Matthew Robbins
Naval Architect | Marine Engineer
Mount Pearl,Newfoundland & Labrador
Summary
Consummate professional Naval Architect and Marine Systems Engineer with 15 years of comprehensive experience in design of marine crafts and floating structures. Strong familiarity with concept and detail design of ships (combatants and non-combatants), submarines, and other offshore floating structures. International operational experience supervising highly-skilled teams of technical personnel in the operation of marine propulsion, electrical and hull systems under resource-constrained conditions. Collaborative and easygoing with exceptional creativity and problem-solving skills.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
19
19
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Language
Work History
Senior Naval Architect
Naval Surface Warfare Center-Carderock Division
08.2023 - 09.2025
- Responsible for acting as mentor, leading instructional authority and technical subject matter expert for work production by new hire (less than 3 years in the workforce development cycle) as well as junior and early-
intermediate engineers, engineering students, and interns. Working as a senior staff engineer within this skill incubator to educate, coach and foster both engineering soft skills critical to workforce development in a Defence environment as well as advanced technical competence with respect to the USN’s prescribed process of ship design at the feasibility and
concept levels. - Primary duties supporting this objective include acting as a SME for Surface Combatant and Non-Combatant designs in addition to provision of general Marine Engineering technical knowledge and shipboard technical/operational perspectives. Additionally, as a senior staff member, proposed and engaged in assorted quarterly projects aimed at
introducing (or verifying/validating) innovative designs, design processes, or procedures which optimize the USN’s design philosophy. - Provides research and guidance concerning technical knowledge, acts as a conduit between trainees and NAVSEA SMEs.
- Liaised with myriad internal and external stakeholders throughout the NAVSEA community, the American Society of Naval Engineers, the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, as well as various U.S., Canadian, and U.K. academic institutions.
Marine Systems Engineering Officer
Royal Canadian Navy
08.2021 - 08.2022
- Head of His Majesty's Canadian Ship PROTECTEUR's Marine Systems Engineering Department; directly responsible to the Commanding Officer for the readiness, operation and maintenance of propulsion and ancillary systems, power generation and distribution, auxiliary systems, ship’s service systems, ship and machinery control systems, hull structure, ship’s stability, damage control, and the integration of these systems. Supported Replenishment at Sea operations and flight operations of the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter through the maintenance and operation of all flight deck, hangar and helicopter fuelling systems.
Mission Propulsion Systems Technical Lead
Directorate Of Major Project Delivery | PMO JSS
09.2020 - 08.2021
- Provide adjudication, oversight, and governance functions within the PMO for technical deliverables submitted by industry stakeholders in support of JSS’ concept, preliminary, and detailed design;
- Evaluate project plans and work specifications for functional design proposals of primary propulsion equipment and structural hull work;
- Produce, track, and collaborate on the development of project documentation related to the vessel and overall project deliverables in accordance with the PMI’s PMBOK framework;
- Provide a comprehensive range of briefs concerning project opportunities and risks to diverse stakeholder groups from technical, naval operational, and engineering and procurement business process points of view;
- Develop and monitor project metrics and manage the collection of project data;
- Monitor work in progress prepared internally and as-reported by external contractors to furnish weekly reports of the status of myriad project KPIs;
- Review and approve all deliverables including, but not limited to work procedures, finite element analyses, rules-based & first principal-derived calculations submitted by contractors in support of design & production engineering requirements;
- Assess functional, technical, and project procedural readiness of vendors in fulfillment of an incentivized gate-based contract;
- Providing technical advice, answering stakeholder queries, and interpreting data and test
results to substantiate fluid construction priorities of a concurrent design and build strategy;
Project Naval ArchitectShip Structural Engineering
Royal Canadian Navy, Directorate Of Naval Platform Systems 2
09.2016 - 08.2020
- Assessing project requirements and researching feasibility; Providing structural evaluation and interpretation of drawings related to in-service vessels and Project Management Office designs of new vessels in accordance with commercial and naval classification rules; Providing structural evaluation and interpretation of marine surveys and other observed structural faults and their implications to in-service vessels; Negotiating, assigning and managing project budgets, timescales and specifications for major and minor engineering changes; Conducting technical impact analysis of major and minor structural engineering changes; Evaluating the suitability and conformity of structural drawings of marine vessels in accordance with class rules, Transport Canada Standards, and Canadian Forces Technical Orders; Reviewing statements of requirement for sourcing and purchasing components, equipment and materials to support naval architectural systems; and, Providing technical advice, answering stakeholder queries, and interpreting data and test results to substantiate critical, opportunity, and non-essential hull work.
