Tugboat Engineer

Curtin Maritime•Seattle, WA

10d•$450 - $875•Onsite

About The Position

Curtin Maritime is hiring Tugboat Engineers at Engineer I through Engineer V levels. Engineers work directly with the Port Engineer and Vessel Captain, applying the company’s values of Innovation, Integrity, and Efficiency and maintaining the Curtin Standard aboard the vessel. Engineers take responsibility for vessel engineering, maintenance, troubleshooting, compliance, recordkeeping, and—in more senior roles—team leadership, repairs, audits, and vessel commissioning. The position is full-time. Days and hours are project-specific, and the work requires significant time and travel away from home, frequently including long hours, weekends, and offshore travel. Employees may live anywhere in the United States; Curtin Maritime coordinates and fully pays for travel to and from the vessel. The role requires sound mechanical and logistical judgment, attention to detail, ownership, communication, and the ability to make safe decisions in stressful or potentially dangerous situations. Physical work includes moving around vessels and uneven surfaces, climbing, lifting, handling lines and wire rigging, operating deck machinery, working below decks and in confined spaces, and performing emergency duties. Candidates must be able to swim. Responsibilities and qualifications vary by level. Engineer I candidates need basic tug engineering experience and troubleshooting ability. Successively higher levels require broader vessel and systems expertise, increasingly advanced licenses, stronger regulatory and VMS proficiency, greater leadership responsibilities, and experience with major repairs, dry-dockings, system installations, audits, and commissioning vessels. Daily compensation ranges from $450 to $875 depending on level.

Requirements

TWIC Card.
MMC – OS/Wiper for Engineer I; Engineer II and above require all Engineer I licenses and MMC – QMED/Oiler.
CG Medical Certificate.
Passport.
Engineer III and above require DDE 1000 or higher-level credentials specified for the position; Engineer IV requires DDE 4000, and Engineer V requires DDE Any HP – 500 Ton.
Experience as an assistant or sole engineer on tugs, as applicable to level.
Basic or higher troubleshooting ability across electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical vessel systems, progressing to thorough understanding and repair ability across fleet systems at higher levels.
Ability to operate a tow winch and clean and maintain an engine room to the Curtin Standard.
Basic proficiency or higher in operating the Vessel Management System (VMS), including recordkeeping and reporting; senior levels require proficiency, full utilization, and a demonstrated ability to train others.
Understanding and compliance with the Curtin Standard.
Strong attention to detail and organizational skills; sound mechanical and logistical reasoning; ownership and proactive work habits.
Ability to handle stressful situations and make safe, effective decisions, including during emergencies or potentially dangerous conditions.
Strong communication skills and ability to instruct or train crew at different levels.
Ability to mentor and support the development and success of others.
Physical ability to traverse uneven ground and gangways at varying heights; bend, stoop, squat, and climb steps and ladders frequently; safely lift 40 pounds; handle heavy or awkward equipment, lines, and wire rigging; operate deck machinery; and work in poorly accessible areas, below decks, and in confined spaces.
Ability to perform emergency duties and use emergency equipment onboard the vessel.
Must be able to swim and maintain personal hygiene and cleanliness.
Engineer II and above: ability to perform Deckhand I–III duties; increasing ability to understand and troubleshoot vessel systems, including the ability to learn the engineering systems on unfamiliar vessels.
Engineer III and above: understanding of Sub-M, ABS, and USCG requirements; Engineer III requires thorough understanding and experience participating in internal and external audits.
Engineer IV and above: advanced engineering, troubleshooting, and repair skills across fleet equipment; heavy repair experience; system installation experience; basic welding skills; and experience managing repairs or dry-dockings and working with vendors, regulatory bodies, shipyards, and shore-side personnel.

Nice To Haves

Engineer I: MMC QMED/Oiler, Able Seaman Endorsement, and STCW Basic Training.
Engineer III: STCW – RFPEW.
Engineer IV: STCW – RFPEW and AS-Engine.
Engineer V: STCW – RFPEW, AS-Engine, and STCW – OICEW.

Responsibilities

Work directly with the Port Engineer and Vessel Captain while maintaining the Curtin Standard onboard.
Operate as an assistant or sole engineer on tugs and troubleshoot vessel electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical systems, as applicable to level.
Operate tow winches and keep the engine room clean and maintained to the Curtin Standard.
Use the Vessel Management System (VMS), comply with applicable standards and requirements, and maintain thorough records and reports for the Port Engineer.
Take ownership of assigned vessels, maintain inventories and work plans, proactively create requisitions, and leave vessels cleaner than found.
Plan work with the Port Engineer and Captain while underway.
Manage Deckhands, vessel teams, or crew on projects and during downtime as applicable to level; assign, monitor, and ensure completion of tasks.
Train and mentor Engineers I and II and Deckhands, lead by example, and provide constructive feedback, as applicable to level.
Troubleshoot and repair vessel equipment and systems; perform heavy repairs and system installations as applicable to level.
Plan and manage vessel readiness, repairs, dry-dockings, vendors, shipyards, and project work as applicable to level.
Participate in external and internal audits and help develop audit criteria, standard operating procedures, and training content as applicable to level.
Commission new vessels into the fleet, including preparing critical spares lists and standard operating procedures, as applicable to level.