Job Title: Senior Navigation Specialist
Location: Houston, Texas or Remote Work
Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time
About BMT
BMT is dedicated to tackling the most crucial engineering challenges of our era, fostering an environment where individuals with exceptional technical expertise provide meaningful, practical solutions. Committed to creating a safer, more efficient, effective, and sustainable future, BMT values diversity, equity, and inclusion, recognizing their pivotal role in achieving our business purpose. Learn more about BMT at www.bmt.org.
Location: Houston, Texas or Remote Work
Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time
About BMT
BMT is dedicated to tackling the most crucial engineering challenges of our era, fostering an environment where individuals with exceptional technical expertise provide meaningful, practical solutions. Committed to creating a safer, more efficient, effective, and sustainable future, BMT values diversity, equity, and inclusion, recognizing their pivotal role in achieving our business purpose. Learn more about BMT at www.bmt.org.
The Senior Navigator is responsible for providing professional technical advice in support of simulation-based activities related to navigation, bridge operations, and ship handling. The role supports the effective design, delivery, and execution of our simulation services by bringing advanced operational expertise to our simulation environments, ensuring realistic, safe, and operationally credible outcomes.
- Provide subject matter expertise and technical advice in support of navigation and ship handling simulations, including scenario development, execution, and analysis.
- Support client activities by translating real-world maritime operations into credible simulation inputs, behaviours, and constraints.
- Perform duties as a qualified Bridge Watchkeeper, ensuring that simulation outputs reflect current operational best practices and regulatory compliance (e.g. International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). Apply advanced ship handling knowledge to validate and inform simulation scenarios across a range of operating conditions (open ocean, coastal, confined waters, port approaches).
- Operate and provide expert guidance on Electronic Navigation Systems within simulation and real-world contexts, including:
- Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS)
- Radar / ARPA (Automatic Radar Plotting Aid)
- GPS (Global Positioning System) and integrated bridge systems
- AIS (Automatic Identification System) and voyage planning tools
- Support the development and conduct of simulations, trials, and studies, including post-simulation analysis and reporting.
- Contribute operational expertise to engineering studies, concept development, and capability assessments, particularly where navigation and maneuvering are key factors.
- Provide insight into human factors and bridge team behaviors as they relate to simulated operations.
- Train, mentor, and support team members in understanding practical navigation considerations within simulation environments.
- Maintain professional and technical knowledge through ongoing certification, training, and awareness of evolving navigation technologies and simulation practices.
- Conduct reviews and provide assurance that simulation outputs and navigation-related deliverables meet client expectations and operational realism.
- Contribute to internal innovation and business development activities where simulation and operational navigation expertise is required.
Essential:
- Minimum of 10 years practical experience in ship handling, maritime navigation and/or pilotage of large seagoing vessels (e.g., cruise ships, tankers, naval platforms).
- Valid Bridge Watchkeeper Certificate of Competency (STCW compliant)
- Extensive experience with Electronic Navigation Systems (ECDIS, Radar/ARPA, AIS, GPS, integrated bridge systems), including their representation and use in simulated environments
- Ability to translate real-world operational practices into credible simulation inputs, constraints, and performance measures
- Understanding of bridge team dynamics within simulated and real-world operations
- Strong analytical skills for interpreting simulation results and providing actionable insights to clients
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, particularly in explaining complex operational behaviours within technical studies
- Strong leadership, teamwork and stakeholder engagement skills across multidisciplinary project teams
Desirable:
- Experience with bridge simulators (full mission or part-task trainers) or maritime modelling/simulation tools
- Experience in complex ship towing operations
- Familiarity with how vessel design characteristics influence maneuvering performance and simulation fidelity
- Experience contributing to marine assurance, safety cases, or operational risk assessments
- Eligible for US security clearance
- Travel to other BMT offices or client sites will be required (international and domestic)
At BMT, our employee benefits are designed to ensure you have the resources you need to thrive.
In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a wide range of benefits in areas including health, dental, vision, life insurance, long term disability, short term disability, health care flexible spending account, dependent care reimbursement plan, 401k, PTO, Nine holidays, plus one floating holiday and professional development opportunities.
Don’t hesitate to ask more about our benefits during the hiring process.
Disclaimer:
BMT hires talented people and welcomes applications from everyone. BMT is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, genetic information, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
Apply online
Does this sound like you? If so, please submit your application as soon as possible. We look forward to learning more about you.
A message to recruitment agencies: We receive applications exclusively via our ATS. Please note that we do not accept CVs submitted via email to the HR department or staff within our Operational teams. We will not progress CVs shared on a speculative basis by email, and you accept our right to pursue such candidates with no obligation to third-party terms and conditions or liability to a fee.