The Senior Marine HVAC Design Engineer leads the design, engineering, and integration of shipboard HVAC systems for vessels and offshore platforms. This role is responsible for overseeing ducting, chilled water, heating, and ventilation systems from concept through construction, ensuring compliance with classification societies, thermal comfort, environmental control, and energy efficiency. The engineer will lead multi-disciplinary coordination, guide junior engineers, and serve as the technical authority for HVAC design.
Lead the design and development of HVAC systems, including ducting, chilled water piping, air distribution, and space conditioning strategies.
Perform advanced heat load and cooling load calculations, system sizing, and energy efficiency assessments for various ship compartments.
Prepare and approve detailed HVAC layout drawings, schematics, P&IDs, and system architecture diagrams.
Select and specify HVAC equipment (e.g., chillers, AHUs, fan coils, compressors, electric heaters, fans, filters) suitable for marine and offshore applications.
Ensure compliance with relevant marine classification standards (ABS, DNV, BV, USCG), fire safety codes (SOLAS), and environmental regulations (IMO).
Lead coordination with structural, piping, electrical, and automation teams to optimize equipment placement and duct/piping routing.
Supervise and mentor junior engineers and HVAC designers, reviewing work for accuracy and compliance.
Conduct design reviews, vendor evaluations, and technical clarifications, and support engineering approval processes.
Provide technical support during fabrication, shipyard installation, and commissioning phases, addressing RFI and redlines.
Develop and maintain HVAC design procedures, best practices, and documentation standards.
End-to-End HVAC System Design Leadership
– Lead high-integrity design of marine HVAC systems from concept to final integration, with full accountability for system performance and reliability.
Regulatory & Code Compliance Expertise
– Ensure systems meet fire safety, air quality, acoustic, and environmental standards per SOLAS, IMO, MARPOL, ABS, and other applicable codes.
Advanced Engineering Analysis & Optimization
– Perform thermal modeling, airflow simulation, redundancy planning, and energy efficiency improvements in HVAC layouts.
Cross-Disciplinary Project Integration
– Oversee collaboration with naval architecture, mechanical, electrical, and automation groups for effective system integration within ship constraints.
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Marine Engineering, or Naval Architecture.
7–10+ years of experience in marine HVAC design and engineering, with leadership roles in ship or offshore platform projects.
Expertise in duct and chilled water system design, HVAC load calculation, and marine system layout optimization.
Proficient in AutoCAD, Revit, ShipConstructor, or AVEVA Marine for 2D and 3D modeling.
Strong understanding of marine HVAC equipment selection, redundancy, noise/vibration mitigation, and control strategies.
Knowledge of marine safety and environmental regulations, including fire zones, emergency ventilation, and hazardous area ventilation.
Proven ability to lead teams, manage design deliverables, and support projects across multiple phases.
Excellent communication, documentation, and stakeholder management skills.
Experience on naval, defense, or LNG carrier projects involving mission-critical HVAC systems.
Familiarity with HVAC control system integration, including automation, BMS, and SCADA interfaces.
Prior involvement in FAT, commissioning, and lifecycle support of marine HVAC systems.
Professional Engineering License or equivalent registration is a plus.