Lead Piping Designer

Department: Engineering
Position Type: Full-Time
Industry: Shipbuilding / Marine Engineering

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Lead Piping Designer to lead the design and development of piping systems for vessel new construction, repair, and modification projects.

This position is responsible for ensuring piping arrangements, drawings, models, spool drawings, and production packages are accurate, constructible, and consistent with engineering design intent. The Lead Piping Designer will work closely with engineering, production, and other design disciplines to resolve design issues and deliver production-ready piping packages that support efficient shipyard construction.

The ideal candidate brings extensive marine piping design experience, strong knowledge of shipyard fabrication and installation practices, and advanced proficiency with ShipConstructor, AutoCAD, and Navisworks.

Key Responsibilities

Piping Design & Development

• Lead the development of detailed piping designs for vessel construction, repair, and modification projects.

• Develop and review piping arrangements, system layouts, spool drawings, and related production details.

• Translate engineering requirements and system design intent into accurate, buildable production drawings.

• Design and coordinate piping connections, routing, supports, equipment interfaces, and associated components.

• Ensure piping layouts account for accessibility, maintainability, installation requirements, and shipyard constructability.

• Review designs for interferences and coordinate required changes before release to production.

• Incorporate field changes and design revisions into drawings and models as required.

Production Packages & Drawing Control

• Develop, review, and validate piping production packages prior to release.

• Perform drawing checks for accuracy, completeness, constructability, and consistency with project requirements.

• Support red-line and back-fix processes to maintain accurate design documentation.

• Incorporate production and field feedback into drawings and 3D models.

• Maintain accurate drawing revisions and support development of final as-built documentation.

• Ensure production packages provide sufficient information for fabrication and installation teams.

3D Modeling & Design Coordination

• Develop and review piping designs using ShipConstructor, AutoCAD, and Navisworks.

• Coordinate piping systems within the overall vessel 3D model.

• Identify and resolve clashes involving piping, structure, machinery, HVAC, electrical, and other shipboard systems.

• Work with other design disciplines to maintain proper clearances and system interfaces.

• Participate in design reviews and model coordination meetings.

Production & Shipyard Support

• Work closely with production supervisors, engineering personnel, and craft teams to resolve piping design and installation issues.

• Provide technical and design support during fabrication and vessel construction.

• Review field conditions and recommend practical solutions when design and production conditions differ.

• Support piping fabrication and installation based on established shipyard practices.

• Help minimize rework by identifying constructability concerns before drawings and production packages are released.

• Participate in field verification and ship checks as required.

Regulatory & Technical Compliance

• Ensure piping designs comply with applicable ABS and U.S. Coast Guard requirements, project specifications, and established marine standards.

• Apply shipbuilding best practices throughout the design and production documentation process.

• Review drawings and production information for technical accuracy and regulatory compliance.

• Coordinate with engineering personnel when regulatory or technical interpretation is required.

Leadership & Team Development

• Provide technical direction and guidance to piping designers and drafters.

• Review work produced by junior and intermediate designers.

• Mentor team members in marine piping design, ShipConstructor modeling, drawing development, and shipyard production practices.

• Assist with workload planning and prioritization to meet project schedules.

• Promote consistent design standards and efficient engineering practices across the piping design team.

Qualifications & Experience

• 10+ years of shipbuilding or marine piping design experience.

• Associate degree in Engineering Technology, Drafting/Design, or a related discipline preferred; equivalent relevant marine industry experience may be considered.

• Extensive knowledge of marine piping systems, piping connections, routing, layouts, fabrication, and installation practices.

• Advanced working knowledge of ShipConstructor.

• Strong proficiency with AutoCAD.

• Experience with Navisworks for model review and design coordination.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and check piping arrangements and spool drawings.

• Experience developing and validating shipyard production packages.

• Experience with red-line, back-fix, revision control, and as-built documentation processes.

• Strong understanding of shipyard fabrication methods and production workflows.

• Working knowledge of ABS and U.S. Coast Guard rules and regulations applicable to vessel piping systems.

• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, system diagrams, and production details.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.

• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor less-experienced designers.

Ideal Candidate

The strongest candidate will combine hands-on shipyard piping knowledge with advanced marine design capabilities. This person should understand not only how piping systems are designed in a 3D environment, but also how those designs translate into fabrication and installation aboard a vessel.

Experience working directly with production personnel to resolve routing conflicts, fabrication issues, field changes, and constructability concerns will be particularly valuable.

Physical & Work Requirements

This position operates within an active shipyard environment and may require work onboard vessels and within production areas.

• Ability to stand, walk, climb stairs and ladders, kneel, stoop, squat, and work in varying positions.

• Ability to access confined or restricted spaces aboard vessels.

• Ability to work at elevated heights when required.

• Ability to perform field verification and ship checks in active construction environments.

• Ability to carry tools or equipment required to perform assigned duties.

• Must meet applicable vision, color recognition, respiratory protection, and other job-related safety requirements.

• Must wear required PPE, which may include hard hat, safety glasses, steel-toe footwear, gloves, respiratory protection, fall protection, and other equipment based on the work environment.

• Work may be performed indoors, outdoors, onboard vessels, and within active fabrication and construction areas.

• Must follow all applicable environmental, health, and safety procedures.

Disclaimer

This job description describes the general responsibilities and requirements of the position and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties. Responsibilities may change based on project, operational, and business requirements.

. Skillset Required: Piping Design, Marine Piping Systems, Piping Arrangements, System Layouts, Spool Drawings, Production Packages, Piping Connections, Piping Routing, Piping Supports, Equipment Interfaces, Constructability Analysis, Interference Checking, Drawing Checks, Red-Line Processes, Back-Fix Processes, Revision Control, As-Built Documentation, 3D Modeling, 3D Coordination, ShipConstructor, AutoCAD, Navisworks, Model Review, Clash Detection, Design Coordination, Shipyard Fabrication Methods, Shipyard Installation Practices, Production Workflows, Shipyard Production Support, Technical Support, Field Verification, Ship Checks, ABS Regulations, U.S. Coast Guard Regulations, Marine Standards, Project Specifications, Shipbuilding Best Practices, Technical Direction, Team Leadership, Mentoring, Workload Planning, Prioritization, Microsoft Office, Excel, Word, Outlook, Organizational Skills, Communication Skills, Problem-Solving Skills, Engineering Drawing Interpretation, Specification Interpretation, System Diagram Interpretation, Production Detail Interpretation