Design Engineer

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At Damen Cargo Vessels, part of the international family business Damen Shipyards, we work every day on the future of the maritime sector.

From our headquarters in Gorinchem and our location in Drachten, we design and build Combi Freighters, Tankers, and Container Feeders for customers around the world.

Damen Shipyards has been around since 1927 and as a group builds approximately 200 ships of various types and sizes each year.

With more than 12,000 colleagues in over 100 countries, we work towards one common mission: creating sustainable, innovative, and reliable maritime solutions.

Our course is clear: sustainability, innovation, and efficiency. We invest in energy-efficient and environmentally friendly ships, develop new technologies, and digitize our processes to stay ahead. This way, we deliver not only high-quality products but also smart solutions that take our customers further.

Within Damen Cargo Vessels, we combine craftsmanship with serial production. Our standardized designs fit perfectly with current and future market needs—with an optimal balance between quality, price, and delivery time. The daily management of our projects is done by our teams in Gorinchem and Drachten, while the ships are built in our shipyards in China and Vietnam.

For more information about the different types of ships, click on the following link: Cargo Ships - Freighter Vessels: Design, Construction, Sale - Damen

Want to make an impact in an international, innovative, and forward-looking environment? At Damen Cargo Vessels, you will have the space to help build ships that go around the world—and to develop yourself.

Design Engineer

The role:

As a Design Engineer, you play a key role in the development of new ship designs during the concept phase and act as the technical liaison between Design and Operations. In this role, design choices are translated into buildable, efficient, and innovative solutions. The focus is on product development, sustainability, emission reduction, digitalization, and cost optimization.

Key responsibilities:

• Support in the concept development of new cargo ships (general cargo, container, and tanker designs)
• Managing and technically guiding internal and external design firms during the concept development
• Monitoring planning, costs, technical scope, and compliance with Damen design philosophy
• Substantiating and explaining design choices to Operations and participating in the concept design
• Contributing to (competitive) design sessions and risk assessments of new concepts
• Coordinating with Operations on buildability, engineering details, and construction strategy
• Ensuring consistent and high-quality input in the Design-to-Operations transfer
• Drafting the general plan and technical specifications
• Drafting cost estimates and risk analyses
• Consulting with various departments and external parties (including the operational department and subcontractors) to arrive at an accurate cost calculation

Skills & Experience:

• A completed technical higher professional education or university of applied sciences degree (e.g., Maritime Technology, Mechanical Engineering, or similar)
• Experience with the new construction of ships
• Strong analytical skills and a structured way of working
• Good communicative skills in Dutch and English

What we offer:

• A dynamic, international work environment with a focus on technology and innovation;
• A competitive salary;
• At least 40 days of leave per year;
• Profit sharing & pension contribution;
• Ongoing attention to professional and personal development through the Damen Academy.

Interested? We would love to read your CV and motivation.

Recruiter: Ankie van Hees

Email: ankie.van.hees@damen.com