Lead Designer, basic design (Deck Outfitting)

• The Lead Designer, basic design (Deck Outfitting) at Helsinki Shipyard will lead deck outfitting design tasks for vessels including mooring, lifeboat and deck crane systems throughout the shipbuilding project life cycle.
• You will delegate and oversee design and procurement work, resolve technical solutions with designers and production specialists, and report project progress, procurement updates and budget performance to the project manager and head of department.
• The role requires shipbuilding or marine industry experience, a technical degree (B.Sc. or M.Sc.), AutoCAD or similar drafting skills, project coordination experience and fluent English, along with strong teamwork and organizational abilities.
• You will join a multidisciplinary design team working from concept to final delivery with hybrid work options in Helsinki, Turku and Pori, opportunities for growth, and a routine medical check including a drug test as part of the selection process.

We are Helsinki Shipyard – celebrating 160 years of shipbuilding excellence. Since 1865, we have been designing, building, and commissioning tailor-made, high-class passenger vessels and icebreakers for extreme conditions. We proudly continue the legacy of Helsinki’s own Shipyard, right in the heart of Helsinki.

With us, you get to design and build the ships under one roof from start to finish, in close collaboration with our customers. Our specialty lies in vessels that operate on the polar seas, but we can build everything from smaller yachts to complex multi-purpose icebreakers. We've built over 50% of the world's icebreakers - without us it would be hard to navigate in the icy seas!

We are now beginning construction on a new heavy icebreaker for the Canadian government. The vessel will be constructed in Helsinki before being completed at Davie's shipyard in Quebec by 2030.

Read more about the project here!

Since November 2023, Helsinki Shipyard has been part of the Canadian Davie group.

We are looking for a Lead Designer, basic design to join our Deck Outfitting Design team. 

In this role, you will take responsibility for overseeing the deck outfitting design project tasks during the entire shipbuilding project life cycle. Our Deck Design team works on many different systems; for example, mooring, lifeboat and deck crane systems among others, to mention a few. 

A typical workday includes delegating and overseeing design- and procurement-related work while resolving design solutions together with other designers and production specialists. As a Lead Designer, you will report project design progress, procurement and purchasing updates, and budgetary performance to both the project manager and the head of the department. You will also prepare and oversee project budget and resource needs in collaboration with the project organization and the head of the department.

You will join a skilled team of deck outfitting designers from various backgrounds and also be part of a multidisciplinary design and project organization. 

“What I really enjoy about our team is the supportive atmosphere – people genuinely help each other succeed. You get to collaborate with a wide range of designers and work closely with both customers and classification societies. I’ve also had the opportunity to lead ship projects during my career, which is a particularly rewarding role: you take real ownership and get to coordinate the bigger picture. It’s an exciting time to join us, with a diverse range of interesting projects ahead and a strong order book extending well into the future. ” 

- Mikael Johansson, Head of Deck Department, Deck Outfitting Design

To succeed in this role, you should have:

• Experience from the marine industry or shipbuilding

• Technical background and work experience in project business, for example, as a designer

• A solid knowledge of AutoCAD or other similar drafting programs

• Project management or other similar project coordination skills

• Technical education (B.Sc. or M.Sc.) 

• Ability to communicate effectively in English is necessary as we have international clients and suppliers.

• An ideal candidate would be a team-player with good social skills and a go-getter attitude. Being organized and having the ability to prioritize will help you to succeed in this role.

Why you’ll thrive here:

• You’ll participate in the entire design process, from conceptual drafts to collaborating with suppliers to the final product at the pier.

• Our tight-knit team of almost 200 designers values each individual’s impact on projects. Collectively, we're roughly 500 professionals specializing in shipbuilding.

• Sustainability is central to us — we participate in joint Helsinki sea monitoring, where the quality and harmful substances in the water are monitored.

• We have offices in Helsinki, Turku, and Pori. We support hybrid work arrangements while also working together at the office on a weekly basis. 

• With us you can thrive, learn, and grow your expertise.

Ready to make an impact in ship design? 

We’d love to hear from you. We’ll move forward as soon as we find the right candidate—so don’t hesitate to apply!

Please note, applications are only accepted via Teamtailor.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact department head Mikael Johansson via email at mikael.johansson@helsinkishipyard.fi, or by phone +358 50 390 7892 during business hours. 

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As part of the selection process, candidates chosen for the role will undergo a routine medical check, which includes a drug test. While the recruitment process itself does not include a security clearance, the duties associated with the position may require a security clearance to be conducted at a later stage.

First application date: 3 September 2026Helsinki Shipyard