After studying at the École Polytechnique he qualified as a marine engineer, working at the Rochefort Naval Dockyard.

Maugas's designs favoured a single-hull construction, though he adopted dual propulsion, as opposed to earlier single-engine designs, integrating diesel engines for surface propulsion with electric motors when submerged.

[1] In 1911, he was appointed chief engineer at the Toulon Arsenal, and served during the First World War as an advisor to Marshal Foch.

After the war Maugas was director of the HADIR (Hauts-Fourneaux et Aciéries de Differdange-St Ingebert-Rumelange) steel works in Differdange, Luxembourg.

Gabriel Maugas was made Knight ("Chevalier") of the Legion of Honour in July 1902.