Consultant (Maritime engineer)
Contract type/Duration: Permanent
Working hours: Full Time 9 Day Fortnight working pattern
Band: 2.3
Salary: £49,210 - £58,651 (depending on office location and proven ability)
Reports to: Head of Maritime
Location: Milton Keynes or London (minimum of two days a week in the office. You can do more than two days if preferable)
Closing date: 10am on the 21st of August 2026
The Role
We are living in a rapidly changing world where technology will drive radical changes in mobility over the next 10 years. We need your creativity, enthusiasm, and passion for making a difference to help us accelerate the development of future transport.
We need your skills and experience to join our innovative team helping to deliver the solutions that will enable the low carbon economy we envision.
You will be part of the Aviation and Maritime team within the Transport Business Unit, focusing on the Maritime sector primarily to support the maturation and operational readiness of maritime technology - particularly that which supports the adoption of new fuels, digitalisation and autonomy. Driven by productivity and operational efficiency gains, the team works with innovators, SMEs (small and medium enterprises), and other industry partners to accelerate the incorporation of this new and impactful technology to better serve the needs of the maritime and shipping sector.
Our aims include stimulating innovation in the maritime sector, developing new markets, supporting the transition to zero-carbon fuels and maintaining the UK’s position as a world-leading innovator.
To achieve these aims, we apply a holistic systems approach to innovation, bringing together inter-related components of successful innovation programmes to maximize impact and leverage initiatives. Examples of such programmes include:
- Decarbonisation of Ports and Shipping through
- Collaborative research into alternative fuels and development of innovative technologies for improving vessel fuel efficiency, such as wind assisted propulsion and novel hull designs.
- Understanding the market demand, end-user needs and supply chain capabilities required to enable the deployment and scale-up of these technologies
- Enabling deployment of maritime autonomy and digitalisation, through removal of barriers and transfer of knowledge to industry through collaboration and trial design.
- Evaluation and selection of applicants to Government funded research programmes, such as the Transport Research Innovation Grant (TRIG), ensuring that the applications meet the objectives of the programmes and generate lasting impact for the maritime sector.
We are looking for creative and energetic individuals, with a passion for making a difference and the ability to contribute to and accelerate the development of the future maritime industries. You will work collaboratively across Connected Places Catapult and with external partners to shape and deliver projects, making improvements that will lead to national and regional economic growth.
You will play a key role in the delivery of substantial projects, working with colleagues and external partners. Project demands will vary, and we want you to utilise your strengths to maximise your impact.
As a Consultant in the Maritime team you will be expected to -
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Providing technical input into projects relating to one or more initiatives on behalf of a range of commercial and government clients.
- Enabling industry to build required capabilities for growth and innovation to address market barriers and create opportunities.
- Helping to develop strategies and project ideas on one or more initiatives.
- Building relationships with customers, project partners and other industry/government/academic stakeholders, especially the InnovateUK family, including other Catapults, and the Department for Transport
- Contributing to programmes with substantial complexity, requiring delegation of tasks to team members.
- Delivering impactful analysis and reports to customers, to meet budget, timing and quality expectations.
- Developing your own skills and capabilities to deliver work that aligns with our objectives.
- Contributing to business development by identifying opportunities and contributing to proposals and bidding activity as required.
- Representing Connected Places Catapult at relevant industry events, conferences, and meetings as appropriate.
- Undertaking any other reasonable duties to support the Connected Places Catapult in achieving its strategic outcomes and ensuring effective business operations including providing cover for members of the team as required.
We are searching for curious systems-thinkers who are confident engaging with external stakeholders – ports, vessel operators, technology providers and public sector - developing new business opportunities alongside technical project delivery, and who are looking to further develop their strategic and consultancy skills.
To be successful in this role you will have a good awareness of the maritime ecosystem and how it is structured, with experience of one or more of the following:
- Establishing and growing networks which generate new business opportunities
- Taking projects through the full life-cycle from concept to delivery
- Excellent communication skills – verbal and written
- Stakeholder engagement
- Systems analysis and scenarios development
- Fuel demand modelling and data synthesis
- Port infrastructures
- Experience of InnovateUK Collaborative Research and Development programmes (CR&D) would also be beneficial
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9 day fortnight for everyone, we have a full company shutdown every other Friday.
- 23.5 holiday entitlement for everyone, with pro-rata calculations for part-time employees, along with a Christmas shutdown period for additional days off.
- Competitive pension, up to 10% company contribution to help you save for your future.
- Two paid days of volunteering leave per year (pro-rata for part-time employees) to support charitable activities.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providing 24/7 confidential work/life support services to you and your immediate family members.
- Cycle to Work Scheme encouraging a healthy and sustainable commute.
- Cash Health Plan, offering reimbursement for a wide range of essential and everyday healthcare expenses, promoting your well-being.
- Payroll Giving scheme, allowing regular charitable contributions from pre-tax income, maximizing the impact of your donations.
- Discounts and offers from a wide variety of retailers, enhancing your purchasing power and providing savings opportunities.
- Mortgage Advice benefit, delivered in partnership with Charles Cameron & Associates – provides employees with free, expert mortgage advice and end-to-end mortgage support from the application process through to completion.
At Connected Places Catapult, we are on a mission to create better connected places across the UK and beyond. We believe that innovation is the key to unlocking the potential of our towns, cities, and transport systems, making them more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous for everyone.
When connected places work, it benefits:
People: wellbeing, access and inclusion for everyone.
Planet: sustainable and increasingly regenerative living and moving.
Prosperity: prosperous local economies and trade.
From supporting SMEs to develop clean transport technologies to helping local authorities unlock innovation in public procurement, our work is making a tangible difference. We help businesses secure millions in investment, create jobs, and drive forward solutions that address climate change, social isolation, and economic inequality.
