Principal Submarine Naval Architect- Washington, DC

Position Description & Qualifications

If you seek a rewarding, high profile and challenging position supporting projects for the US Navy- Serco has a wonderful opportunity for you! This position will be on a dynamic team, supporting Team Submarine. Bring your expertise and collaborative skills to make an impact on our military defense and safety of our sailors. As the Principal Naval Architect, you will be on a dynamic team providing technical and programmatic support to the VIRGINIA Class Submarine Program Office (PMS450) and the U.S. Navy’s Team Submarine Program Offices at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, DC! Bring your expertise and collaborative skills to make an impact on our military defense and safety of our sailors.

Must possess a U.S. Department of War (DoW) Secret security clearance.

Serco supports the US Navy as a prime for their Team Submarine SHAPM contract supporting the acquisition of submarines. PMS450 is the acquisition program office for the New Construction of Attack Submarines and for identifying, assembling, managing, directing, and coordinating the resources required for the R&D, design, construction, Test and Evaluation (T&E), Live Fire Test and Evaluation (LFT&E), and Fleet introduction of the U.S. Navy’s newest class of nuclear attack submarines. PMS450 is responsible for developing and deploying a more affordable, nuclear-powered attack submarine with multi-mission capability and enhanced capabilities for performance in littoral areas. VIRGINIA Class submarines support five of the six Navy core maritime capabilities: Deterrence, Maritime Security, Sea Control, Forward Presence, and Power Projection.

Serco-NA is seeking a motivated individual to provide programmatic support to one of our NAVSEA customers. Serco-NA has an opening for and immediately hiring a Principal Naval Architect supporting the NAVSEA 05P3 as the Naval Architecture - System Integration Team (SIT) Team in PMS450, the VIRGINIA Class Submarine program office. This is an opportunity to join our growing team to contribute and influence the Navy's future, premier attack submarine. A submarine naval architect is responsible for the design, construction, maintenance, and repair of submarines. They analyze floating structures and take various features into account for their designs, such as the form, structure, stability, resistance, access, and propulsion of hulls. Naval architects work closely with marine engineers, shipyards, and regulatory bodies to ensure that submarines are well-designed and operationally efficient. They are involved in the design of hull forms to ensure optimal buoyancy and performance, as well as conducting hydrodynamic and structural simulations. A role as a submarine naval architect will take you on a journey like no other. Playing your part in creating powerful naval vessels, you’ll work on some of the most advanced technology in the world. This role will support the management and execution of technical and design requirements for new and ongoing submarine shipbuilding programs. Candidates should possess strong engineering and acquisition fundamentals, as well as expertise with surface and undersea shipbuilding programs.

In this role, you will:

Be responsible for the design, development, and optimization of submarines. Duties include:

Design and develop submarines by creating the initial design and layout of submarines, considering factors like stability, strength, weight, and performance in marine conditions. This involves creating complex mathematical models and using computer-aided design (CAD) software.

Modify and upgrade existing submarines design also be responsible for modifying and upgrading submarines to improve their performance, safety, or to adapt them to new uses and missions.

Overseeing construction and maintenance: After the submarine is built, will continue to be involved in its maintenance and repair, conducting inspections and tests to ensure its continued safety and performance.

Naval architects work closely with PMS450 or other stakeholders to understand the use of the submarine. They are responsible for creating the initial design and layout of the submarine, considering factors like stability, strength, weight, and the vessel’s performance in various marine conditions.

Areas of responsibility included weights, hydrostatics, stability, equilibrium, tank capacities, mass moments of inertia calculation, review of reballast proposals, inclining experiment, trim dive reports, and other naval architecture related documents (Ship Specifications, Ship Systems Manuals (SSM), Operating Instructions (OI), Casualty Procedures (CP), Test Procedures (TP), and Maintenance Manuals (MM)). Participated in all design phases: feasibility, delivery, conversion, and overhaul.

