LOFTING GROUP MANAGER – COMMERCIAL NEW SHIPBUILDING

Department: Engineering / Production Engineering
Reports To: Director of Engineering / Production Engineering Manager
Classification: Exempt
Location: Shipyard Operations
Industry: Commercial New Construction Shipbuilding

POSITION SUMMARY

The Lofting Group Manager is responsible for leading and managing the lofting, dimensional control, production geometry, and manufacturing data activities supporting commercial new-construction vessel programs. This position serves as the primary interface between Engineering, Planning, Production, Quality, and Manufacturing for the accurate translation of vessel design information into production-ready data.

The Lofting Group Manager ensures that engineering drawings, 3D product models, structural geometry, plate and profile development, nesting information, templates, production sketches, and other manufacturing deliverables are accurate, complete, and released in accordance with the vessel construction schedule.

This role provides technical and personnel leadership to the Lofting Group and is responsible for establishing and maintaining standards that support accurate fabrication, module construction, assembly, erection, and dimensional control throughout the shipbuilding process.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Lofting & Production Engineering

• Lead all lofting activities supporting commercial new-construction vessel programs from initial design development through vessel delivery.
• Manage the development and verification of production geometry from approved engineering drawings, specifications, and 3D product models.
• Oversee the creation of production-ready information for structural fabrication and assembly, including:
  • Plate developments
  • Structural profiles
  • Templates and molds
  • Nesting and cutting information
  • Part geometry and identification
  • Assembly and erection information
  • Production sketches
  • Reference lines and control points
  • Dimensional control data
• Ensure lofting information accurately reflects approved engineering design and applicable vessel specifications.
• Verify dimensional relationships between hull structure, modules, blocks, foundations, bulkheads, decks, and major equipment interfaces.
• Ensure production data is released accurately and in accordance with established production schedules.
• Support CNC/plasma cutting operations and other automated fabrication processes by ensuring accurate production data.
• Establish and maintain lofting standards, naming conventions, drawing practices, data-control procedures, and revision processes.

Leadership & Group Management

• Provide direct leadership, supervision, coaching, and technical guidance to Lofting personnel.
• Manage workload assignments and priorities across multiple vessels, contracts, and construction milestones.
• Establish department goals, performance expectations, and measurable productivity standards.
• Monitor individual and team performance and address performance or capability gaps.
• Identify staffing requirements based on current and projected vessel construction schedules.
• Participate in recruiting, interviewing, selection, onboarding, and development of Lofting personnel.
• Develop succession plans and cross-training opportunities to strengthen technical capabilities within the group.
• Promote accountability, accuracy, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and mentor less-experienced Lofting personnel in shipbuilding practices, production geometry, and dimensional control.

Engineering & Production Coordination

• Serve as the primary Lofting interface with Engineering, Production, Planning, Quality, Manufacturing, and Program Management.
• Work closely with Hull Engineering and Production to ensure design information can be efficiently translated into fabrication and assembly.
• Participate in design reviews, production readiness reviews, constructability reviews, and planning meetings.
• Identify potential dimensional, constructability, or manufacturing issues before information is released to Production.
• Coordinate resolution of discrepancies between engineering models, drawings, production information, and actual shipyard conditions.
• Provide technical support to Production during fabrication, assembly, module erection, and vessel construction.
• Evaluate field discrepancies and provide recommendations for corrective action in coordination with Engineering and Quality.
• Maintain strong communication between Lofting, Engineering, Planning, and Production regarding priorities, revisions, schedule changes, and technical issues.

Dimensional Control

• Develop and maintain dimensional control processes for new vessel construction.
• Establish reference points, baselines, centerlines, elevations, and other dimensional-control requirements used during fabrication and assembly.
• Support dimensional verification of major hull blocks, modules, assemblies, foundations, and structural components.
• Coordinate dimensional surveys when required to verify alignment and construction accuracy.
• Analyze dimensional discrepancies and recommend corrective actions before they adversely affect downstream construction.
• Promote the use of modern surveying, laser measurement, and digital dimensional-control technologies where appropriate.

Scheduling & Production Support

• Develop and maintain Lofting deliverable schedules aligned with Engineering and Production requirements.
• Monitor drawing, model, nesting, and production-information release dates to prevent delays to fabrication.
• Identify potential schedule risks and communicate them to Engineering and Production leadership.
• Prioritize Lofting activities based on vessel construction sequence and critical-path requirements.
• Coordinate with Planning and Production Control to ensure required information is available before scheduled fabrication activities.
• Track department backlog, workload, completion rates, and schedule performance.
• Provide regular status reports regarding Lofting deliverables, technical issues, staffing requirements, and schedule risks.

