Newbuilding Superintendent (Jefe de Buque) - Balenciaga Shipyard (Zumaia)
Balenciaga Shipyard, part of Abu Dhabi Ports Group / Safeen Drydocks, is looking to hire a Newbuilding Superintendent to oversee vessel construction projects at our facility in Zumaia, Gipuzkoa.
About the role
The selected candidate will be the owner's technical representative embedded at the shipyard, ensuring that the vessel is built in full compliance with the contract, approved drawings, technical specifications, and classification society rules — from keel laying through to delivery.
Key responsibilities
Represent the owner's interests on-site throughout the entire newbuilding process
Monitor construction progress and verify compliance with contract specifications, approved drawings, and class requirements at every stage
Attend and witness key inspections, tests, and milestones (steel cutting, keel laying, launching, sea trials, delivery)
Review and approve technical documentation, inspection records, test reports, and class certificates
Identify, raise, and track non-conformities (NCRs), ensuring timely resolution and full traceability
Liaise with the shipyard's production, engineering, and QA departments on a daily basis
Report regularly to the owner on build status, open items, and risks
Coordinate delivery formalities and handover documentation
Candidate profile
Degree in Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, or equivalent
Minimum 5–8 years of experience in newbuilding supervision, preferably across multiple vessel types
Strong knowledge of classification society rules (Lloyd's, Bureau Veritas, DNV, or equivalent)
Hands-on experience with sea trials, inclining experiments, and vessel delivery procedures
Proven ability to manage NCRs and technical snag lists effectively
Fluent English required; Spanish and/or Basque an asset
Comfortable working embedded at a shipyard with a high degree of autonomy
We offer
A technically demanding role with full visibility over the construction process from start to finish
Integration into a shipyard undergoing recovery and modernisation, with specialised vessel construction projects
Competitive conditions based on experience and background
Zumaia, Gipuzkoa
Interested candidates please send your CV to: