Principal Submarine Naval Architect- Washington, DC

About the Role

Serco is seeking a Principal Naval Architect to support 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. This position provides technical and programmatic support for the acquisition of nuclear-powered attack submarines, including R&D, design, construction, test and evaluation, and fleet introduction. The role involves design, construction, maintenance, and repair of submarines, with focus on hull form, stability, weight, hydrostatics, and integration of complex systems. You will work closely with NAVSEA 05P3, naval shipyards, Electric Boat, and other stakeholders to ensure submarines meet performance, safety, and affordability goals.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop submarines by creating initial design and layout, considering stability, strength, weight, and performance in marine conditions using complex mathematical models and CAD software.
• Modify and upgrade existing submarine designs to improve performance, safety, or adapt to new missions.
• Oversee construction and maintenance, conducting inspections and tests to ensure continued safety and performance.
• Manage weights, hydrostatics, stability, equilibrium, tank capacities, mass moments of inertia calculations, reballast proposals, inclining experiments, trim dive reports, and other naval architecture documents (Ship Specifications, SSMs, OIs, CPs, TPs, Maintenance Manuals).
• Participate in all design phases: feasibility, delivery, conversion, and overhaul.
• Verify technical requirements are met and stakeholders agree on acceptable risk levels for successful build and delivery.
• Review shipyard weight reports, hydrostatics, tank capacities, module weights, mount/deck loadings, system descriptions/diagrams, stability (GM&BG) predictions, attend weight audit meetings, track weight and margin trends, and review inclining experiments, trim dive reports, and reballast proposals.
• Review variable ballast requirements for Special Operations missions.
• Assess TempAlt and ShipAlt impacts, Undersea Dominance (UD) payload integration, and field questions such as arctic transit loading, reserve buoyancy, and navigational draft.
• Support NAVSEA 05P3 as the Naval Architecture System Integration Team (SIT), interacting with two naval shipyards and Electric Boat on weight, stability, ballasting, equilibrium, tank capacities, and hydrostatics.
• Review Ship Systems Manuals, Operating Instructions, Casualty Procedures, Maintenance Manuals, and Test Procedures; recommend approval of reballast proposals; review inclining experiment and trim dive reports.
• Perform Mass Moment of Inertia/Gyradius studies when required.
• Support NAVSEA weight control efforts.
• Utilize ASSET/MONOLA ship synthesis design program extensively.
• Provide expert responses to technical assistance requests via letters, Engineering Reports (ERs), Work Deferral Requests (WDRs), Departures from Specification (DFS), and Liaison Action Requests (LAR).
• Assist with development and implementation of programmatic documentation including ship and systems specifications, performance specifications, interface control documentation, and design decision documentation.
• Provide subject matter expertise for VIRGINIA Block V functions and technology roadmaps for Block Upgrades.
• Review technical correspondence from Electric Boat, adjudicate comments, and provide official PMS 450 responses.
• Review technical data packages, drawings, reports, logistics products, and training materials; provide technical recommendations.
• Collaborate with PMS 450 positions including other SITs, SDMs, DSDMs, MAITs, and NAVSEA Technical Warrant Holders (electrical and other disciplines).
• Deliver formal presentations of engineering issues to the PMS 450 Program Manager and senior officials.
• Develop working relationships with technical warrant holders, SMEs, systems engineers, ship designers, and fabrication trades to develop cost-effective designs.
• Review technical products, identify stakeholders, manage comment resolution, and write letters codifying direction to contractors.
• Develop solutions to controversial problems, anticipate future trends, and investigate new technology applications.
• Resolve technical challenges in a fast-paced environment using expertise in submarine design, Navy specifications, welding, fasteners, materials, mechanical equipment, and manufacturing methods.
• Evaluate and resolve system/component questions from naval shipyards; perform system analysis, cost/benefit analysis, engineering studies, and calculations; resolve obsolescence and update provisioning documents; develop ship alterations; maintain fluid system diagrams, construction drawings, and operating instructions.
• Support project engineers overseeing technical quality, team coordination, schedules, budgets, and cross-discipline interfaces.
• Communicate effectively with NAVSEA, prime contractors, naval shipyards, and equipment vendors.
• Maintain system diagrams, system descriptions, and supporting calculations.
• Support and lead cross-discipline engineering teams; manage day-to-day project activities including technical project plans, schedule/cost estimation, progress tracking, technical issue resolution, and risk identification.
• Research, plan, design, and develop mechanical products and systems (instruments, controls, engines, machines, thermal/hydraulic/heat transfer systems) for energy production, transmission, measurement, and use.
• Apply research to planning, design, development, and testing of mechanical and electromechanical systems.
• Develop new construction test specifications and SMITE test/trial specifications.
• Interface on construction-related issues, primarily SMITE, in preparation for first-of-class trials.
• Perform technical supplier management in partnership with supply chain.
• Manage technical correspondence (internal and external) via Inquiry Forms.
• Execute change management via Enterprise Change Requests.

Requirements

• Active U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Secret security clearance (referred to as DoW Secret in posting).
• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 8 years of professional experience in the marine industry.
• Experience leading a team of Naval Architects.
• Strong background in Naval Architecture principles with practical application in a design environment.
• Competence in fundamental Naval Architecture tasks: hull design, stability calculation, weight calculation, performance prediction, model testing, seakeeping analysis, tank plan development, and arrangement drawings.
• Experience in project management and supervision/management of project teams.
• Experience guiding and supporting junior engineers and designers.
• High degree of initiative and self-drive to meet agreed targets and deliverable deadlines.

Skills

• Advanced proficiency in 2D/3D CAD (AutoCAD); specialist software such as Maxsurf a plus.
• Extensive experience with ASSET/MONOLA ship synthesis design program.
• Ability to produce clear, well-presented drawings and plans to professional standards.
• Expertise in weight control, stability analysis, hydrostatics, ballasting, and equilibrium calculations.
• Familiarity with Navy documentation: Ship Specifications, SSMs, OIs, CPs, TPs, Maintenance Manuals.
• Knowledge of submarine construction, shipyard processes, and Electric Boat design practices.
• Strong technical writing and presentation skills for senior leadership and cross-functional audiences.