Shipbuilding Engineering Lead

Job Description

Job Description

Engineering Lead

The Engineering Lead will serve as the key technical leader directly beneath the Director or Head of Engineering, owning the day-to-day technical execution for a lean, high-impact engineering organization. This role functions as a true player-coach, combining hands-on engineering with leadership of multidisciplinary teams and an external subcontractor engineering firm. The work centers on complex, high-priority classified maritime programs for defense customers, with a strong focus on vessels that sit on the boundary between boats and ships. The Lead will play a central role in driving technical excellence, improving program profitability, and shaping a culture of accountability and execution.

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Responsibilities

• Lead the daily technical execution of the engineering organization, ensuring high-quality design, analysis, and delivery across all active programs.
• Act as a player-coach by managing and mentoring engineers while actively contributing as a hands-on engineer when required.
• Oversee multidisciplinary engineering teams, including structural, mechanical, and electrical disciplines, and coordinate complex technical workflows.
• Directly lead 8 to 10 internal engineers while fully overseeing an external subcontractor engineering firm with approximately 40 engineers on the project.
• Own the engineering, design, and fabrication processes for maritime vessels, particularly those on the threshold between boats and ships.
• Regularly walk the production floor to collaborate with hourly shipbuilders and production workers, demonstrating empathy and respect for their expertise.
• Execute red-line changes on the shop floor in real time, integrate updates into 3D CAD models, and ensure the Bill of Materials is accurately maintained.
• Manage subcontractor and resource allocation to ensure alignment with program requirements, schedules, and quality standards.
• Serve as the primary technical voice in front of customers, confidently leading high-intensity technical discussions on structural analysis, fatigue life, system upgrades, and related topics.
• Apply naval architecture, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering principles to support design reviews and resolve complex technical challenges.
• Ensure compliance with relevant maritime and engineering standards, including ABS, USCG, IACS, ABYC, and IEEE standards, as applicable to vessel design and construction.
• Utilize tools such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Rhino, ShipConstructor, PDMS, PDM, ERP systems, and other engineering software to support design, modeling, and documentation.
• Support program management activities by coordinating engineering deliverables, tracking progress, and contributing to overall program execution and profitability.
• Drive a culture of accountability, execution, and radical ownership of product quality and team performance throughout the engineering organization.
• Lead and influence a cultural transformation within the organization, helping to improve processes and behaviors while maintaining a constructive and resilient approach.
• Represent engineering interests in cross-functional discussions and ensure alignment between engineering, production, and other operational teams.
• Participate in and lead design reviews, technical risk assessments, and engineering support activities to ensure robust, reliable vessel designs.
• Maintain eligibility for and adherence to security clearance requirements due to the classified nature of the programs.

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Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering is required, preferably in Naval Architecture, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Electrical Engineering; Civil Engineering may be considered but is less ideal.
• Definitive maritime or shipbuilding experience, with hands-on involvement in engineering, designing, and fabricating vessels on the edge between boats and ships.
• Strong electrical engineering competency, with the ability to lead and guide electrical design and integration efforts across complex maritime systems.
• At least 4 to 8 years, ideally 10 or more years, in a true engineering leadership role overseeing multidisciplinary teams in structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering.
• Proven ability to manage and coordinate subcontractor engineering firms and internal engineering resources, including oversight of teams of significant size.
• Demonstrated capability to work on the factory floor, perform real-time red-line changes, and integrate updates into 3D CAD models and Bills of Materials.
• Eligibility and ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance due to the classified nature of the programs.
• Proficiency with engineering and design tools such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Rhino, ShipConstructor, PDMS, PDM, and ERP systems.
• Strong experience in structural analysis and fatigue analysis for maritime structures and systems.
• Experience with program management or engineering program support in complex technical environments.
• Deep understanding of maritime standards and regulations, including ABS, USCG, IACS, ABYC, and IEEE standards.
• Excellent communication skills with the confidence to represent engineering in front of customers during high-intensity technical discussions.
• Demonstrated accountability and execution-oriented mindset, with a track record of taking ownership of product quality and team performance.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with production floor personnel and hourly shipbuilders, showing humility and respect for their contributions.

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Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in naval shipyards, naval systems, naval aviation, and Navy-related maritime programs.
• Experience in maritime and boat building, including familiarity with complex vessel systems and integration.
• Experience with design review processes and engineering support for production environments.
• Exposure to program management practices, including planning, tracking, and reporting for engineering deliverables.
• Knowledge of ship constructor tools and related shipbuilding design platforms.
• Entrepreneurial spirit with a proactive, hands-on approach to solving problems and improving processes.
• Ability to act as a customer-facing technical voice, leading discussions on fatigue life, structural analysis, and system upgrades.
• Diplomacy and resiliency in driving cultural change, with the ability to “break glass without nuking the place” by challenging the status quo while maintaining constructive relationships.
• Experience working within or alongside the unique workplace culture of the Pacific Northwest is beneficial but not required.
• Strong interpersonal skills and cross-functional collaboration ability, particularly between engineering and production teams.
• Capability to grow and develop an engineering team while contributing to a broader culture change and return to profitability.
• Comfort operating in a lean, small-team environment rather than a large, matrixed organization.

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Work Environment

This role is based 100% on-site in the Portland-Vancouver area, with a strict boots-on-the-ground presence required due to the small team size and the need for direct engagement on the production floor. The work environment is a hands-on maritime manufacturing and engineering setting, where the Engineering Lead regularly moves between office, design, and shop floor spaces. You will collaborate closely with hourly shipbuilders, production workers, and fellow engineers in a fast-paced, highly technical environment focused on complex, classified defense-related vessel programs. The culture emphasizes accountability, execution, and continuous improvement, offering the opportunity to grow a team and play a central role in transforming how the organization operates and returns to profitability. Standard benefits such as health coverage and 401(k) match are provided, and relocation support may be considered on a case-by-case basis (regional talent preferred).

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Use the following link to speak with a recruiter and learn more: click here

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This is a Permanent position based out of Vancouver, WA.

The pay range for this position is $150000.00 - $170000.00/yr.

*Total Compensation Opportunity: With an incentive bonus potential (historically tracking near 98% of target), the total cash compensation sits closer to $200,000, not including a standard 401k match and health benefits Location: 100% Boots on the ground in Vancouver, Washington. This is a hard "no" on remote/work-from-home flexibility due to the small size of the team and the necessity of floor presence. Relocation packages are negotiable on a strict case-by-case basis.

This is a fully onsite position in Vancouver,WA.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 9, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.