RusselSmith is an ISO 9001:2008 certified asset integrity management services company incorporated to serve the needs of the global oil and gas exploration and production industry, using rope access technology as our principal medium of access.
At RusselSmith, we pride ourselves in our innate ability to provide superior quality solutions at competitive rates to our discerning customers in the Oil and Gas sector. We strive tirelessly to outdo expectations and enable our clients attain optimal success.Job Summary
The Naval Architect is responsible for the design, development, and optimization of marine vessels and offshore structures. This role involves hull design, stability analysis, structural integrity assessment, and ensuring compliance with international maritime regulations.
The successful candidate will collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver safe, efficient, and high-performance marine platforms suitable for demanding operational environments.
Essential Duities and Responsibilities
Design and develop hull forms, general arrangements, and structural layouts for marine vessels and offshore structures
Perform hydrostatic and hydrodynamic calculations including stability, resistance, propulsion, and seakeeping analyses
Conduct structural analysis using finite element methods to ensure vessel strength and integrity under operational loads
Ensure vessel designs comply with international maritime standards (IMO, SOLAS, MARPOL) and classification society rules (ABS, DNV, Lloyd’s Register)
Prepare detailed engineering drawings, weight estimates, and technical documentation for construction and regulatory approval
Collaborate with marine, mechanical, electrical, and production teams to ensure seamless integration of ship systems
Support material selection, corrosion protection strategies, and fatigue analysis for marine environments
Participate in design reviews (Concept, Preliminary, and Critical Design Reviews) and provide technical risk assessments
Oversee model testing, simulations, and sea trials to validate vessel performance
Provide on-site engineering support during construction, inspection, and commissioning phases
Develop and maintain design standards, calculation templates, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis for structural or performance-related issues
Mentor junior engineers and promote continuous improvement in naval architecture processes
Qualification/Skills
BEng / BTech in Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, or Ocean Engineering
Minimum 5+ years’ experience in vessel design, structural analysis, or shipbuilding projects
Proficiency in marine design and analysis software (AutoCAD, Rhino, Maxsurf, ANSYS, or equivalent)
Strong understanding of hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, ship stability, and structural mechanics
Knowledge of classification society requirements and marine regulatory frameworks
Experience in finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is an advantage
Familiarity with ISO quality systems and marine production standards
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Ability to work effectively in cross-functional and fast-paced engineering environments.