Shipyard Technical Manager

Saronic Technologies•Franklin, LA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

As the Shipyard Technical Manager at Saronic-Franklin, you will lead the technical execution and operational integration of Production and Engineering activities across the shipyard. This role is responsible for ensuring vessel construction activities are technically sound, production-ready, efficiently executed, and aligned with quality, schedule, and safety objectives. The Shipyard Technical Manager will oversee the production engineering team, which supports scheduling, planning, production flow analysis and improvement, industrial engineering activities, and provides expertise across all labor trades in the shipyard. The Shipyard Technical Manager will also oversee the Manufacturing Engineering team, which supports workstation tooling, processes, and improvements, operates the machine shop, and recommends product design improvements. Finally, the Shipyard Technical Manager will work directly with the Design Engineering and Build Engineering leadership to ensure cross-functional agreement on product design improvements. This position plays a critical role in enabling scalable and repeatable vessel construction operations within a fast-paced maritime manufacturing environment.

Requirements

10+ years of shipbuilding, heavy manufacturing, or maritime industrial experience
Experience leading vessel construction, production operations, or manufacturing engineering teams
Strong understanding of modular construction, production sequencing, and waterfront operations
Experience managing cross-functional teams including production, engineering, planning, and quality
Demonstrated success improving production efficiency, throughput, quality, and schedule performance
Strong understanding of shipyard production operations, vessel construction sequencing, manufacturing processes, and marine production systems.
Ability to lead cross-functional engineering and production teams in a fast-paced shipbuilding environment.
Experience interpreting engineering drawings, production work packages, technical specifications, and vessel integration requirements.
Ability to analyze and make key operational decisions related to production workflows, staffing, manufacturing methods, tooling, and engineering priorities.
Ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership, engineering teams, production personnel, suppliers, and shipyard stakeholders.
Strong technical aptitude, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
Maintain proper administrative records, technical documentation, and operational reporting.

Nice To Haves

Experience in advanced manufacturing, industrialization, automation, or digital production systems
Experience supporting Navy and commercial vessel programs
Engineering degree or equivalent shipyard construction leadership experience
Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement experience

Responsibilities

Manage, train, and motivate a team of production and manufacturing engineering personnel, including hiring, performance evaluations, and professional development.
Ensure production and manufacturing engineering deliverables support efficient vessel construction, including work packages, installation planning, technical issue resolution, and production readiness.
Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives related to production flow, scheduling, planning, build sequencing, and technical operations performance. Develop and optimize manufacturing processes, tooling strategies, workflow layouts, and resource utilization to improve workstation efficiency, reduce waste, and support scalable shipyard operations.
Coordinate with build engineering leadership to ensure effective execution of activities related to structural assembly, vessel systems integration, outfitting coordination, and product design improvements to ensure technical alignment across departments.
Ensure engineering and manufacturing activities comply with company standards, shipyard procedures, regulatory requirements, and applicable maritime industry specifications.
Work with the EHS team to enforce workplace safety protocols and ensure engineering-driven production activities are executed in accordance with Saronic EHS guidelines and company policies.
Monitor and report key performance indicators (KPIs) related to production efficiency, engineering throughput, build execution, schedule performance, labor utilization, downtime for repair (DFR), and technical issue resolution.
Ensure Production Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering teams are accomplishing tasks, roles, and responsibilities as outlined in applicable job descriptions and operational objectives.
Provide independent judgement to leadership regarding team performance, staffing needs, organizational structure, and operational improvements using established policies, procedures, and practices.
Resolve and document technical production issues impacting vessel construction, manufacturing operations, quality, or schedule performance.
Manage overall technical resource utilization to meet or exceed production and operational efficiency goals.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on manufacturing efficiency, production scalability, technical execution, and operational excellence.
Provide periodic operational documentation, technical status updates, engineering issue reporting, and shift turnover communication for compliance and continuous improvement purposes.
Collaborate with product design team, project management team, and build engineering team to ensure product design is in line with scaled production goals. This includes participating in conflict resolution re: design vs production issues
Facilitating as-built updates to drawings
Deriving, tracking, and implementing lessons learned in design-for-production
Facilitating design-for-production improvements
Follow all shipyard safety policies, including proper use of PPE, fire prevention, and confined space protocols.
Assist in the training and development of all engineers and engineering management on site.
Collaborate and communicate effectively with all shipyard departments to ensure seamless vessel production integration.
Work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced maritime manufacturing environment.
Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area.
Maintain a positive attitude toward customers and represent Saronic professionally.
Make a personal commitment and be accountable for EHS results, driving toward the achievement of defined operational goals.
Maintain a supportive and productive work atmosphere through professional conduct and effective communication with internal and external customers, including vendors, coworkers, subordinates, and leadership teams.
Promote a culture of technical excellence, operational discipline, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the shipyard organization.