Assistant Project Architect Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Project Engineer / Naval Architect Job Description

Location: Alexandria, VA Hybrid
Schedule: Day, 40 hours/week
Reports to: Lead Engineer / Program Manager
Pay Range: $90,000-$100,000
Benefits: Competitive benefits and paid leave.

Job Summary

PCCI is seeking a motivated Project Engineer / Naval Architect to support marine engineering, naval architecture, ocean engineering, salvage, mooring, and offshore systems projects. The successful candidate will assist with analysis, design, planning, procurement, documentation, and field execution for projects involving vessels, floating structures, mooring systems, salvage operations, underwater systems, marine construction, and offshore equipment. This position is intended for an engineer with practical technical experience and strong analytical capability

Key Responsibilities

Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, and Analysis

• Support naval architecture and marine engineering analyses for vessels, floating structures, offshore systems, mooring systems, underwater equipment, salvage operations, and marine construction projects.
• Perform or support hydrostatic, stability, weight distribution, deck loading, lifting, towing, sinking, transport, and environmental loading analyses.
• Develop engineering calculations, technical reports, drawings, models, procedures, manuals, and planning documents.
• Support static and dynamic mooring analyses, including line tensions, component loads, anchor loads, and system performance evaluations.
• Assist with engineering modeling
• Support finite element analysis and structural assessments for marine structures, mooring components, deck fittings, lifting equipment, foundations, and related systems.
• Review drawings, vessel arrangements, structural plans, equipment data, and technical references to support engineering assessments and project planning.
• Apply applicable Navy, Coast Guard, ABS, DNV, USACE, NAVFAC, OSHA, ASME, AWS, DOD, IMO, and industry standards as directed.

Mooring, Salvage, and Offshore Operations Support

• Support planning, analysis, and execution of mooring installations, heavy weather mooring assessments, salvage operations, vessel response projects, and offshore equipment deployments.
• Assist with design and evaluation of temporary and permanent mooring systems, including lines, chains, anchors, buoys, fittings, deck attachments, and shore-side structures.
• Develop technical input for installation plans, tow plans, lift plans, transport plans, salvage plans, and field procedures.
• Support vessel modeling, environmental force calculations, towing resistance estimates, dynamic simulations, and operational risk assessments.
• Assist with underwater systems, subsea installations, pipeline/outfall systems, buoy systems, hydrophone arrays, research platforms, and marine renewable energy projects.
• Participate in field inspections, installation support, quality assurance, equipment checks, and project documentation.

Design, Fabrication, and Technical Documentation

• Develop and review drawings, 3D models, bills of material, specifications, fabrication details, and installation concepts.
• Coordinate with drafters, configuration management personnel, fabrication shops, welding personnel, machine shops, and vendors.
• Review shop drawings, vendor submittals, component data, test documentation, and material information for technical compliance.
• Support procurement by preparing technical requirements, bills of material, purchase descriptions, and vendor coordination documents.
• Maintain configuration control through drawing revisions, design change documentation, and as-built records.
• Prepare technical memoranda, calculations, reports, procedures, manuals, meeting notes, inspection records, and closeout packages.

Project Planning and Execution

• Support project managers and senior engineers with planning, scheduling, budgeting, procurement, subcontractor coordination, and technical execution.
• Contribute to feasibility studies, alternatives analyses, risk assessments, cost estimates, and concept development.
• Track technical progress, identify issues, and communicate project status, risks, and recommended corrective actions.
• Coordinate with engineering, operations, procurement, field crews, clients, subcontractors, and vendors.
• Assist with technical proposals, work plans, project schedules, design narratives, and client deliverables.
• Maintain accurate project records, including assumptions, calculations, design changes, correspondence, inspection results, and final deliverables.

Testing, Quality Assurance, and Field Support

• Support development and execution of test plans, inspection plans, acceptance criteria, and final test reports.
• Assist with field quality assurance, equipment inspections, installation verification, and documentation of nonconformances or corrective actions.
• Evaluate test results, inspection findings, field measurements, and operational data to support engineering recommendations.
• Support safety planning and hazard identification for marine operations, lifting, towing, mooring, fabrication, and installation activities.
• Travel occasionally to shipyards, ports, fabrication facilities, government installations, vessels, and field project sites.

Teamwork and Communication

• Communicate engineering concepts clearly to engineers, clients, field personnel, vendors, subcontractors, and other stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively with naval architects, marine engineers, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, technicians, drafters, project managers, and operations personnel.
• Demonstrate strong attention to detail, sound engineering judgment, and willingness to learn from senior technical staff.
• Take ownership of assigned tasks and follow through on technical, schedule, and documentation requirements.
• Support a practical, mission-focused engineering culture that emphasizes safety, reliability, responsiveness, and high-quality deliverables.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Minimum Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, Ocean Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil/Structural Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Approximately 2 to 4 years of relevant experience in naval architecture, marine engineering, ocean engineering, offshore engineering, structural engineering, marine construction, salvage, mooring, shipyard engineering, or related technical work.
• Experience or coursework in hydrostatics, stability, structural analysis, marine systems, mooring systems, offshore structures, marine operations, or vessel design.
• Familiarity with engineering software such as OrcaFlex, MATLAB, AutoCAD, Rhino, SolidWorks, Maxsurf, GHS/HECSALV, Femap, Abaqus, OpenFOAM, STAR-CCM+, or similar tools is desirable.
• Ability to develop calculations, technical reports, engineering drawings, procedures, installation plans, and project documentation.
• Ability to work independently on assigned tasks while taking direction from senior engineers and project managers.
• Ability to support multiple projects, manage priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Willingness to travel occasionally for field work, inspections, testing, vessel operations, shipyard work, or client meetings.
• Ability to obtain a government security clearance to access government facilities may be required depending on project assignments.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with mooring analysis, towing analysis, salvage engineering, vessel response, offshore installations, or marine renewable energy systems.
• Experience with finite element analysis, structural modeling, load development, and evaluation of marine structural components.
• Experience reviewing ship drawings, fabrication drawings, vendor submittals, and technical manuals.
• Familiarity with Navy, NAVFAC, SUPSALV, Coast Guard, USACE, ABS, DNV, OSHA, ASME, AWS, DOD, or IMO guidance and standards.
• Field experience in shipyards, marine construction, offshore operations, vessel operations, salvage operations, or waterfront facilities.
• Experience supporting procurement, fabrication, installation, testing, and closeout documentation.
• NAVFAC Construction Quality Management, OSHA 30, offshore safety training, or similar certifications are desirable but not required.

Veterans

Veterans are encouraged to apply. We are a veteran friendly company.

Disability Accommodations / EEO Statement

PCCI is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all employees. All employment decisions are made based on business needs and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, including pregnancy, age, physical, mental or sensory disability, family medical history or genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, past or present military service, family or parental status, or any other status protected by law.