What is required?A degree (HBO/WO) in Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.At least five years of experience in naval architecture, with a focus on conceptual and basic design.Strong understanding of ship design principles, including stability, strength, resistance, and motion behaviour.Experience with feasibility studies, investment cost assessment, and performance evaluations of ship designs.Hands-on approach to conceptual design and initial engineering work.Ability to lead and motivate a team, providing technical guidance and coaching to junior, medior and senior engineers.Proactive and structured way of working, with a keen eye for both technical feasibility and commercial viability.You have a good command of Dutch language, both spoken and written, and have strong communication skills in English, both written and verbal;Ability to work independently and take initiative.Experience with external design agencies and classification societies is a plus.Living in the Netherlands.What will you get?25 days of leave per year plus 13 days ADV based on full time employment.Professional development opportunities.Hybrid working options.Company laptop.Pension allowance in accordance with the Dutch law.International working environment.Frequently company organized trips, drinks, and festivities.As a Lead Naval Architect, you will play a key role in shaping vessel designs, driving innovation, and ensuring feasibility from concept to execution. Whether developing new floating assets, modifying existing ships, or optimizing current designs, you thrive in tackling complex engineering challenges. You understand what makes a ship perform—stability, strength, resistance, motion behaviour and use this knowledge to develop a strategic project approach, focusing on the right aspect in the right moment to ensure the effective development of the design in line with the clients needs and wishes. You will lead conceptual and basic design efforts, assessing feasibility, investment costs, and performance early in the process. Your hands-on approach allows you to develop initial design concepts yourself while also guiding a team of naval architects. You will work closely with other disciplines—structural, mechanical, and hydrodynamic engineers—to create integrated designs that meet technical and commercial goals. As the primary point of contact for clients, suppliers, and internal stakeholders, you ensure transparent communication throughout the design, production, and commissioning phases. You will also oversee external design agencies when needed, making sure project objectives are met efficiently. Your role offers an exciting opportunity to work on cutting-edge offshore and commercial vessel projects. You’ll be part of a dynamic team where innovation and problem-solving drive success. With international collaboration and challenging projects ahead, you’ll have the chance to make a lasting impact in the maritime industry.About our client The client is an independent ship design and engineering company that operates worldwide, boasting a global team of dedicated engineers, R&D consultants, supervisors, and project managers. They co-create designs with numerous clients globally, incorporating their knowledge, skills, innovation, and ingenuity into each design. They have a strong track record of projects in various industries, with a focus on dredging, offshore, passenger vessels, yachts, and commercial vessels for both national and international clients. The dedicated Research and Development team consistently seeks new ways to improve and innovate designs and creation processes, focusing on alternative energy sources, autonomous shipping, and data science.