Good demand for naval architect roles
Opportunities for naval architects are good because there's a shortage of naval architects and a demand for work on ferries, yachts, and navy support.
Naval Architects (aka Marine Designer) will appear on Immigration New Zealand's Green List from March 2024. This means the Government is actively encouraging these skilled workers from overseas to work in New Zealand.
According to the Census, 111 naval architects worked in New Zealand in 2018.
Marine experience improves chances of finding work
Your chances of getting work as a naval architect are best if you can get boat building or marine engineering work experience on high performance sailing yachts, or commercial vessels such as fishing boats.
Most naval architect jobs based in Auckland
Most naval architect jobs are in Auckland, with about 60% of naval architects based there.
However, there are also significant numbers working in the Bay of Plenty and Northland, with the rest based around New Zealand.
Self-employment common among naval architects
Naval architects are often self-employed. They may also work for:
- small boat design companies
- mechanical and structural engineers
- marine consultants
- marine surveyors
- marine inspectors
- government organisations such as Ministry of Defence, Maritime New Zealand, or port authorities.
