(C) Lofting Engineer / Lofting Supervisor

Description

Background check, US Citizenship, and a drug screening are requirements of this position. Travel is 20%. Contingent on clients approved candidate.

TMMG is seeking an experienced Lofting Engineer / Lofting Supervisor to support the Washington State Ferries (WSDOT) new construction program. This role will lead and oversee all lofting and production definition activities associated with translating 3D design models into production-ready manufacturing outputs for steel fabrication and assembly.

The ideal candidate will possess deep shipbuilding experience in lofting, plate and profile development, nesting, burn files/tapes, production interface, and manufacturing support within a modern shipyard environment. This individual will serve as both a technical leader and working supervisor responsible for ensuring lofting deliverables support production schedules, material optimization, and construction accuracy across multiple vessel modules and hull sections.

This is a high-visibility role supporting one of the most important commercial ferry construction programs currently underway in the United States. 

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

Lead and supervise all lofting and production definition activities supporting vessel construction.

Convert 3D production models into fabrication-ready outputs including:

Nest tapes/burn files

CNC cutting data

Plate expansions

Forming information

Part extraction

Assembly information

Manage lofting personnel, priorities, schedules, and workflow across multiple construction areas.

Coordinate closely with Engineering, Planning, Production, Welding, and Fabrication departments to ensure accurate and timely release of manufacturing information.

Review production drawings and models for constructability, completeness, and manufacturing efficiency.

Ensure nesting strategies maximize material utilization while minimizing scrap and rework.

Support development and maintenance of production standards, lofting procedures, and configuration control processes.

Resolve lofting-related production issues during fabrication and assembly.

Provide technical guidance and mentoring to junior lofting personnel and production staff.

Coordinate with design engineering teams regarding model accuracy, revision incorporation, and production impacts.

Ensure all lofting outputs comply with shipyard standards, ABS requirements, WSDOT requirements, and applicable production specifications.

Participate in production planning meetings and support schedule-driven construction milestones.

Interface with management regarding manpower requirements, schedule risks, and production support priorities.

Support continuous improvement initiatives associated with digital shipbuilding and production automation. 

Physical Job Requirements

The Senior Lofting Engineer / Lofting Supervisor must be able to perform duties in both an office/design environment and an active shipyard production environment. Physical requirements include, but are not limited to:

Ability to work in a shipyard, fabrication shop, and waterfront construction environment.

Ability to walk, stand, and move throughout production areas for extended periods as needed.

Ability to access vessels, modules, fabrication shops, panel lines, and assembly areas.

Ability to climb stairs, ladders, and shipboard access ways when required.

Ability to board vessels under construction and navigate uneven surfaces, temporary staging, gangways, and confined shipboard spaces.

Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, and inspect production work areas as needed.

Ability to visually review structural components, plate layouts, cut parts, assembly details, and fabrication conditions.

Ability to use a computer, keyboard, mouse, monitor, and standard office equipment for extended periods.

Ability to review drawings, models, nesting outputs, production data, and technical documentation for extended periods.

Ability to occasionally lift and carry items such as drawings, laptops, binders, measuring tools, or light equipment up to approximately 25 pounds.

Ability to communicate clearly in person, by phone, and through electronic communication in both office and production settings.

Ability to wear required personal protective equipment, including hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, steel-toe footwear, gloves, and high-visibility clothing.

Ability to work in varying environmental conditions, including heat, humidity, noise, dust, and exposure to normal shipyard production activities.

Ability to safely move through areas where welding, cutting, grinding, blasting, painting, lifting, and heavy equipment operations may be occurring.

Ability to work occasional extended hours, weekends, or adjusted schedules to support production milestones, vessel construction priorities, or urgent lofting/production issues. 

Education/Certification Requirements

Required Qualifications

10+ years of shipbuilding lofting experience in a production shipyard environment.

Demonstrated experience converting 3D shipbuilding models into production-ready manufacturing outputs.

Strong experience with:

Nesting systems

Burn files / nest tapes

CNC cutting operations

Steel fabrication support

Plate and structural development

Production definition

Previous supervisory or lead experience managing lofting personnel and workflows.

Strong understanding of ship construction methods, sequencing, and fabrication processes.

Ability to interpret complex production drawings, structural arrangements, and 3D models.

Experience supporting large commercial or government vessel construction programs.

Strong coordination and communication skills across engineering and production organizations.

Ability to work in a fast-paced schedule-driven shipyard environment.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience supporting ferry construction programs or large steel vessel new construction.

Experience with modern shipbuilding software such as:

ShipConstructor

Aveva Marine

Nupas-Cadmatic

AutoCAD

Tribon

Siemens NX

Familiarity with ABS and USCG shipbuilding standards.

Experience supporting modular construction and unit assembly operations.

Knowledge of production planning and material control processes.

Prior experience supporting WSDOT, Navy, Coast Guard, or commercial passenger vessel programs.