordance with contracted customer requirements ensuring compliance with relevant commercial, quality, safety, regulatory and industry standards.

Key Accountabilities

• Delivery of Naval Architecture design and support services in a project delivery environment accordance with approved project requirements.
• Provide technical oversight on the development and maintenance of engineering artefacts throughout the engineering lifecycle.
• Participate in engineering reviews and workshops, including the approval of engineering design packages within delegated engineering authority.
• Examine customer requirements and lead the development, review, and approval of designs, ensuring compliance with contractual, regulatory, and technical requirements.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate design risks to safeguard project timelines, budget, and quality objectives.
• Provide technical point of contact with external stakeholders, including naval authorities, classification societies, subcontractors, and vendors, to address design-related inquiries, resolve issues, and foster collaborative relationships.
• Generate and evaluate proposed design changes, assess their impact on project scope, schedule, and cost, and facilitate their implementation in accordance with change control procedures.
• Ensure accurate and comprehensive documentation of design decisions, rationale, and specifications to facilitate traceability, transparency, and knowledge transfer.
• Customer, sub-contractor and supplier liaison relating to Naval Architecture engineering delivery within delegated authority.
• Proactively promote quality, environmental responsibility & safety within the workplace, encouraging an outcome of Birdon being a place of work by choice.
• Contribute to business development processes and activities to support the continued growth of the business.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

Essential.

• Tertiary qualifications at degree level in a relevant engineering discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant industry experience.
• In-depth knowledge of relevant regulations, standards, and best practices governing naval vessel design and construction.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to balance technical, operational, and commercial considerations.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership abilities, with a track record of effectively engaging stakeholders and leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Familiarity with design software, simulation tools, and project management methodologies commonly used in shipbuilding environments.
• Proactive manner demonstrating strong commercial aptitude and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions, identify work priorities in a constantly changing environment.

Desirable.

• Chartered Professional Engineering status in relevant discipline.
• Professional certifications or memberships in relevant professional bodies (e.g., Chartered Engineer status, membership in the Royal Institution of Naval Architects) preferred.
• Formal training in leadership, organisational change management and behaviour.
• Ability to develop system documents, process standards, and high-level reporting .
• Anticipate future commercial need for design and confidently propose it to the business
• Applied experience with Defence maritime projects, processes and standards.

We deliver value for our customers through our innovative people, organisational agility, and operational excellence. As an equal opportunity employer, all positions are open to any person that may have the required characteristics and experiences. Veterans are encouraged to apply.

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