Sr. Principal CONFORM Naval Architect

The Sr. Principal CONFORM Naval Architect is a key member of the Concept Formulation (CONFORM) team within the Strategic Development organization. The CONFORM team will develop ship capability insertion/upgrade concepts, new capability concepts, and new ship concepts to address Navy capability gaps. Working independently, as part of a small team, or leading a matrixed team of engineers, this experienced engineering leader and innovator will execute CONFORM projects for BIW. Operating under the BIW Business Operating System (BOS), the Sr. Principal CONFORM Naval Architect will ensure compliance with safety, quality, and performance standards while coordinating with other key stakeholders to meet overall milestones.

Key Responsibilities

Safety Leadership:

• Ensure safe execution of assigned duties and ensure design for safety is a key principal considered in design concepts.

Project Execution:

• Develop ship capability insertion/upgrade concepts, new capability concepts, and new ship concepts to address Navy capability gaps.
• Collaborate with BIW Program Management teams to introduce forward-fit/back-fit concepts for existing programs and support certain special studies.
• Engage with Navy customer to introduce and refine concepts to address Navy capability gaps.
• Lead efforts to capture funded R&D projects, such as ONR and DARPA.
• Technical and programmatic customer and partner engagement.
• Travel as necessary to engage with customers and partners.

CONFORM Management:

• When required to execute larger scope concept development projects, this position will lead and manage CONFORM teams comprised of internally matrixed personnel and external partners.

Team Collaboration and Communication:

• This position requires the ability to collaborate internally across BIW and the broader General Dynamics companies, with external partners, and with the Navy and Department of War Customers (e.g. NAVSEA, ONR, DARPA, NSWC, etc.).
• This position must be able to effectively communicate complex technical topics to both technical peers and to senior level leadership within BIW, GD, the Navy, partners and other external parties.

Continuous Improvement:

• Innovation is the core responsibility of this role.
• Must be able to assess a broad range of inputs, understand and identify Navy capability gaps, and then develop concepts to address those gaps ranging from modest changes to existing ships to completely novel ship concepts.

• Bachelor Degree in Naval Architecture required.
• Master’s degree preferred. 

• Sr. Principal Level - 15 years, or more, of relevant experience required.
• Experience in concept formulation (CONFORM) and early stage naval ship design required.
• Demonstrated ability to develop initial concept designs independently, working in small teams and as the leader of small technical teams required.
• Business development experience required.
• Program/project management experience managing early stage ship design required.
• Deep understanding of naval combatants, ship design and shipbuilding required.
• Experience with unmanned surface vessel design strongly preferred.
• Naval shipbuilding experience strongly preferred.
• Thorough knowledge of engineering tools and methods relating to Naval Architecture required.
• Proficiency with computers and various Naval Architectural software packages such as: SHIPFLOW, Rhino3D & RhinoMarine, GHS, NAVCAD, SHCP, GHS, SMP, and RSDE (or other ship design synthesis tools); and the Microsoft Office Suite of tools required.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills required.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.

• This position requires you to be able to obtain a government security clearance.  You must be a US Citizen for consideration and you must be able to obtain an interim security clearance within the first 45 days of hire.  For more information regarding the security clearance process, please visit Investigations & Clearance Process (dcsa.mil)