Mid-Level Naval Architect

Locations: West Bethesda, MD. This position is eligible for a $500 ZelTech Non-Employee Referral fee. Contact ZelTech Recruiters for questions concerning this matter. Join Our Talent Community to Stay Connected!

Job Summary

ZelTech is seeking a Naval Architect to support the design, analysis, and integration of manned and unmanned maritime vessels, including unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs)with a focus on hull form development, hydrostatics, seakeeping, and structural assessment. The ideal candidate will apply naval architecture principles and modeling tools to contribute to the engineering lifecycle from concept development through testing and delivery.

Responsibilities

• Support the design and analysis of marine hull forms, including development of geometry, weights, and hydrostatic properties.
• Conduct hydrodynamic and seakeeping analyses to evaluate vessel stability and performance.
• Assist in structural analysis and survivability assessments for maritime platforms.
• Support CFD simulations, model testing efforts, and correlation of results with physical trials.
• Prepare and maintain design documentation, including drawings, technical reports, and compliance packages.
• Contributes to the development of technical documents such as stability reports, hull drawings, and system integration data.
• Use modern naval architecture tools to support design validation and ensure compliance with ABS, USCG, NAVSEA, and other relevant standards.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams (mechanical, systems, software, electrical) throughout the system development lifecycle.

Requirements

• Must be a US citizen.
• BA, in Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, Ocean Engineering, or a closely related engineering field.
• Must have an active SECRET clearance.
• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in naval architecture, ship design, or marine engineering.
• Proficiency with key naval architecture tools such as Rhino, Orca3D, GHS, NAPA, and familiarity with AutoCAD or Ship Constructor.
• Demonstrated understanding of structural principles, hydrostatics, and seakeeping.
• Strong communication and technical writing skills with the ability to support the preparation of engineering documentation and reports.
• Successful background and drug screening check.

Preferred Requirements

• Familiarity with modeling and simulation (M&S) techniques, CFD tools (e.g., Star-CCM+, OpenFOAM), or Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools like Cameo or SysML.
• Experience working in collaborative engineering environments and participating in technical design reviews.
• Pursuit of or eligibility for Professional Engineer (PE) licensure.

Physical Demands or Work Environment

The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The majority of the time is spent in an office setting. Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance, vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus.

About ZelTech

Founded in 1988 by Ret. Col. Jack L. Ezzell Jr., Zel Technologies is a trusted leader in national security, providing comprehensive research, development, engineering, and operational support to the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, and federal agencies. Originally focused on leveraging operational and software expertise to improve time-critical targeting capabilities for the military, the company advanced its capabilities