Deputy Marine Systems Engineering Officer
Royal Canadian Navy, HMCS ATHABASKAN
06.2015 - 08.2016
- Acted as the Engineering Officer in the incumbent's absence, providing technical support to Command and running the daily operations of the Marine Systems Engineering Department; Co-managed a department of 54 mechanical, electrical and hull technicians and fire fighters with direct management of 25 mechanical and electrical technicians; Liaised with shore support staff to obtain necessary second- and third-line support for preventative and corrective maintenance requirements both nationally and abroad; Led work package preparation for two of the ship's Short Work Periods, liaising with the Repair Facility and MARLANT Headquarters to prioritize the work and ensure that the ship was operationally ready for its impending operations; Conducted several trials to verify the correct operation of critical propulsion components, and provided written documentation to the trial authority ashore; and Provided all ranks mentorship and focused training and education concerning shipboard damage control, marine systems knowledge and the delivery of essential engineering services.
Deputy Programme Manager/Project Leader
Royal Canadian Navy, Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Scott, Minor War Vessels, Auxiliaries, & Submarines
11.2014 - 06.2015
- Monitored the progress of HMCS WINDSOR's Docking Work Periods (DWP) and Short Work Periods (SWP) through various SAP-generated reports; Briefed executive-level staff regarding project plans, work period progress, and operations management issues utilizing industry-standard key performance indicators; Analyzed and disseminated performance information through varying mediums including formal meetings, informal communications channels and enterprise resource planning software i.e
- Defence Resource Management Information System (DRMIS (SAP); Monitored and technically approved invoices from Fleet Maintenance Facilities (FMF), and third-party contractors processed through Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC); and Recommended, assessed and implemented changes in the scope, duration and cost of work for submarine work periods.
Assistant Head of Department Trainee-Marine Systems Engineering
Royal Canadian Navy, HMCS IROQUOIS
11.2013 - 11.2014
- Provided detailed briefs to the ship's Engineering Officer regarding the state of main propulsion, ancillary, auxiliary and electrical systems; Developed a detailed subject-matter expert degree of theoretical and practical operation of marine systems equipment; Managed a team of 6 supervisors and 19 technicians responsible for the safe and efficient operation, performance and maintenance of Marine Systems Engineering equipment and systems; Engaged in a variety of personnel, managerial, and administrative staff work including human resource, logistics, budget and maintenance scheduling and management; Developed and practically demonstrated advanced knowledge of at-sea damage control operations; Developed and practically demonstrated advanced technical knowledge of machinery operation, maintenance requirements and managing stability and structural integrity of the ship; Performed technical risk assessments as part of the overall Navy's risk management construct; Prepared, disseminated and maintained departmental orders and instructions; and Presented detailed technical briefs addressing issues concerning docking, undocking and care of the vessel while in dock, as required.
Education
Master of Science - Project Management
Colorado State University
Aurora, CO, USA 03.2016 - Current
Master of Engineering - Ocean & Naval Architectural Engineering
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John's, NL, Canada 05.2001 -
Bachelor of Engineering - Ocean & Naval Architectural Engineering
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John's, NL, Canada 09.2007 - 05.2012
Bachelor of Arts - English Literature | Business Administration
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John's, NL, Canada 09.2003 - 05.2007
General Studies - Mathematics & Sociology
College of The North Atlantic
Carbonear, NL, Canada 01.2003 - 05.2003
High School Diploma (Honors track) -
Sir Winston Churchill High School
Calgary, AB, Canada 09.1999 - 05.2002
Drydock Operations & Management - undefined
10.2016 - 05.2016
Skills
Marine Engineering
Publications
Libations and Nosh: The Role of Food and Drink in University Dating Intimacy, Culture & Tradition: The Canadian Graduate Student Journal of Culture & Ethnology, 26, 2004
References
Available upon request
Timeline
Senior Naval Architect
Naval Surface Warfare Center-Carderock Division
08.2023 - 09.2025
Marine Systems Engineering Officer
Royal Canadian Navy
08.2021 - 08.2022
Mission Propulsion Systems Technical Lead
Directorate Of Major Project Delivery | PMO JSS
09.2020 - 08.2021
Drydock Operations & Management - undefined
10.2016 - 05.2016
Project Naval ArchitectShip Structural Engineering
Royal Canadian Navy, Directorate Of Naval Platform Systems 2
09.2016 - 08.2020
Master of Science - Project Management
Colorado State University
03.2016 - Current
Deputy Marine Systems Engineering Officer
Royal Canadian Navy, HMCS ATHABASKAN
06.2015 - 08.2016
Deputy Programme Manager/Project Leader
Royal Canadian Navy, Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Scott, Minor War Vessels, Auxiliaries, & Submarines
11.2014 - 06.2015
Assistant Head of Department Trainee-Marine Systems Engineering
Royal Canadian Navy, HMCS IROQUOIS
11.2013 - 11.2014
Bachelor of Engineering - Ocean & Naval Architectural Engineering
Memorial University of Newfoundland
09.2007 - 05.2012
Bachelor of Arts - English Literature | Business Administration
Memorial University of Newfoundland
09.2003 - 05.2007
General Studies - Mathematics & Sociology
College of The North Atlantic
01.2003 - 05.2003
Master of Engineering - Ocean & Naval Architectural Engineering
Memorial University of Newfoundland
05.2001 -
High School Diploma (Honors track) -
Sir Winston Churchill High School
09.1999 - 05.2002
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