José Romero y Fernández de Landa (1735–1807), better known as Romero Landa[1] was a Spanish military officer who was the Spanish Navy's first official naval engineer and ship designer.

He is also notable as the writer of Reglamento de maderas necesarias para la fábrica de los baxeles del Rey (Rules for the wood necessary for building the King's ships), published in 1784,[1] and which specified the number and dimensions of the hulls, equipment, masts and rigging for ships of 100, 74, 64 and 34 guns.

In 1754 he transferred to the navy, becoming an 'alférez de fragata' (ensign) and commanded the 5th Company of the 2nd Battalion of Marines at Ferrol.

On 1 November 1765 he started working at the shipyard at Guarnizo, under the ship designer Francisco Gautier.

Five of the ships built to Romero Landa's design saw action at Trafalgar:[1]