A naval architect works as part of a team responsible for designing, producing and repairing safe, sea-worthy surfaces or underwater vessels. They work with a range of vessels including ships, ferries, submarines, and yachts. Naval architects study design proposals and specifications to establish basic characteristics of a ship, such as size, weight, and speed. Additionally, they develop sectional and waterline curves of the hull to establish the center of gravity, ideal hull form, and data on buoyancy and stability. Naval architects generally work for government departments such as the Ministry of Defense.

A bachelor's degree in Naval Architecture or a related field such as Engineering or Marine Science may also be accepted for naval architect positions. Successful naval architects possess excellent spatial awareness and strong IT skills.

Assess project requirements and research feasibility
Negotiate and agree on project budgets, timescales, and specifications with clients
Plan and supervise the construction of vessels
Produce detailed designs of ships, boats and other maritime vessels using drawings and specialist computer software
Develop and utilize test procedures including computer modeling and scale models
Interpret and analyze data and test results
Source and purchase components, equipment and materials
Lead teams from a variety of specialties to oversee building and testing prototypes