Senior​/Principal Mechanical Design Engineer : Kongsberg Maritime - Propulsion & Handlin

Senior/Principal Mechanical Design Engineer

We are looking for an experienced engineer who enjoys combining hands‑on hydro‑mechanical design, product safety responsibility, and technical leadership across complex marine and naval systems as part of a supportive engineering team.

You will apply sound engineering judgement and influence system‑level design decisions from concept through detailed design, release, manufacture, test, and in‑service support.

Scope will be tailored to the successful candidate’s experience:
Senior‑level candidates will typically take ownership of delivery and technical outputs, while Principal‑level candidates will provide broader technical direction, mentoring, governance, and design authority support.

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of BPSS security clearance with no caveats.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead hydro‑mechanical system design from concept through to in‑service support, applying sound judgement and working collaboratively.
• Produce, check, and approve engineering outputs such as calculations, design substantiation, hydraulic schematics, 3D models, drawings, BoMs, specifications, and technical documentation.
• Create technical documentation deliverables in support of Naval programmes, ensuring content is accurate, controlled, and aligned with customer, programme, and compliance requirements.
• Develop hydro‑mechanical designs that are robust, manufacturable, maintainable, and compliant with customer, classification, safety, regulatory, and internal requirements.
• Build confidence in the design through reviews, verification, product safety activities, failure analysis, corrective actions, ALARP justification, and supporting evidence.
• Work with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, service, and customer‑facing teams so requirements are clear, practical, and delivered effectively.
• Support others through mentoring, design checking, governance, and continuous improvement of hydro‑mechanical design practice.

Leadership Qualities:

• Demonstrates ownership and accountability for technical outcomes, balancing engineering quality, delivery priorities, and business needs.
• Applies sound judgement to guide design decisions, challenge assumptions, and resolve technical uncertainty in a structured way.
• Communicates clearly with technical and non‑technical stakeholders, providing confidence, direction, and evidence‑based recommendations.
• Supports and develops others through mentoring, design review feedback, knowledge sharing, and constructive technical guidance.
• Promotes a collaborative engineering culture focused on product safety, continuous improvement, disciplined decision‑making, and high‑quality design practice.

Essential Skills and Qualifications:

• Degree in Mechanical or Naval Engineering or equivalent relevant experience.
• Strong hydro‑mechanical design background in marine, naval, defence, offshore, heavy engineering, or other complex product environments.
• Ability to develop robust, practical, and manufacturable hydro‑mechanical system designs from requirements through to released engineering definition.
• Competence in producing and reviewing core engineering outputs, including calculations, design substantiation, hydraulic schematics, 3D models, drawings, BoMs, specifications, and technical documentation.
• Experience with 3D CAD, engineering data management, configuration control, and change‑control processes.
• Strong analytical judgement, with the confidence to influence hydro‑mechanical design direction and resolve technical uncertainty.
• Clear communicator with strong organisation, collaboration, ownership, and engineering leadership qualities.
• Experience with marine or naval stabilisers, steering gear, hydraulic actuation, power units, mechanical linkages, or other safety‑critical hydro‑mechanical equipment.
• Knowledge of classification rules, marine standards, defence standards, or customer‑specific requirements.
• Experience supporting verification, validation, qualification, shock, vibration, fatigue, pressure, structural, hydraulic performance, or mechanical integrity assessments.
• Familiarity with product safety methods, including hazard reviews,…