Principal Design Engineer

Principal Design EngineerLocation: Southampton – hybrid, 3 days per week on-siteSalary: £70-75K+ (neg) plus excellent benefits package. More may be available for the right candidate.Relocation package and Visa/Sponsorship support available if required.
About the Opportunity Join a fast-growing maritime technology business developing wind-assisted propulsion systems that help reduce fuel consumption and emissions across global shipping.This is a hands-on opportunity for a Principal Design Engineer to join a growing engineering team, with broad involvement across the design lifecycle, from concept development through to detailed design and production-ready hardware.Working closely with the Head of Engineering, you will take ownership of key subsystems, helping to deliver designs that are robust, manufacturable, compliant, and ready for real-world use. This role would suit someone genuinely motivated by sustainability and the opportunity to contribute to cleaner shipping.
Key Requirements • Degree qualified in Naval, Mechanical, Structural, or Marine Engineering • Around 5-10 years’ experience designing marine structures approved by classification societies • Strong 3D CAD skills, ideally Siemens NX, Autodesk Inventor, or similar • Strong experience in structural analysis, including FEA and hand calculations • Proven experience translating load cases into robust design requirements and validated structures • Experience working directly with classification societies and supporting technical approval • Experience with DNV, LR, NK or similar bodies • Strong understanding of DFMA, structural integrity, and manufacturability • Solution-driven approach • Comfortable working in a fast-paced, chaotic environment
Role & Responsibilities • Lead the design and structural development of key product subsystems • Lead the mechanical design of subsystems in line with programme objectives • Own the development of wing geometry, balancing performance, structural integrity, and manufacturability • Develop and manage load cases across classification and real-world operating conditions • Translate load cases into clear design requirements • Define structural design philosophy and ensure compliance with classification standards • Perform and oversee structural analysis and design verification • Develop and improve in-house structural analysis tools and methods • Lead technical engagement with classification societies • Act as the internal authority for stress and fatigue analysis
Why Join?A rare opportunity to join a business developing real-world clean technology for the global shipping market.You will benefit from working on real climate-impact hardware, enjoying high levels of ownership within a small engineering team, gaining broad exposure from concept through to production, and having the opportunity to grow and progress as the technology scales.