Understand technical requirements, verify the design meets those requirements (if possible), and that the stakeholders agree an acceptable risk level has been reached that the design can be successfully built and delivered.

Review shipyard weight reports, hydrostatics, tank capacities, module weights, prediction of mount/deck loadings, evaluation of system descriptions/diagrams, stability (GM&BG) prediction of various loading conditions, attend weight audit meetings, fixed ballast distribution, tracking weight and margin trends, and review of inclining experiment, trim dive reports, and reballast proposals.

Review variable ballast requirements for Special Operations missions.

Review of TempAlt and ShipAlt impacts, understanding Undersea Dominance (UD) payload integration impacts, fielding unusual questions such as loading for arctic transit, required reserve buoyancy and projected navigational draft.

Support NAVSEA 05P3 as the Naval Architecture - System Integration Team (SIT) Team including interacting with two naval shipyards and Electric Boat regarding naval architecture (weight, stability, ballasting, equilibrium, tank capacities, and hydrostatics), review of Ship Systems Manuals (SSM), Operating Instructions (OI), Casualty Procedures (CP), Maintenance Manuals, and Test Procedures.

Make recommendations to approve reballast proposals, review inclining experiment and trim dive reports.

Perform Mass Moment of Inertia/Gyradius Study when required.

Support NAVSEA weight control efforts.

Utilized the ASSET/MONOLA ship synthesis design program extensively.

Provide expert responses to requests for technical assistance or adjudication received via letter, Engineering Reports (ERs), Work Deferral Requests (WDRs), Departures from Specification (DFS), and Liaison Action Requests (LAR).

Assist with the development and implementation of programmatic documentation including ship and systems specifications, performance specifications, interface control documentation, and design decision documentation.

Provide subject matter expertise with managing programmatic, technical, administrative and support activities required to develop and execute the VIRGINIA Block V functions.

Provide subject matter expertise in the development of technology roadmaps and processes to support Block Upgrades.

Review technical correspondence from EB, adjudicating comments, and providing official PMS 450 responses.

Review technical data packages, drawings, reports, logistics products, training materials, and provide technical recommendations.

Work with other PMS 450 positions to include other SITs, SDMs, DSDMs, MAITs, and NAVSEA Technical Warrant Holders (TWH), including electrical.

Deliver formal presentations of engineering issues and concerns to the PMS 450 Program Manager and other senior officials on complex issues.

Develop close working relationships with technical warrant holders, subject matter experts, systems engineering specialists, ship designers, and fabrication trades to develop cost-effective systems and designs that meet requirements.

Review technical products, determine stakeholders, come through comment resolution on technical products, write letters to codify direction back to our contractor.

Develop solutions to a variety of controversial problems; anticipate future trends; and investigate application of new technology or approaches.

This position requires resolution of a wide variety of technical challenges in a fast-paced environment.

Use your expertise and knowledge of submarine design, Navy specifications, welding, fasteners, materials, mechanical equipment, and general methods of manufacturing in performing technical evaluations.

Architects are expected to evaluate and resolve system and component related questions and problems from Naval Shipyards, perform system analysis, perform cost/benefit analysis, perform engineering studies and calculations, resolve obsolescence issues and updated provisioning documents, develop ship alterations, maintain fluid system diagrams and construction drawings, and updated operating instructions.

Architects will also support project engineers overseeing all aspects of engineering tasks including overall technical quality, working in a team environment, maintaining schedules, awareness of budgets, and interfacing with other engineering and design disciplines. Selected candidates will be expected to effectively communicate with NAVSEA, prime contractors, Naval shipyards, and equipment vendors.

Responsible for maintaining respective system diagrams and system descriptions/supporting calculations.

Responsible for supporting and sometimes leading cross discipline teams of engineers and designers to execute tasks as assigned by the program manager. Interface with many stakeholder both internal and external to PMS450 and will be responsible for day-to-day project management and engineering activities such as working with Subject Matter Expert (SME) leads to develop and execute technical project plans, estimating schedules and costs, tracking progress, coordinating resolution of technical issues, and identifying risks and concerns to the program manager.

