Contract Structural Design Engineer

Hourly – Circa £45 DOE (£35 to £50)
Contract Term – 3 months
Hours – 40
Location – Southampton, Hampshire (Hybrid)

Our client is a long-established and highly respected British manufacturer specialising in the design and production of advanced marine vessels. With over half a century of engineering heritage, they serve both the commercial and defence sectors globally, delivering cutting-edge solutions for maritime border security, riverine operations, and high-speed transport.

As a Contract Structural Design Engineer, you will use SolidWorks to create and validate structural designs for marine projects, ensuring compliance with naval architecture standards. You will collaborate with teams to deliver high-quality, safe, and efficient structural solutions for various vessel designs.

Responsibilities:

• Design and develop structural components and assemblies for marine vessels, ensuring compliance with naval architecture principles and classification society standards (e.g. Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS)
• Create 3D models and detailed 2D drawings using SolidWorks, including General Arrangements (GAs), structural layouts, and fabrication details
• Conduct structural analysis and validation of designs using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and SolidWorks Simulation tools, either within SolidWorks or alongside it
• Support the design of hull structures, bulkheads, decks, superstructures, and equipment mounting points, focusing on strength, weight, and durability
• Interpret technical specifications, client requirements, and regulatory guidelines to inform design and material selection
• Collaborate with naval architects, systems engineers, and production teams to ensure design intent is preserved through to fabrication and assembly
• Review and revise designs based on feedback from simulation, testing, or production, ensuring timely implementation of changes
• Maintain documentation, including drawings, material lists, calculations, and design change records, in accordance with project and ISO quality requirements

Experiences required:

• Proficient in 3D modelling, creating assemblies and sub-assemblies with SolidWorks
• Extensive experience in developing structural components and assemblies for marine vessels
• A background in marine (preferred) or a similar industry
• Able to use FEA tools (e.g. SolidWorks Simulation, Abaqus, Ansys) to interpret and modify SolidWorks drawings in line with results