Lead Naval Architect – Whiplash Platform

Valkenburg, South Holland (near Leiden), Netherlands

The Role

At Surge Marine, we are engineering platforms that operate in some of the most unforgiving environments on the planet. We are looking for a Lead Naval Architect to drive the hull form, structural integrity, and hydrodynamic dominance of our high-speed autonomous interceptor, the Whiplash platform.

The Mission

· Hull & Hydrodynamic Ownership: Serve as the absolute authority on the unit naval architecture. Define the lines, stability parameters, and hydrodynamic performance to ensure the Whiplash platform can maintain extreme speeds in high sea states without catastrophic slamming or loss of control.

· Structural Integrity & Shock Mitigation: Design a hull capable of surviving extreme dynamic loads. You will own the structural architecture, ensuring the platform can withstand the brutal shock and vibration of high-speed interception while protecting sensitive autonomous payloads.

· Weight & Center of Gravity (CoG) Authority: Own the mass and CoG budgets with absolute authority. In a high-speed platform, weight is the enemy. You will ruthlessly manage the weight estimate across all competing engineering sub-teams.

· Complex Systems Integration: Lead the physical integration of propulsion systems (including waterjets and high-voltage architectures) and sensor payloads into a tightly constrained, hydrodynamically optimized physical envelope.

· Tank Testing to Sea Trials: You will plan and oversee towing tank tests, scale-model validation, and ultimately the full-scale saltwater sea trials of the Whiplash platform.

Who You Are

You are a systems-level thinker who understands that a high-speed vessel is a tightly coupled physical system where every ounce, every contour, and every composite layup matters. You have battle scars from pushing complex, high-performance marine craft from the whiteboard to the water.

The Essentials:

· Naval Architecture Experience: A proven track record of leading the complete physical design cycle of high-speed, high-performance maritime craft (e.g., fast attack interceptors, offshore racing vessels, or advanced autonomous surface vessels).

· Practical Experience: You have yard experience. You understand assembly, structural integration, and have operational sea-trial experience. You know how to build what you design.

· Technical Background: Degree in Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, Ship Science, or a closely related field.

· Dynamic Mastery: Demonstrated experience strictly managing weight, CoG, and structural load limits. Deep knowledge of advanced composite or lightweight alloy structures under dynamic marine loads.

· Nationality: Due to defense contract requirements, Dutch or NATO-country nationality and security clearance eligibility are mandatory. Candidates outside will not be considered.

The Surge Offer

We offer the chance to lead the physical development of a platform that redefines maritime defense capability.

· Competitive Salary: Commensurate with the massive responsibility of owning the vehicle architecture.

· Equity/Options: A direct stake in the hardware you are bringing to life.

· On-site Hub: Based at our Valkenburg facility, where the design office sits directly adjacent to the prototyping floor.

· Real Authority: You own the technical budgets. We trust you to make the calls that shape the vessel.