Top Benefits
About the role
Company Overview
RAND Logistics operates a fleet of twenty-one U.S. and Canadian Flag commercial self-unloading free flowing bulk vessels in the Great Lakes region during the navigation season (March to January).
Position Overview
The role of the Naval Architect at RAND is designed to support the fleet’s hull structure renewals and repair needs during both the operating season and winter lay-up maintenance period. In addition, the Naval Architect is responsible for tracking the condition of hull structures, maintaining a history of renewals, and contributing to future forecasting. The role also involves supporting the fleet’s technical requirements related to vessel stability and load management, while assisting with research and development projects aimed at improving repair effectiveness, implementing major modifications, and enhancing overall efficiency. This position is in Williamsville, New York.
Responsibilities
- Assists the Manager of Technical Services with fleet hull structure renewals and repair needs, providing technical guidance for structural repairs during the operating season.
- Contributes significantly to the planning and development of hull renewals conducted during the out-of-service winter maintenance period.
- Helps maintain and optimize a twenty-year fleet capital renewal forecast by balancing short-term (0–5 years) and long-term (5+ years) reinvestment strategies to maximize asset longevity and return on investment.
- Drafts scopes of work and prepares requests for competitive bidding on structural renewal and repair projects.
- Conducts extensive on-site vessel surveys and provides technical assistance during the winter lay-up period (January–March), with occasional travel during the rest of the year for major repair needs.
- Maintains and regularly updates the company’s hull structure condition and thickness tracking records, arranges for thickness gaugings, and analyzes readings to produce technical reports.
- Supports the fleet’s vessel stability and load management requirements by offering technical guidance for cargo loading/unloading and maintaining vessel arrangement models and drawings in appropriate software.
- Assists in research and development initiatives to improve repair techniques, reduce project durations, extend project life, and support vessel modifications that enhance safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Naval Architecture
- Preferably 2-3 years at a Naval Architecture design firm, shipyard, or other Marine Related organization
- Experience designing ship structure for new vessels and/or existing vessel retrofit projects for structure or machinery
- Knowledge of USCG, Transport Canada, Classification rules (Preferred)
- Familiarity with Construction and repair of Great Lakes Vessels (Preferred)
- Must be eligible to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential ("TWIC") from the US Department of Homeland Security
- Technical specifications, TM reports reading
- Proficient in strcuture, design/modeling softaware, particularly Rhino (Preferred)
- Proficient in vessel stability and load management software, particularly CargoMax (Preferred)
- Familiar with ABS Nautical Systems (Preferred)
- Computer skills include MS Office Suite, Project Management Software, Preventative Maintenance Systems software, Technical Specifications writing
- Ability to prioritize amongst many competing tasks as well as the ability to identify risks to the operation and take steps necessary to minimize and/or mitigate risks
- Ability to work in the United States of America
- Must be able to board vessels using steep ladders, climb stairs and ladders when aboard the vessels, enter ballast tanks and cargo holds
- Must be able to travel to shipyards, ports and docks in the Great Lakes Region
Benefits
- Highly competitive wages and benefits
- Company paid travel
- Tuition Assistance
- Health Benefits
- PPE Allowance
- Relocation Assistance
- Employee Assistance Program
- On-Site Parking
- Paid Time Off
About Lower Lakes Towing Ltd.
Lower Lakes Towing grew from its infancy in 1994 as a small tug and barge operator to become one of the largest marine transportation service providers operating on the Great Lakes today.
Lower Lakes Towing operates a fleet of five self-unloading bulk carriers and two conventional bulk carriers in Canada. Combined with our U.S. sister companies, we have a combined fleet of 23 vessels on the Great Lakes. These vessels transport a diverse array of dry bulk commodities including limestone, coal, iron ore, salt, grain and other commodities for more than 50 long-standing customers in the construction, electric utility, integrated steel and food industries.
Top Benefits
About the role
Company Overview
RAND Logistics operates a fleet of twenty-one U.S. and Canadian Flag commercial self-unloading free flowing bulk vessels in the Great Lakes region during the navigation season (March to January).
Position Overview
The role of the Naval Architect at RAND is designed to support the fleet’s hull structure renewals and repair needs during both the operating season and winter lay-up maintenance period. In addition, the Naval Architect is responsible for tracking the condition of hull structures, maintaining a history of renewals, and contributing to future forecasting. The role also involves supporting the fleet’s technical requirements related to vessel stability and load management, while assisting with research and development projects aimed at improving repair effectiveness, implementing major modifications, and enhancing overall efficiency. This position is in Williamsville, New York.
Responsibilities
- Assists the Manager of Technical Services with fleet hull structure renewals and repair needs, providing technical guidance for structural repairs during the operating season.
- Contributes significantly to the planning and development of hull renewals conducted during the out-of-service winter maintenance period.
- Helps maintain and optimize a twenty-year fleet capital renewal forecast by balancing short-term (0–5 years) and long-term (5+ years) reinvestment strategies to maximize asset longevity and return on investment.
- Drafts scopes of work and prepares requests for competitive bidding on structural renewal and repair projects.
- Conducts extensive on-site vessel surveys and provides technical assistance during the winter lay-up period (January–March), with occasional travel during the rest of the year for major repair needs.
- Maintains and regularly updates the company’s hull structure condition and thickness tracking records, arranges for thickness gaugings, and analyzes readings to produce technical reports.
- Supports the fleet’s vessel stability and load management requirements by offering technical guidance for cargo loading/unloading and maintaining vessel arrangement models and drawings in appropriate software.
- Assists in research and development initiatives to improve repair techniques, reduce project durations, extend project life, and support vessel modifications that enhance safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Naval Architecture
- Preferably 2-3 years at a Naval Architecture design firm, shipyard, or other Marine Related organization
- Experience designing ship structure for new vessels and/or existing vessel retrofit projects for structure or machinery
- Knowledge of USCG, Transport Canada, Classification rules (Preferred)
- Familiarity with Construction and repair of Great Lakes Vessels (Preferred)
- Must be eligible to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential ("TWIC") from the US Department of Homeland Security
- Technical specifications, TM reports reading
- Proficient in strcuture, design/modeling softaware, particularly Rhino (Preferred)
- Proficient in vessel stability and load management software, particularly CargoMax (Preferred)
- Familiar with ABS Nautical Systems (Preferred)
- Computer skills include MS Office Suite, Project Management Software, Preventative Maintenance Systems software, Technical Specifications writing
- Ability to prioritize amongst many competing tasks as well as the ability to identify risks to the operation and take steps necessary to minimize and/or mitigate risks
- Ability to work in the United States of America
- Must be able to board vessels using steep ladders, climb stairs and ladders when aboard the vessels, enter ballast tanks and cargo holds
- Must be able to travel to shipyards, ports and docks in the Great Lakes Region
Benefits
- Highly competitive wages and benefits
- Company paid travel
- Tuition Assistance
- Health Benefits
- PPE Allowance
- Relocation Assistance
- Employee Assistance Program
- On-Site Parking
- Paid Time Off
About Lower Lakes Towing Ltd.
Lower Lakes Towing grew from its infancy in 1994 as a small tug and barge operator to become one of the largest marine transportation service providers operating on the Great Lakes today.
Lower Lakes Towing operates a fleet of five self-unloading bulk carriers and two conventional bulk carriers in Canada. Combined with our U.S. sister companies, we have a combined fleet of 23 vessels on the Great Lakes. These vessels transport a diverse array of dry bulk commodities including limestone, coal, iron ore, salt, grain and other commodities for more than 50 long-standing customers in the construction, electric utility, integrated steel and food industries.