Full-Time
Naval Architecture Lead
Posted on 8/17/2026
BC Ferries
1,001-5,000 employees
Delivers coastal passenger and vehicle ferries
Compensation Overview
CA$105.2k - CA$131.5k/yr
Victoria, BC, Canada
Remote
Occasional international travel and work onboard ships at sea are required.
Bachelor's, Master's
 Mechanical Engineering (1) |
|---|
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- A bachelor's degree in Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, or another engineering discipline combined with advanced specialization in naval architecture is required.
- Professional Engineer designation or eligibility for registration with the applicable provincial engineering association is required.
- Advanced industry certifications or specialized training relevant to vessel design, marine regulations, or technical leadership are required.
- At least 10 years of progressive experience as a naval architect is required.
- Provide specialized naval architecture expertise and technical support for vessel design, acquisition, renewal, and lifecycle management initiatives.
- Conduct and review naval architecture analyses relating to vessel stability, hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, structural integrity, seakeeping, and performance.
- Review engineering designs, specifications, calculations, and technical documentation to confirm compliance with project requirements and applicable standards.
- Provide technical guidance and recommendations to project teams, shipyards, contractors, and stakeholders on naval architecture matters.
- Interpret and apply statutory regulations, classification society rules, industry standards, and engineering best practices.
- Support technical assurance, risk assessment, and resolution of complex engineering issues throughout project delivery.
- Contribute to the development of technical requirements, specifications, procurement documentation, and engineering evaluations.
- Participate in design reviews, verifications, inspections, weight control, and trials activities as required.
- Support the design, development, and production of new vessels for the future fleet.
- Provide professional and technical instruction, guidance, and information to shipyards, contractors, and engineers regarding planning, design, regulatory issues, engineering principles, and standard practices.
- Respond to technical queries from site teams and perform acceptance testing or requirements verification abroad in shipyards and onboard vessels at sea when necessary.
- Deliver engineering outputs in line with shipbuilding project technical specifications, budgets, and schedules.
- Oversee hydrostatic, hydrodynamic, and structural analyses for new ferries.
- Occasionally travel and work outside the local geographic area, including internationally and onboard ships at sea.
- A master's degree in Naval Architecture or a related engineering discipline is preferred.
BC Ferries provides scheduled ferry service for passengers and vehicles along British Columbia’s coast with nearly 50 vessels. It operates under a service contract with the Province of British Columbia, routing ships to connect coastal communities and support residents, commuters, and tourists, with revenue from fares. It differs from competitors by owning one of the world’s largest fleets of vehicle ferries and operating as a publicly owned, provincially contracted carrier with decades of service. Its goal is to maintain reliable marine transportation that keeps coastal communities connected and supports local economies and tourism.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
Debt Financing
Total Funding
$421.7M
Headquarters
Victoria, Canada
Founded
1960
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- BC Ferries ordered four Summit-class ferries in August 2026 with 40MWh Corvus batteries.
- Stantec and Mott MacDonald began major terminal redevelopment in 2026, signaling funded execution.
- Summer 2026 demand is strong; BC Ferries added 1,800 extra round trips and seasonal staff.
What critics are saying
- BC Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union reopened wages in 2026; arbitration resumes February.
- BC Ferries still operates aging vessels; four end-of-life ships stay exposed until 2029 replacements.
- A serious cancellation spiral or labor shutdown would cripple coastal access and destroy trust.
What makes BC Ferries unique
- BC Ferries runs 25 routes, 47 terminals, and Canada’s largest vehicle-ferry renewal.
- Its Summit and Island classes pair hybrid-electric propulsion with future shore charging.
- Terminal upgrades at Horseshoe Bay, Langdale, and Crofton keep service running during construction.
