Engineer, Senior Principal - Technology

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) is seeking a Senior Principal Engineer in Technology to lead strategic initiatives in advanced materials, welding technologies, and robotic systems for marine and offshore applications. Based in Houston, TX onsite, this role provides technical leadership across R&D programs, helps shape ABS rules and guidance, and collaborates with customers, shipyards, and technology partners to advance safety and reliability in the global fleet.

Responsibilities

• Identify, define, and develop strategic Technology programs and projects in materials, welding, robotics, and related digital technologies, and recommend priorities aligned with ABS business and technical objectives.
• Lead and supervise large, complex, and/or multiple concurrent projects involving robotic welding, weld quality assessment, structural integrity, materials performance, and technology qualification.
• Direct investigations into the requirements, standards, and qualification processes for humanoid and other robotic systems used in shipyard welding, including developing and assessing welding procedures for robotic welding applications, defining data requirements and acceptance criteria for weld quality based on sensor and process data from robots, and evaluating methods to qualify robotic welding systems and operators and the resulting welds.
• Serve as technical authority and principal subject-matter expert on materials behavior and degradation mechanisms, including corrosion, fatigue, fracture, embrittlement, and related structural integrity issues in marine and offshore environments.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams and provide day-to-day leadership, direction, mentoring, and technical guidance to engineers and other technical staff.
• Review, assign, and monitor technical work performed by engineers and senior engineers, ensuring high-quality service, technical consistency, and strong customer relationships.
• Contribute to and lead the development of ABS rules, guidance notes, best practices, and rule-change proposals related to welding, robotics, materials, and associated qualification methodologies.
• Maintain active awareness of technical, regulatory, business, and market developments affecting present and potential customers, and communicate relevant information promptly to management and project teams.
• Serve as a key technical representative to customers, industry groups, research partners, shipyards, owners, OEMs, and technology developers, actively promoting ABS services and capabilities throughout the business community.
• Develop or assist in the development of qualification statements, proposals, bids, and project scopes, and present these to prospective clients and partners as needed.
• Plan and manage assigned budgets, schedules, resources, technical deliverables, and reporting requirements to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget.
• Advise management on short- and long-term technical capability, manpower, and training needs within assigned areas of responsibility.
• Perform selected engineering reviews, analyses, and technical assessments where needed, particularly for critical or novel applications.
• Author, review, and present technical papers, reports, and presentations for internal and external audiences, ensuring compliance with ABS Health, Safety, Quality, and Environmental Management System requirements and ABS Quality System requirements.

Requirements

• Minimum of 15 years of related engineering experience in a shipyard, maritime-related industry, heavy fabrication environment, research organization, robotics or welding automation environment, design/consulting organization, or classification society; experience in classification, standards development, or applied R&D strongly preferred.
• B.S. degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture, Civil/Structural Engineering, Ocean Engineering, or other closely related discipline.

Technologies

• SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, SAW
• Python
• Digital twins
• Machine learning
• Data analytics

Nice to have

• Experience developing guidance, standards, qualification frameworks, or rule proposals related to welding, robotics, digitalization, or advanced manufacturing.
• Experience with digital twins, predictive models, machine learning, or data analytics applied to welding, materials, or structural integrity.
• Proficiency in Python or similar programming languages for data analysis, automation, or integration with robotic systems.
• Experience working directly with shipyards, offshore construction yards, robotic system suppliers, or advanced manufacturing technology developers in maritime or heavy-industry sectors.
• Established industry visibility through technical committees, conference participation, published papers, or collaborative research programs.

Reporting relationships

Reports to a Manager or Director within the Technology organization regarding priorities, technical direction, project execution, resource planning, and business development activities. May provide day-to-day leadership to engineers, senior engineers, and other technical staff assigned to projects or functional initiatives.