Ship Design Director

Ship Design Director (Technical Design Authority)

Location: Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia

Salary: AUD $230,000 - $270,000 + Super

Relocation Opportunity for UK & Canadian Candidates

About the Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an accomplished maritime engineering leader to join a growing organisation within the maritime and defence sector as Ship Design Director (Technical Design Authority).

This senior leadership role will provide technical governance, engineering authority and design assurance across complex shipbuilding and maritime programmes, ensuring the delivery of safe, compliant and innovative engineering solutions. Reporting into senior leadership, you will influence key technical decisions, drive engineering excellence and play a critical role in shaping future programme delivery.

For candidates based in the UK or Canada, this presents an exceptional opportunity to combine career progression with a coastal Australian lifestyle, working on high-profile maritime and defence projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the Technical Design Authority across major shipbuilding and maritime programmes.
• Lead engineering governance, design assurance and technical approval activities.
• Provide expert guidance across naval architecture, marine engineering and systems integration.
• Oversee multidisciplinary engineering teams and technical delegation frameworks.
• Ensure compliance with contractual, regulatory, quality and safety requirements.
• Interface with customers, regulators, classification societies and key stakeholders.
• Drive innovation, continuous improvement and technical excellence across the engineering function.
• Support business growth through strategic technical leadership.

About You

• Degree-qualified Engineer with Chartered status or equivalent professional standing.
• Extensive experience within shipbuilding, naval architecture, maritime engineering or defence programmes.
• Proven experience leading engineering teams, technical governance and design assurance activities.
• Strong understanding of maritime regulations, engineering standards and project delivery.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, leadership and communication skills.

What's on Offer

• AUD $230,000 - $270,000 + Super.
• Opportunity to lead complex maritime and defence programmes.
• Strategic leadership position with significant influence across the business.
• Relocation support available for exceptional candidates.
• Coastal lifestyle in Port Macquarie, one of Australia's most desirable regional locations.

If you are based in the UK or Canada and are considering a move to Australia, I'd welcome a confidential discussion about this opportunity.

To find out more, please send your CV or contact me directly.