Senior Naval Architect

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles, Maritime Robotics

Salary: Competitive + equity + relocation support

Airbotics Talent are partnered with a well-funded European maritime robotics company developing a new generation of advanced autonomous underwater systems.

We are looking for a Senior Naval Architect to take technical ownership of the naval architecture and physical performance of an autonomous underwater vehicle, from initial concept through prototype development, integration and sea trials.

Based in Brittany, this is an opportunity to shape an entirely new underwater platform, working alongside a multidisciplinary team of naval, mechanical, electronics, software and autonomy engineers.

This is a deeply hands‑on engineering position, offering genuine responsibility for the design and performance of the complete craft rather than an individual subsystem.

The Role

You will take ownership of the vessel's naval architecture, including:

• Defining and optimising the overall hull form, vessel configuration and hydrodynamic performance.
• Leading hydrostatic analysis covering buoyancy, stability, trim, displacement, ballast and weight distribution.
• Conducting CFD and hydrodynamic simulations to optimise drag, efficiency, manoeuvrability and underwater performance.
• Designing and validating hull structures and pressure‑resistant components, including structural analysis and FEA.
• Owning vessel level mass, volume and buoyancy budgets, balancing structural, propulsion, payload and endurance requirements.
• Working closely with mechanical, propulsion and control engineers to integrate systems into a complete, high‑performing underwater craft.
• Taking designs from CAD and simulation through prototyping, physical testing and sea trials, using real‑world data to refine performance.
• Supporting the transition from prototype development towards repeatable manufacturing and production.

You will be the technical reference point for naval architecture, making the critical engineering trade‑offs that determine how the complete underwater vehicle performs.

The Person

We are interested in experienced Naval Architects, Senior/Lead Naval Engineers and Hydrodynamics Engineers with strong hands on design and simulation expertise.

You are likely to bring:

• 7+ years of experience in naval architecture, submarine design, underwater vehicles or closely related marine engineering.
• Strong understanding of hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, hull design, stability and vessel performance.
• Practical experience with CFD, structural analysis/FEA and relevant naval architecture or CAD tools.
• Experience designing and developing marine structures, ideally including pressure‑resistant hulls or submerged systems.
• A track record of taking vessel designs from concept through engineering development, integration and physical testing.
• The ability to take technical ownership, solve complex engineering challenges and work effectively across disciplines.

Experience with submarines, submersibles, AUVs, UUVs or other underwater platforms would be particularly valuable.

We will also consider naval architects from other vessel programmes who can demonstrate strong transferable expertise in hull design, hydrodynamics and whole craft engineering.

Why Join?

• Own the naval architecture of an entire autonomous underwater vehicle, not just an individual component.
• Shape a new platform from first principles, with significant influence over its design and performance.
• Tackle demanding engineering challenges involving hydrodynamics, underwater stability, pressure resistance and propulsion integration.
• Remain hands on from initial design and simulation through prototype development and sea trials.
• Join a well‑funded European deep‑tech company at an exciting stage of growth, with competitive compensation and equity participation.

Location

The position is based in Brittany, France, accessible to candidates around Brest, Lorient, Quiberon, Lanester and the wider region.

The role involves collaboration with engineering teams in Paris and travel for integration and sea trials. Relocation support is available.

Airbotics Talent are committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunities. All candidates are assessed solely on suitability for our clients' requirements without regard to age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, medical history or marital status.