Naval Architect

St. Johns Ship Building – Job Description

Position Title:

Naval Architect

Reports To:

Director of Engineering (or Chief Naval Architect, as applicable)

Department:
Engineering

Location:

Palatka, Florida

FLSA Status:
Exempt

The Naval Architect will provide technical expertise in the design, analysis, and production support of steel and aluminum vessels built ns Ship Building. This role involves translating customer specifications, regulatory requirements, and shipyard production capabilities into efficient, buildable designs that support cost, schedule, and quality goals. The position will interface daily with project management, production, supply chain, and quality teams to ensure seamless integration from design through delivery.

• Develop and review vessel design documentation, including general arrangements, structural models, equipment foundations, stability analyses, weight estimates, and systems layouts.
• Ensure all designs comply with customer specifications, ABS/USCG/NAVSEA requirements, and applicable regulatory standards.
• Support production by generating detailed construction drawings and resolving engineering issues encountered on the shop floor.
• Perform structural reviews hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, and stability calculations; support inclining experiments and trials.
• Review vendor data packages and coordinate integration of equipment and systems.
• Participate in design reviews and production readiness reviews.
• Provide engineering input for proposals, cost estimates, and technical clarifications for new contracts.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams (structural, mechanical, electrical) to optimize vessel performance and producibility.
• Support configuration control, document management, and change control processes within the shipyard’s engineering systems.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Naval Architecture
• 3+ years of shipyard or marine design office experience (steel and/or aluminum vessels preferred).
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Rhino, and/or Ship Constructor (Inventor, Solid Works, or equivalent experience acceptable).
• Working knowledge of ABS, USCG, and SOLAS regulations.
• Familiarity with weight control, hydrostatics, and stability analysis tools.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across engineering, production, and project management teams in a dynamic shipyard environment.

• Master’s Degree in Naval Architecture preferred.
• Experience supporting the construction of steel and aluminum commercial or government vessels (e.g., barges, logistics support craft, etc.).
• Familiarity with modular construction and digital ship design workflows.
• Experience supporting shipyard production and field engineering during vessel assembly and launch.

Primary work is performed in an office environment within the shipyard, with regular visits to production areas. Must be able to climb ladders, access confined spaces, and work around typical shipyard conditions as needed.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Lift/Carry: 10 lbs or less (Frequently), 11–20 lbs (Occasionally)

Stand (Occasionally), Walk (Occasionally)

Sit (Frequently), Handling/Fingering (Occasionally), Reach outwards (Occasionally), Reach above shoulder (Occasionally), Climb (Occasionally), Crawl (Occasionally), Squat or kneel (Occasionally), Bend (Occasionally)

21–50 lbs (Occasionally), 51–100 lbs N/A, Over 100 lbs N/A

Push/Pull: 12 lbs or less N/A, 13–25 lbs N/A, 26–40 lbs N/A, 41–100 lbs N/A

Other

Physical Requirements:

Vision (near, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception), Sense of sound (hear alarms and radios), Sense of touch

Indoor Environment/Office Environment/Heated/Air Conditioned. Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization’s facilities.

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