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Principal Design Engineer
Location: Southampton – hybrid, 3 days per week on-site
Salary: £65-85K plus excellent benefits package
A relocation package is available for this role if required.
About the Opportunity
Our client is a fast-growing maritime technology business developing wind-assisted propulsion systems that help reduce fuel consumption and emissions across global shipping.
They are now looking to appoint a Principal Design Engineer to join their growing engineering team. This is a hands-on role with broad involvement across the design lifecycle, from concept development through to detailed design and production-ready hardware.
Working closely with the Head of Engineering, you will take ownership of key subsystems, helping to deliver designs that are robust, manufacturable, compliant, and ready for real-world use. This is an excellent opportunity to join a mission-driven business developing real climate-impact technology in a highly innovative environment and would suit someone genuinely motivated by sustainability and the opportunity to contribute to cleaner shipping.
Key Requirements
We are looking for an experienced Mechanical / Structural / Marine Engineer with strong expertise in marine structural design, analysis, and classification-led approval.
You should bring:
- Degree qualification in Naval, Mechanical, Structural, or Marine Engineering
- Around 5-10 years’ experience designing marine structures approved by classification societies
- Strong proficiency in Siemens NX, Autodesk Inventor, or similar 3D CAD tools
- Strong experience in structural analysis, including FEA and hand calculations
- Proven experience translating load cases into robust design requirements and validated structures
- Experience working directly with classification societies and supporting technical approval
- Experience with DNV, LR, NK or similar bodies
- Strong understanding of DFMA, structural integrity, and manufacturability
- Solution-driven approach
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, chaotic environment
Desirable experience includes:
- Experience in fatigue, buckling, and large welded structures
- Exposure to aero-structural systems or other performance-led structural design
- Experience validating models against real-world data
- Knowledge of structural testing, validation, and manufacturing techniques
Role & Responsibilities
As Principal Design Engineer, you will lead the design and structural development of key product subsystems, ensuring they meet performance, compliance, and delivery requirements.
Responsibilities will include:
- Leading the mechanical design of subsystems in line with programme objectives
- Owning the development of wing geometry, balancing performance, structural integrity, and manufacturability
- Developing and managing load cases across classification and real-world operating conditions
- Translating load cases into clear design requirements
- Defining structural design philosophy and ensuring compliance with classification standards
- Performing and overseeing structural analysis and design verification
- Developing and improving in-house structural analysis tools and methods
- Leading technical engagement with classification societies
- Acting as the internal authority for stress and fatigue analysis
- Supporting and reviewing the work of more junior engineers where appropriate
- Promoting high standards of engineering integrity, safety, and sustainability
Why Join?
This is a rare opportunity to join a business developing real-world clean technology for the global shipping market.
You will benefit from:
- Working on real climate-impact hardware
- High levels of ownership within a small engineering team
- Broad exposure from concept through to production
- The opportunity to grow and progress with the business as the technology scales
Excellent package & opportunity. Call Rachel NOW or apply online with LinkedIn
