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About us
Hop aboard Damen Naval; the naval division of the family-owned Damen Shipyards Group, where 12,000 professionals work worldwide. Damen Naval delivers advanced naval vessels to clients all over the globe. By implementing the most innovative technological developments in practice, we continue to push the boundaries of the shipbuilding industry. You can be part of our team! Are you ready for duty?

The role

As a Mechanical Engineer Mechanical Tooling & Equipment  at Damen Naval, you will play a vital role in the design and development of specialized tooling and equipment that support the construction and assembly of large naval vessels. Your focus will be on creating innovative mechanical solutions—such as frames, jigs, and alignment tools—that enable safe, efficient, and precise handling and positioning of sections, complex components and alignment tooling. You will contribute to the full lifecycle of tooling development, from concept and design to fabrication and implementation, and provide technical support during critical operations. While heavy lifting remains part of the scope, your expertise will primarily drive the engineering behind the tools that make it possible.

Key accountabilities
In this role, your responsibilities will include:

• Hoisting and Turning Operations: Design and calculation of hoisting and lifting plans and creating transport and lifting drawing of sections, and rings and modules.
• Tooling Design & Development: Designing and engineering specialized tools and mechanical systems for transport, alignment, and positioning of ship sections.
• Technical Documentation: Creating detailed drawings, calculations, and instructions for tooling fabrication and operational use.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Working closely with procurement, production, internal and external partners to ensure tooling solutions meet operational needs.
• Risk & Safety Engineering: Conducting risk assessments (RI&E) for tooling-related operations and ensuring compliance with safety standards.
• Operational Support: Supporting the preparation and execution of hoisting and transport operations by providing technical input and validating tooling performance.
• Cross-Functional Engineering: Collaborating with structural engineers, manufacturing teams, and production personnel to integrate tooling solutions into broader project workflows

Skills & experience
We are looking for candidates with the following qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Shipbuilding.
• Strong affinity with mechanical design, tooling development, and operational support in complex engineering environments.
• Experience with planning and coordinating engineering activities, preferably in a shipbuilding or heavy industry context.
• Good command of English and Dutch (written & verbal).
• Excellent references, as a security screening is part of the hiring process.
• Permanent EU citizenship and passport are both required. Candidates with EU (work) visa or with both an EU and non-EU nationality and/or passport are not eligible in accordance with the requirements imposed by the military nature of our projects.

What we offer
At Damen Naval, we highly value our employees, and we will support your professional and personal development. We also provide our employees with:

• A competitive salary and 8% holiday pay.

• 27 holidays and 13 ADV days.

• Travel allowance of 23 cents per kilometre.

• PME-pension arrangement with an employer contribution of 60%.

• Profit sharing based on company results.

• Flexibility to work from home up to two days a week.

• Additional benefits including a bicycle plan and company fitness.

Application & information
Are you interested in this position, please submit your application with your CV and cover letter, along with an indication of:

• Your (preferred) monthly gross salary based on fulltime work.
• Availability (fulltime / part-time / number of hours).
• Notice period / possible starting date.

For more information about this vacancy or Damen Naval, please visit the Damen Naval website, the Damen Naval Career website or contact the Corporate Recruitment department via +31 118 485 000.

Please note that due to the military nature of our projects, only candidates who have permanent EU nationality can be considered for vacancies at Damen Naval. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to process candidates who (also) have a non-EU passport or nationality.

A pre-employment and security screening and investigation form part of the recruitment process.

Acquisition and introduction of candidates without a formal request is not appreciated and they will not be considered.

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