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Overview
Naval architects are engineers responsible for the design, construction and repair of seafaring vessels, including ships and boats, and offshore structures.
As a naval architect you'll work in a team with other engineers from various fields and disciplines, coordinating activities and carrying ultimate responsibility for a project - ensuring its effective, safe and economical completion.
You'll need an understanding of the different areas of engineering, as well as a good working knowledge of the technology used within the field, such as computer-aided design (CAD).
Responsibilities
Specific duties as a naval architect you'll typically need to:
- Design ships, submarines, related components and specialist equipment, using complex mathematical and physical models to ensure the ship's design is technically sound and that it complies with safety regulations
- Plan the whole build process of a vessel, managing everything from concept through to delivery of the final product
- Maritime design assurance
- Weight and stability assessments
- Act as a consultant - providing clients with engineering solutions, technical and commercial guidance, support and project management for concept design studies, new vessel constructions, refits and conversions
- Conduct a risk analysis of ships and marine structures, using the regulations of classification societies and intergovernmental organisations such as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), to assess aspects of design such as strength, stability and lifesaving
- Ensure projects are completed in accordance with industry standards
- Provide on-board safety training for crews (for naval architects with seafaring experience).
Other operational responsibilities may include:
- Managing procurement
- Solving operational problems
- Interface with mechanical, platform and safety teams.
- Managing a whole shipyard or sections of it, such as planning, production or fitting out.
Projects can include the design, construction, repair, conversion or decommissioning of a range of crafts and structures, including:
- Ferries, cruise ships and passenger liners
- High-speed craft including hovercraft and hydrofoils
- Merchant ships such as tankers and cargo or container ships
- Offshore drilling platforms, floating units and susbsea infrastructure installations
- Pleasure craft, such as yachts and power boats
- Submarines
- Warships
- Working vessels, including fishing boats and rescue boats
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Qualifications
To become a naval architect, you'll typically need a degree in a relevant engineering subject. The most direct route is to complete a BEng or MEng in Naval Architecture. Accredited courses in related fields such as marine technology, offshore engineering and ship science may also be accepted.
Degrees that are accredited by The Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) ensure that you acquire the skills and knowledge needed for professional registration later in your career. As well as naval architecture, accredited degrees cover the study of:
- Design
- Engineering
- Management
- Manufacturing systems
- Materials
Details of accredited courses are available from the Engineering Council - Accredited Course Search.
To gain professional registration as a naval architect, you'll need to have membership of RINA and register through the Engineering Council. Various levels are available, including:
- Chartered engineer (CEng)
- Incorporated engineer (IEng)
- Engineering technician (EngTech).
Chartered engineers deal in innovation, creativity and change. For chartered status, you'll need one of the following:
- An accredited integrated MEng degree
- An accredited BEng degree, plus either an appropriate accredited Masters degree or Engineering Doctorate (EngD) or appropriate further learning to Masters level.
Incorporated engineers deal with the efficient management of existing technology. For incorporated status, you'll need one of the following:
- An accredited BEng degree
- An accredited HNC, HND or foundation degree in engineering or technology, plus appropriate further learning to degree level.
If your degree isn't accredited by RINA, you may need to submit additional evidence to prove your level of knowledge or complete further training to cover any gaps.
Alternative routes are available if you don't have the required academic qualification to achieve registration as CEng, IEng or EngTech. For example, experience can be offered in lieu of formal academic qualification.
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Essential skills
You'll need to have:
- The ability to produce clear and well-presented drawings and plans
- Analytical skills to interpret technical information and drawings
- Effective spoken and written communication skills for dealing with people both within and outside the engineering profession
- Report-writing skills
- Sound judgement and problem-solving skills
- Teamworking skills, and the ability to work independently in both office and site environments
- Commercial awareness
- Strong IT skills
- Project management and leadership skills
- A creative, enquiring and logical mind
- Self-motivation.
- Comfortable with customer-facing technical conversations
Benefits
- Collaborative working environment – we stand shoulder to shoulder with our clients and our peers through good times and challenges
- We empower all passionate technology loving professionals by allowing them to expand their skills and take part in inspiring projects
- Expleo Academy - enables you to acquire and develop the right skills by delivering a suite of accredited training courses
- Competitive company benefits
- Always working as one team, our people are not afraid to think big and challenge the status quo
- As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we have committed to:
- Ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible
- Communicating and promoting vacancies
- Offering an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job
- Anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments as required
- Supporting any existing employee who acquires a disability or long term health condition, enabling them to stay in work
- At least one activity that will make a difference for disabled people
- “We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age”.
- We treat everyone fairly and equitably across the organisation, including providing any additional support and adjustments needed for everyone to thrive
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