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Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 11%1 year growth
↑ 11%2 year growth
↑ 11%Corvus to power four BC Ferries newbuild ro-paxes. Maritime energy storage system (ESS) developer Corvus Energy has been awarded a milestone contract to supply its battery energy storage systems for four new hybrid-electric, double-ended passenger and car ferries for Canadian ferry operator, British Columbia Ferry Services (BC Ferries). The four new vessels are part of BC Ferries' new Summit class and are to be named Summit Arbutus, Summit Cedar, Summit Maple, and Summit Spruce. Corvus will deliver 40MWh of installed battery capacity - 10 MWh per vessel - a scale that places these ships among the highest capacity battery-powered ferries. In addition, Corvus will supply battery interface bases and pack control systems sized for an additional 60MWh (for a total of 70MWh) for each vessel, enabling the vessels to sail nearly emission free for up to two hours as charging infrastructure becomes available. This future-ready design is intended to eliminate the need for major structural modifications and positions BC Ferries at the forefront of large vessel electrification. The Corvus Dolphin NxtGen Power system - featuring advanced liquid-cooled power cells, improved energy density, and enhanced safety architecture - is said to represent a significant technological leap in marine battery performance. The ESS will be integrated into the power and propulsion package for the new vessels. BC Ferries selected Corvus based on its experience delivering largescale marine battery installations, its operational presence in British Columbia, and its track record powering the company's Island class fleet. This ensures long-term lifecycle support for the new vessels, from commissioning through decades of service. Fredrik Witte, CEO Corvus Energy, said: "We are delighted to be selected again by BC Ferries for this flagship project. BC Ferries continues to drive one of the most ambitious and technically advanced ferry electrification programmes in the world. Our Dolphin NxtGen technology brings the next leap in performance and safety, enabling these vessels to operate efficiently today while paving the way for a fully electric future. We are extra proud that these batteries have been developed at our product development hub in Vancouver, BC." BC Ferries provides service on 25 routes to 47 terminals and transports approximately 9.7m vehicles and 22.7m passengers annually. BC Ferries' new major vessels (NMV) programme, the company's largest capital investment to date, aims to renew the BC Ferries fleet, increase service capacity, and enable more environmentally sustainable operations. Each of the four new double-ended ferries will be capable of carrying up to 360 vehicles and 2,100 passengers and crew. Designed in collaboration with LMG Marin, the vessels will feature diesel-battery hybrid propulsion, including compatibility with biofuel or renewable diesel. Their architecture supports a seamless future transition to near zero-emission, all-electric ferry operation when shore charging infrastructure is in place. BC Ferries' Head of Fleet Renewal, Ed Hooper, added: "BC Ferries is looking towards the future of what passenger ferry transport can be for the people, businesses and communities that rely on our ferries every day. Our challenge today is an ageing fleet, most notably impacting our major routes. When the new Summit class vessels begin to arrive in 2029, we will be adding more capacity and building better reliability into the way we do business. These vessels will have a long lifespan and working with dependable, long-term partners like Corvus Energy who have a local BC presence and proven ability to support the full system lifecycle, is key to our fleet renewal journey." The first vessel is scheduled for delivery by 2029 from China Merchants Shipbuilding Industry Group Weihai Shipyard, with all four entering service by 2031. Image: BC Ferries design rendering (credit: BC Ferries)
Mott MacDonald appointed to support upgrades at BC Ferries' Horseshoe Bay and Langdale terminals. July 28, 2026 News. Modernizing vital ferry connections for British Columbia's coastal communities. Mott MacDonald Group has been appointed as owner's engineer to support BC Ferries on the Horseshoe Bay/Langdale Infrastructure Program, involving a phased upgrade of the Langdale Terminal on the Sunshine Coast and the Horseshoe Bay Terminal in West Vancouver - one of the busiest ferry terminals on Canada's West Coast. As part of an integrated team alongside Stantec and Westmar Advisors, Mott MacDonald Group will help advance this major long-term infrastructure program that will modernize a vital link between British Columbia's Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast, and Vancouver Island. The program is expected to span approximately five years. BC Ferries' Horseshoe Bay Terminal is a key transportation hub connecting coastal communities across British Columbia. In operation for more than 65 years and serving nearly 7 million travelers each year, Horseshoe Bay is a critical part of the region's transportation network. Langdale Terminal has been in operation for over 70 years and plays a vital role in connecting the Sunshine Coast to the Lower Mainland. Planned upgrades include marine works and upland civil improvements, which will improve on-time performance, enhance customer experience, and support continued safe and reliable operations. As owner's engineer, Mott MacDonald Group will provide engineering and delivery planning for the project, including developing concept and final designs, preparing management plans, and providing cost, schedule and risk inputs to support funding decisions. Delivering this program in a constrained coastal environment beside an active community and marina demands careful planning, close collaboration and smart sequencing. Maintaining ferry operations throughout the phased redevelopment will require integrated thinking across disciplines and a clear focus on constructability, resilience and long-term performance. "This project is an important opportunity to help BC Ferries deliver a more resilient, efficient and passenger-focused terminal for the communities and travelers who rely on Horseshoe Bay and Langdale every day," said Nick Stewart, project manager at Mott MacDonald. "We are proud to support this program that will strengthen connectivity and improve the customer experience for the long term."
