Barge Port Engineer

Kirby Corporation•Findlay Township, PA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This shoreside position primarily involves administrative oversight of maintenance and repair of barge equipment, including dockside problem-solving and major shipyard repairs, both scheduled and unscheduled. The position does not require serving as a crew member operating a specific vessel. The Barge Port Engineer plans and oversees maintenance, inspections, repairs, modifications, and upgrades to support barge readiness and compliance. The role coordinates with Port Captains, Operations, Safety teams, maintenance personnel, and third-party vendors; monitors costs, schedules, and work quality; maintains repair and compliance records; and responds to mechanical failures or incidents. Duties primarily take place in an office, dock, or shop environment, with occasional boarding of boats and barges. Overnight stays on vessels are typically not required, though periodic overnight travel to different regions may be necessary. The standard schedule is five days per week, eight hours per day, with an on-call rotation as scheduled.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least 2 years of related experience in the barge and marine transportation industry.
TWIC.
Strong interpersonal and written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to make decisions and exercise good judgment.
Planning and budgeting skills.
Organizational and time-management skills.
Negotiation skills.
Basic computer skills, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access.
Ability to operate a company or personal vehicle for business use.
Ability to climb aboard and move around vessels, including climbing 90-degree vertical ladders.
Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 pounds from floor to waist level and exert push/pull forces of 50–60 pounds.
Ability to frequently bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb, balance, lift, carry, reach, and handle items with arms, hands, and fingers.
Ability to wear required personal protective equipment and put on a safety vest within 2 minutes with minimum effort.
Ability to walk the length of a 500-foot barge tow and return to inspect barge conditions, when required.
Ability to commute distances as required.
Ability to work five days a week, eight hours per day, and participate in an on-call rotation as scheduled.
Ability to travel overnight to different regions periodically, if necessary.
Demonstrated teamwork, adaptability, integrity, initiative, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

Plan, coordinate, and oversee scheduled and unscheduled barge maintenance and repair to ensure operational readiness and compliance with safety and environmental standards.
Diagnose and promptly resolve mechanical, structural, and system issues.
Conduct routine inspections to identify potential problems and minimize downtime.
Ensure maintenance and repair work complies with company policies and applicable USCG, ABS, OSHA, and environmental requirements.
Maintain accurate inspection, repair, and compliance certification documentation.
Monitor and verify the quality of work performed by third-party vendors.
Prepare cost estimates for barge repair and maintenance projects.
Ensure work is completed within approved budgets and timelines.
Manage barge modification and upgrade projects from planning through completion.
Prepare detailed project reports and track progress.
Coordinate with Port Captains, Operations, and Safety teams to support barge reliability and compliance.
Provide technical expertise and guidance to support fleet operations.
Respond promptly to mechanical failures or incidents and coordinate necessary repairs.
Investigate incidents and implement corrective measures to prevent recurrence.
Ensure maintenance personnel are appropriately trained on barge systems and safety procedures.
Perform other duties as assigned.