Maritime Engineer - Fleet Maintenance & Refit

SailFuture•St. Petersburg, FL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

SailFuture is seeking a hands-on Maritime Engineer to maintain and refit a five-vessel fleet used for student expeditions, crew training, and organizational operations. The role is based in St. Petersburg, Florida, with travel to vessels and shipyards and regular domestic and international travel. The engineer will diagnose and repair systems, perform maintenance directly or engage specialists, and plan refits and shipyard periods to keep the fleet operational and ready for sea. The fleet includes a 105-foot Feadship and a 54-foot Hatteras Flybridge requiring repairs for operational readiness, a 100-foot ketch that is operational, and a 65-foot MacGregor sloop and 24-foot SafeBoat requiring full refits. Systems include diesel propulsion and generators, running gear, DC and AC electrical systems, battery banks, inverters, shore power, solar, watermakers, sanitation, refrigeration, chilled-water air conditioning, hydraulics, thrusters, steering, and, on sailboats, rigging, winches, windlasses, and sail-handling equipment in coordination with riggers and sailmakers. The engineer will establish preventative maintenance routines, maintain records and inventories, manage vendors and parts sourcing, and lead vessel refits from condition assessment and scope development through commissioning and sea trials. They will also support captains in addressing inspection, survey, audit, flag-state, classification, insurance, and safety requirements, and plan for machinery failures and emergency response. The role requires willingness to work in engine rooms, travel internationally, and work aboard vessels when needed. The position reports to the Fleet Manager & CEO. Salary is $65,000 base plus annual Impact Compensation. The stated start date is February 1, 2027.

Requirements

Substantial professional experience maintaining, repairing, or operating complex recreational, commercial, or large-yacht vessels.
Hands-on experience with several relevant systems, such as marine diesel, generators, DC and AC electrical systems, inverters and battery systems, plumbing, HVAC and refrigeration, hydraulics, watermakers, marine electronics, fiberglass, and carpentry.
Ability to read wiring diagrams, schematics, and mechanical drawings and independently research unfamiliar equipment.
Ability to run projects and hold shipyards and contractors accountable.
Ability to maintain organized records and documentation.
Willingness to work in engine rooms, travel internationally, and work aboard vessels when needed.
Valid driver’s license and passport.

Nice To Haves

USCG credential or STCW.
Yacht refit management experience.
International vessel operations experience.
Experience on vessels 50 to 120 feet, including sailing vessels.
Experience with older vessels carrying several generations of equipment.

Responsibilities

Build and run a preventative maintenance program for every vessel.
Diagnose and repair engines, generators, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, hydraulics, and refrigeration systems.
Perform repairs directly or determine when a specialist is needed.
Keep logs, service histories, manuals, and spare-parts inventories current.
Ensure critical spares are aboard before offshore voyages.
Set daily through annual maintenance routines with captains and crew.
Assess vessel condition and develop prioritized scopes of work for refits and shipyard periods.
Prepare project budgets, schedules, equipment specifications, and bid packages.
Evaluate shipyard and contractor proposals and keep projects on time and on budget.
Inspect completed work, conduct commissioning and sea trials, and update documentation.
Build and maintain relationships with shipyards, contractors, and suppliers.
Negotiate pricing, define scopes, and check invoices against completed work.
Source parts domestically and internationally, including obsolete equipment.
Decide whether equipment should be repaired or replaced.
Help captains close out findings from inspections, surveys, and audits.
Support flag-state, classification, insurance, and safety requirements.
Plan for machinery failures and emergency response.
Coordinate with riggers and sailmakers on sailboat rigging, winches, windlasses, and sail-handling gear.