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Director Ocean Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Bachelor's degree in Coastal Engineering, Ocean Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental ... directed. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS CHECKLIST (With or without reasonable accommodations) PHYSICAL ...

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Director Ocean Engineer information

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$73K

$194.7K

$254K

How much do director ocean engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for director ocean engineer in the United States is $194,709.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $141,500.00 and $253,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director Ocean Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director Ocean Engineer, you need an advanced degree in ocean engineering or a related field, extensive experience in marine infrastructure projects, and strong leadership abilities. Familiarity with CAD software, oceanographic modeling tools, and project management systems, along with relevant professional certifications like Professional Engineer (PE), is typically required. Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and team leadership skills set top performers apart in this role. These competencies are crucial for overseeing complex projects, ensuring regulatory compliance, and effectively managing multidisciplinary teams in challenging marine environments.

What are some common challenges faced by a Director Ocean Engineer when managing multidisciplinary teams on large-scale marine projects?

A Director Ocean Engineer often leads teams comprising civil, mechanical, electrical, and environmental engineers, which can present challenges in aligning diverse technical perspectives and ensuring cohesive project execution. Effective communication and strong project management skills are crucial to coordinate schedules, manage resources, and address regulatory or environmental concerns. Additionally, adapting to rapidly changing oceanographic conditions and integrating emerging technologies can require continuous learning and flexibility. Building a culture of collaboration and fostering professional development within the team helps overcome these challenges and drives project success.

What does a Director Ocean Engineer do?

A Director Ocean Engineer is a senior professional responsible for overseeing engineering projects related to oceans, such as offshore structures, marine renewable energy, underwater robotics, and coastal protection. They lead teams of engineers and scientists, manage budgets, ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations, and coordinate with stakeholders. Their work is essential for the development, maintenance, and innovation of technologies and infrastructure in marine environments.

What is the difference between Director Ocean Engineer vs Ocean Engineer?

AspectDirector Ocean EngineerOcean Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Ocean Engineering, often with leadership experienceBachelor's or Master's in Ocean Engineering or related field
Work EnvironmentLeadership roles overseeing projects, teams, and strategic planningDesign, research, and development in marine environments
Employer & Industry UsageMarine construction firms, government agencies, large engineering firmsResearch institutions, engineering firms, offshore companies

The main difference is that a Director Ocean Engineer holds a leadership position responsible for managing teams and projects, while an Ocean Engineer focuses on technical design, research, and engineering tasks. The Director role involves strategic oversight, whereas the Ocean Engineer is more hands-on with engineering work.

More about Director Ocean Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Director Ocean Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Director Ocean Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Ocean Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Ocean Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Director Ocean Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Director Ocean Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Director Ocean Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 73% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 20% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $194,709 per year, or $93.6 per hour.
Principal or Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer

Principal or Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Annapolis, MD • On-site

$123K - $185K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, PTO

Posted 29 days ago


Northrop Grumman rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 337 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

104th of 516 rated manufacturers


Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes
CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret
TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescription
At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.
Join Northrop Grumman on our continued mission to push the boundaries of possible across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace. Enjoy a culture where your voice is valued and start contributing to our team of passionate professionals providing real-life solutions to our world's biggest challenges. We take pride in creating purposeful work and allowing our employees to grow and achieve their goals every day by Defining Possible. With our competitive pay and comprehensive benefits, we have the right opportunities to fit your life and launch your career today.
The Naval & Oceanic Systems business unit headquartered in Annapolis, MD is seeking dependable individuals willing to work in a collaborative environment and that are interested in expanding their horizons. The Mechanical Engineering Department is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer or Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals.
Essential Functions:
This position tasking includes concept development, problem solving, technical planning, design development and integration & testing of undersea hardware. The applicant will translate customer requirements into systems solutions that acknowledge technical, schedule, and cost constraints.
The candidate must be able to collaborate in a team environment, prioritize and adjust tasks to accomplish the project result, prioritize multiple responsibilities and/or accomplishing them simultaneously, and comprehend and analyze complex problems and develop solutions. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required.
The successful candidate should have demonstrated experience in hardware design, an understanding of design for manufacturing practices, developing engineering processes, procedures and documentation for manufacturing, and an understanding of engineering's role for supporting small to medium production quantities.
This position can be filled at a Principal or Senior Principal level.
Basic Qualifications for a Principal Mechanical Engineer:
  • BS degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Aerospace. Ocean Engineering or equivalent STEM) and a minimum of 5 years of experience or MS degree with 3 years of experience.
  • Proficiency in using common engineering design, production, analysis, and office tools.
  • Ability to work on site at Annapolis, MD campus.
  • A current/active U.S. Government Top Secret clearance with ability to obtain a TS/SCI with CI polygraph.

Basic Qualifications for a Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer :
  • BS degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Aerospace. Ocean Engineering or equivalent STEM) and a minimum of 8 years of experience or MS degree with 6 years of experience or PhD with 4 years of experience.
  • Proficiency in using common engineering design, production, analysis, and office tools.
  • Ability to work on site at Annapolis, MD campus.
  • A current/active U.S. Government Top Secret clearance with ability to obtain a TS/SCI with CI polygraph.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Able to work in a fast-paced environment where multiple projects are being developed and deployed simultaneously
  • Proficiency with Siemens NX and Teamcenter
  • Proficiency in geometric dimensioning and tolerancing
  • Experience with undersea vehicle and system design
  • Active TS/SCI clearance with CI poly

NGFeaturedJobs
Primary Level Salary Range: $98,800.00 - $148,300.00
Secondary Level Salary Range: $123,400.00 - $185,000.00
The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.
Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.
The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.
Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

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About Northrop Grumman

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible.

Industry

Space research administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Falls Church, VA, US

Year founded

1939