Research, plan, design, and develop mechanical products and systems such as instruments, controls, robots, engines, machines and mechanical, thermal hydraulic or heat transfer systems for production, transmission, measurement, and use of energy. Apply research to the planning, design, development, and testing of mechanical and/or electromechanical systems, instruments, controls, engines, and/or machines.

Responsible for maintaining respective system diagrams and system descriptions/supporting calculations.

Responsible for new construction test specifications and SMITE test/trial specifications.

Interface with resolving construction related issues mainly in SMITE in preparation for first of class trials.

Technical supplier management in partnership with supply chain.

Technical correspondence (internal and external) by Inquiry Forms.

Change management via Enterprise Change Request.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

An Active DoW Secret security clearance.

A Bachelor’s degree with minimum 8 years of professional experience in the marine industry.

Leading a team of Naval Architects, a strong background in Naval Architecture principles, with the experience to apply these principles in a practical and dynamic way within a design environment.

You will be competent in fundamental Naval Architecture tasks such as hull design, stability calculation, weight calculation, performance prediction, model testing, seakeeping analysis, tank plan development and arrangement drawings.

Ideally you will possess advanced level skills in 2D/3D CAD (AutoCAD), and other specialist software skills such as with Maxsurf would be an advantage to produce and review design information.

You will produce clear and well-presented drawings and plans to a suitable quality and standard. A high degree of initiative and self-drive is essential for this rewarding role, ensuring that agreed targets and deliverable deadlines can be met.

You will have experience in Project Management and in the supervision and management of project teams. Experience in guiding and supporting colleagues, including checking that work is in accordance with the appropriate standards.

You will also have excellent interpersonal and presentation skills with the ability to communicate directly with our customers, stakeholders and project teams.

Ability to facilitate and coordinate efforts with key government and non-government stakeholders.

Ability to work with minimal supervision.

Demonstrates strong quantitative, analytical and conceptual thinking skills.

Must work well within a time sensitive environment.

Capacity to act as the technical owner for complex components and assemblies, including stakeholder engagement, requirements definition, roadmap management, team co-ordination, design, implementation, sustainment and evolution.

Capacity to learn and grow individually, while mentoring junior team members effectively, building team cohesion and capacity.

Excellent written and oral communications skills.

Experience with submarine designs, including engineering related to R&D, T&E, and systems acquisition programs for Navy shipbuilding and defense systems.

Experience working in a multi-disciplinary team consisting of systems engineers, electrical and electronics engineers, acquisition professionals, and logistics and sustainment professionals to achieve program outcomes.

Ability to analyze mechanical designs through review of design artifacts.

Ability to use Microsoft Office packages effectively.

Experience as a project manager.

Ability to be flexible both in relation to job-specification and schedules.

Ability to solve problems.

Demonstrate the ability to interact with senior management on complex technical issues.

Ability to work both in a team environment and independently, and often under short, multiple deadlines.

Ability to be a team player, work well with others and contribute positively to work/team environment while continually seeking ways to enhance contribution to the team.

Ability to travel up to 10% of the time and some travel outside the DC area may be required.

Additional desired experience and skills:

Experience with relevant codes of practice and Classification Society rules and practical experience in vessel construction is desirable.

Technical knowledge of SUBSAFE program.

Submarine experience is a plus.

U.S. Navy experience in the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program is highly desirable.

Proficient with Microsoft Office platforms. Knowledge of Matlab and Simulink modeling is desired.

Experience working in DoW or DoN environments is preferred.

Experience supporting a submarine acquisition program.

Excellent written and oral communication skills are required to interface with customers.

Applicants should be highly motivated and well organized with strong project management skills and should be capable of working independently and in a team environment.

Support in providing engineering manager support for Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Department preferred.

Experience in leading and engaging