Senior / Principal Maritime Engineer

At HR Wallingford, we design smart, resilient solutions across the natural and built environments to help everyone live and work more sustainably with water. By harnessing research, data insights and the power of our collective expertise, we help the world to better understand the changing influence and impact of water.

Senior / Principal Maritime Engineer

Location: Houston, Texas, USA (on site with flexibility)

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About HR Wallingford

At HR Wallingford, we design smart, resilient solutions that help communities, industries, and ecosystems live and work more sustainably with water. Our global teams combine research excellence, data‑driven insight, and deep technical expertise to help organizations understand and respond to the changing influence and impact of water.

Our Maritime and Ships Division is at the center of our maritime consulting work. We apply world‑renowned, state‑of‑the‑art technologies to tackle complex challenges across ports, waterways, and marine environments worldwide.

We are expanding our presence in North America and are seeking a Senior or Principal Maritime Engineer to join our Houston‑based team.

Role Overview

In this leadership role, you will guide and support ship navigation and mooring consultancy projects for clients across the U.S. and internationally. You will coordinate ship navigation simulation and mooring studies using our advanced ship and tug simulators, helping clients enhance safety, operational efficiency, and port performance.

You will collaborate closely with multidisciplinary colleagues, engage with clients to understand their needs, and help develop tailored engineering solutions. You will also contribute to innovation through research and development activities and support business development as we grow our North American footprint.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to take on a visible, impactful role within a respected global maritime consultancy.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support ship navigation and mooring simulation studies using advanced simulator technology.


• Develop engineering analyses and recommendations to improve navigational safety and operational efficiency.


• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across the organization to deliver high‑quality project outcomes.


• Build and maintain strong, positive relationships with clients, stakeholders, and project partners.


• Contribute to research and development activities to advance our maritime engineering capabilities.


• Support business development by identifying opportunities, preparing proposals, and participating in client meetings.


• Represent HR Wallingford at client presentations, technical meetings, and industry events.


• Travel within the U.S. and internationally as project needs require.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, Ocean Engineering, or a closely related field.


• 5+ years of relevant experience for Senior‑level roles or 10+ years for Principal‑level roles. Equivalent experience gained through varied pathways is welcomed.


• Professional Engineer (PE) license, or the ability to obtain one within 6 months.


• Experience in ship navigation, ship mooring, and/or port development engineering or consultancy projects.


• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective client relationships.


• Ability to work independently while collaborating inclusively within multidisciplinary teams.


• Demonstrated problem‑solving and critical‑thinking abilities.


• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with federal agencies (e.g., USACE, DoD).


• Experience with programming languages such as Python.


• Experience in business development or client engagement activities.

What We Offer

• Competitive market‑aligned compensation.


• Comprehensive benefits package (medical, dental, vision, STD, LTD insurance and401K plan with company match).


• Paid time off and public holidays.


• Flexible working arrangements to support work–life balance.


• Opportunities for professional development and career growth.


• A supportive, collaborative culture within an international organization that values diversity, innovation, and sustainability.

Further information

• Download a full job description and person specification.


• The closing date for applications is 2 March 2026

How to apply

If you are excited about this role but unsure whether you’re the right fit, we encourage you to apply. We’re also happy to answer any questions by emailing [email protected]

Interested? Please apply providing your CV with covering letter. 

Additional information

Our privacy notice for job applicants, available from our website, explains how we collect and process the personal data you may provide us when you apply for a job with us through our websites, or by any other means. This notice also explains how we’ll store and handle that data and keep it.

HR Wallingford are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our workplace. We do not discriminate, and work to create an inclusive culture across our business.