Surikat to support BC Ferries cargo operations modernisation. Surikat has launched a Discovery and Blueprint project with BC Ferries to optimise the operator's drop trailer business at the terminals of Duke Point Terminal, Swartz Bay Terminal and Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. The project aims to reduce manual processes, improve real-time data visibility, support data-driven decision-making, and enhance dispatching, scheduling and customer collaboration. It will also prepare the ground for the future implementation of Surikat's cloud-based Lynx platform. According to Surikat, the project represents the first step in a longer-term partnership focused on the digitalisation of ferry terminal and logistics operations.
Stantec to lead engineering in Horseshoe Bay terminal redevelopment for BC Ferries. The West Vancouver facility handles nearly seven million travellers annually and has been in operation for more than 65 years By Alex Smith | 29 May 2026 BC Ferries has appointed Stantec as prime consultant for the phased redevelopment of its Horseshoe Bay terminal in West Vancouver. The programme, expected to last approximately nine years, will modernise aging infrastructure at a terminal that has been in operation for over 65 years and serves close to seven million travellers annually. Planned works include marine structures, upland civil improvements and upgraded multimodal transport connections, with operations to remain active throughout construction. The redevelopment aims to improve on-time performance, enhance passenger comfort and support the long-term reliability of services connecting coastal and island communities across British Columbia. Stantec will work alongside Mott MacDonald and Westmar Advisors under a construction manager at risk model, in which the construction manager joins the project team during the design phase and commits to a guaranteed maximum price before works begin. Its scope covers permitting and multidisciplinary engineering coordination across structural, environmental, electrical, mechanical, geotechnical and civil marine disciplines, as well as constructability reviews. Work will be delivered through a series of call-up assignments under a master services agreement. According to Stantec, the terminal's location presents particular logistical challenges. The facility is situated next to a constrained coastal environment adjacent to an active community and marina, and ferry operations will need to continue uninterrupted throughout the redevelopment. "This is one of the significant infrastructure upgrades in the Lower Mainland," said Kip Skabar, senior principal and Canada ports sector leader at Stantec. "We're proud to be a long-term partner to BC Ferries and to manage a complex program to deliver a world-class ferry facility."
BC Ferries prepares for another busy summer travel season. Monday, May 25, 2026 at 7:36 AM By Jay Herrington BC Ferries is gearing up for what could be another record-breaking summer, with demand expected to surpass last year's already busy travel season. The ferry service says more than 10.3-million passengers and 4.1-million vehicles travelled aboard its vessels last summer. Higher numbers are expected this year due to events like the World Cup. To prepare, BC Ferries says it has completed refits on 22 vessels, carried out maintenance across its entire 37-vessel fleet, and hired more than 630 seasonal workers to help reduce the risk of staffing-related cancellations. The company is also launching its summer schedule earlier than usual, beginning June 11th, two weeks ahead of previous years, adding 1,800 extra round trips during the peak season. Additional service is being introduced on several routes, including extended two-ship service between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale, while more reservation spaces and discounted Saver fares are being offered to encourage travellers to spread out demand. BC Ferries noted new customer tools were also rolled out, including expanded sailing alerts and the online booking waitlist for travel between Comox and Powell River. Customers planning to travel this summer are encouraged to book early, travel during off-peak times if possible, and allow extra time during busy periods.