Quality & Configuration Control

• Ensure all Lofting deliverables comply with approved engineering information, company procedures, vessel specifications, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Maintain effective revision and configuration control of Lofting information.
• Ensure superseded information is properly identified and removed from production use.
• Support Quality Assurance in resolving dimensional or configuration-related nonconformances.
• Participate in root-cause analysis and corrective-action activities related to fabrication or dimensional discrepancies.
• Maintain documentation necessary to support traceability and quality requirements.

Continuous Improvement & Technology

• Identify opportunities to improve Lofting processes, accuracy, productivity, and communication with Production.
• Evaluate and implement digital shipbuilding technologies that improve the transition from engineering design to production.
• Support integration between CAD/3D modeling systems, nesting software, CNC equipment, ERP systems, document-control systems, and production planning tools.
• Develop standardized workflows that reduce rework and improve first-time quality.
• Establish lessons-learned processes and apply improvements across future vessel programs.
• Develop department KPIs related to schedule performance, accuracy, rework, productivity, and production support.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in shipbuilding, marine fabrication, heavy structural fabrication, or a closely related industry.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Lofting, Production Engineering, Hull Engineering, Dimensional Control, or related shipbuilding functions.
• Previous supervisory or management experience in a technical shipbuilding or manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of commercial new-construction shipbuilding processes.
• Demonstrated knowledge of hull structure, structural fabrication, assembly, block construction, erection, and dimensional control.
• Ability to interpret complex engineering drawings, structural plans, specifications, and 3D product models.
• Experience translating engineering design information into production-ready manufacturing information.
• Working knowledge of CAD, 3D modeling, nesting, and CNC-related production processes.
• Strong understanding of engineering revision and configuration-control processes.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and vessel programs in a fast-paced production environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Technology, Industrial Technology, or a related discipline.
• Equivalent combination of extensive shipbuilding Lofting experience, technical education, and leadership experience may be considered in lieu of a bachelor's degree.
• Experience specifically supporting commercial vessel new construction.
• Experience with modern shipbuilding CAD/CAM and 3D product-modeling systems.
• Experience with software such as ShipConstructor, AutoCAD, Rhino, Siemens NX, FORAN, AVEVA Marine, NAPA, CATIA, or comparable marine design and production systems.
• Experience with nesting and CNC plate/profile cutting systems.
• Experience with laser scanning, total stations, or other digital dimensional-control technologies.
• Familiarity with classification society requirements, including ABS, DNV, or Lloyd's Register.
• Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, or digital shipbuilding initiatives.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Advanced knowledge of shipbuilding Lofting principles and practices.
• Strong understanding of vessel geometry and structural relationships.
• Knowledge of hull construction sequencing and block/module construction.
• Strong spatial reasoning and ability to interpret complex three-dimensional geometry.
• Ability to identify potential fabrication and assembly problems before they reach Production.
• Strong analytical and root-cause problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to lead technical personnel with varying levels of experience.
• Ability to communicate effectively with Engineering, Production, Quality, Planning, and senior leadership.
• Strong organizational and project-management capabilities.
• Ability to make timely technical and operational decisions in a production-driven environment.
• Commitment to accuracy, schedule performance, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

KEY PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

Performance in this position may be measured through:

• On-time release of Lofting and production information.
• Accuracy and completeness of production deliverables.
• Reduction in Lofting-related production rework.
• Reduction in dimensional discrepancies during fabrication and erection.
• Achievement of vessel engineering and production milestones.
• Responsiveness to Production technical-support requirements.
• Department productivity and backlog management.
• Development and retention of qualified Lofting personnel.
• Effective coordination between Engineering and Production.
• Implementation of process and technology improvements.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to work in both office and active shipyard environments.
• Ability to board vessels under construction and access fabrication and assembly areas.
• Ability to climb stairs, ladders, and staging as required.
• Ability to walk through industrial production areas and uneven surfaces.
• Ability to wear required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Ability to perform field verification and dimensional-control activities as required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a combination of professional office, engineering, fabrication, and active shipyard environments. The position requires regular interaction with Engineering and Production personnel and may require work aboard vessels under construction, within fabrication facilities, and in outdoor shipyard environments.

The Lofting Group Manager must be capable of supporting multiple commercial vessel construction programs simultaneously and responding to changing production priorities, technical challenges, and schedule requirements.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Leadership | Shipbuilding Knowledge | Lofting & Dimensional Control | Production Engineering | Constructability | Technical Accuracy | Schedule Management | Problem Solving | Cross-Functional Collaboration | Continuous Improvement | Employee Development | Accountability