Senior Ship Control & Automation Engineer

Navantia UK is a new force in British industry, supporting the UK’s defence, energy and maritime ambitions. We’re doing this by creating state-of-the-art sovereign defence capabilities, investing in the UK to modernise industrial facilities, and bolstering the nation's energy security. Established in 2022, Navantia UK is a subsidiary of Navantia SA, a Spanish state-owned company with over 300 years of naval shipbuilding history.

In January 2025, Navantia UK completed the acquisition of Harland & Wolff and its four historic facilities in Belfast, Appledore, Methil, and Arnish. By combining Harland & Wolff’s proud heritage and facilities with Navantia’s global expertise, Navantia UK is well-positioned to strengthen Britain’s defence, maritime and energy industrial capabilities, supporting jobs and economic growth across the UK.

⚓ Senior Ship Control & Automation Engineer

📍 Bristol, UK | Navantia UK

• 🕒 Full-time | Part-time considered | Hybrid working
• Drive the intelligence behind the next generation of digital naval ships.
• Navantia UK is seeking an experienced Senior Ship Control & Automation Engineer to lead the definition, integration and assurance of automation, control and ship systems monitoring across major naval and maritime programmes.
• This is a pivotal system‑level role, sitting at the centre of platform architecture and digital engineering — ensuring coherence between ship design, automation suppliers and advanced simulation environments.
• As part of the global Navantia Group, you’ll help specify and integrate novel technologies that reduce crewing, increase availability, and enable highly automated vessels of the future.
• ⚙️ What you’ll be doing
• Developing the Control & Instrumentation (C&I) and automation strategy aligned to platform and performance goals
• Defining and owning automation architectures, standards, specifications and functional descriptions
• Acting as the technical interface between design teams and automation / platform management system suppliers
• Managing supplier deliverables, interfaces, reviews, hazard analysis and FMEAs
• Leading development of I/O lists with full traceability to requirements, P&IDs, networks and equipment
• Supporting systems engineering activities, including requirements management, verification and configuration control
• Contributing to digital twins and system simulation, including signal mapping and behavioural modelling
• Providing technical leadership, mentoring junior engineers and embedding best practice

What we’re looking for

Essential

• Strong background in Control & Instrumentation, automation and platform management systems
• Experience specifying, integrating and assuring complex control and monitoring systems
• Proven interface management with automation and autonomy system suppliers
• Knowledge of marine systems (defence experience desirable)
• Understanding of UK defence software integrity and cyber security standards
• Degree in Control Engineering, Systems Engineering or equivalent
• Excellent leadership, communication and systems thinking capability

Desirable

Experience with MBSE tools, system modelling or digital twins

Chartered Engineer or working towards chartership

🔐 BPSS clearance required (SC for some roles)

🌍 Why join Navantia UK?

Competitive salary and benefits

Hybrid working (minimum 3 days on site, project dependent)

A senior, influential role shaping ship automation strategy

The opportunity to work on cutting‑edge naval and maritime programmes

A collaborative, inclusive culture where expertise genuinely matters

📩 Interested?

Apply with your CV (and cover letter if you wish) and help define the future of intelligent naval platforms.

Navantia UK is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

We are an Opening Doors employer, committed to equal opportunity and an inclusive workplace. Our approach, shaped by our values of service, trust, excellence, agility, dedication, and you, we focus on removing barriers and recognising potential. We are committed to fairness at every stage, including providing reasonable adjustments and actively working to eliminate discrimination.

We believe talent is everywhere, and by widening access to opportunity and welcoming diverse experiences, we aim to create a workplace where every person feels valued and has an equal chance.

If you experience difficulties or are unable to apply for a role on-line please contact us at [email protected] and one of the team will be in contact to help you.