Tugboat Engineer

Curtin Maritime•Norfolk, VA

10d•$450 - $875

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 onboard. The role includes responsibility for vessel engineering, maintenance, troubleshooting, recordkeeping, compliance, and—depending on level—crew leadership, repairs, vessel commissioning, and project management. Employees may live anywhere in the United States. Curtin Maritime coordinates and fully pays for travel to and from the vessel. This is a full-time position; schedules and hours vary by project and require significant time and travel away from home. The position frequently involves long hours, weekend work, and offshore travel. Daily compensation ranges by level from $450–$550 for Engineer I to $800–$875 for Engineer V. Responsibilities and qualifications scale with the Engineer level. Engineer I responsibilities include taking ownership of assigned vessels, maintaining inventories and work plans, creating requisitions, managing Deckhands when applicable, and coordinating work with the Port Engineer and Captain. Higher-level engineers take on broader vessel expertise, system troubleshooting and repairs, regulatory compliance and audits, training, team and vendor management, dry-docking, vessel commissioning, and project management. The work requires attention to detail, sound decision-making in stressful or potentially dangerous situations, responsibility and initiative, mentoring ability, strong communication and mechanical reasoning, and the physical ability to work in varied and demanding vessel environments. Applicants must be able to swim and perform emergency duties aboard a vessel.

Requirements

TWIC Card.
Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) with OS/Wiper for Engineer I; higher levels require the credentials listed for the preceding levels.
Current Coast Guard medical certificate.
Passport.
Ability to handle stressful situations with focus and make safe, effective decisions in potentially dangerous conditions.
Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
Proactive sense of responsibility and ownership.
Ability to mentor and support the development of others.
Strong communication skills, including communicating with office staff and instructing or training crew at multiple levels.
Strong logistical and mechanical reasoning, including the ability to plan and execute voyages and understand vessel mechanics and movement.
Ability to traverse uneven ground and gangways at varying heights; frequently bend, stoop, squat, and climb steps or ladders.
Ability to safely lift 40 pounds and move heavy, large, or awkward equipment.
Physical dexterity and strength to catch and handle lines, make up tows with wire rigging, operate deck machinery, and work on equipment that is poorly accessible.
Ability to work below decks in areas that may experience periods of darkness and in confined spaces.
Ability to think clearly in stressful situations or emergencies and perform emergency duties using vessel equipment.
Ability to maintain personal hygiene and cleanliness.
Ability to swim.
Engineer II: MMC QMED/Oiler and STCW Basic Training; all Engineer I requirements.
Engineer III: DDE 1000 and all Engineer I and II requirements.
Engineer IV: DDE 4000 and all Engineer I–III requirements.
Engineer V: DDE Any HP – 500 Ton and all Engineer I–IV requirements.

Nice To Haves

Engineer I: MMC QMED/Oiler and Able Seaman Endorsement.
Engineer III: STCW-RFPEW.
Engineer IV: STCW-RFPEW and AS-Engine.
Engineer V: STCW-RFPEW, AS-Engine, and STCW-OICEW.
Engineer I: experience as an assistant or sole Engineer on tugs; basic knowledge and troubleshooting ability with electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical systems; tow winch operation.
Engineer II: skilled in Deckhand I–III duties; signed off as Engineer on multiple fleet vessels; able to learn a new vessel’s basic engineering systems with some guidance; growing troubleshooting and repair abilities across vessel systems.
Engineer III: engineering experience across all fleet vessels, including ocean tugs; ability to engineer an unfamiliar vessel without prior instruction; thorough vessel-systems troubleshooting and repair abilities; critical-path and proactive planning experience; experience with VMS, audits, and training others.
Engineer IV and V: advanced engineering, troubleshooting, and repair experience across fleet equipment, including tugs, cranes, winches, electrical systems, pumps, auxiliary equipment, gasoline engines, and vehicles; heavy repair experience such as engine overhauls and power-pack replacement; installation experience with new and retrofit systems, repowers, and hydraulic or other plumbing systems; vessel commissioning experience; basic welding skills; audit experience; dry-docking and repair management; project-management experience coordinating vendors, regulatory bodies, shipyards, and shoreside teams; experience creating SOPs and training content.

Responsibilities

Work directly with the Port Engineer and Vessel Captain while maintaining the Curtin Standard onboard.
Troubleshoot and maintain vessel electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, and other engineering systems, as appropriate to Engineer level.
Operate tow winches and maintain a clean engine room to the Curtin Standard.
Maintain vessel inventories and work plans, create requisitions, and leave the vessel cleaner than found.
Keep thorough records and report to the Port Engineer.
Operate the Vessel Management System (VMS) at the proficiency level appropriate to the Engineer level.
Plan vessel work with the Port Engineer and Captain while underway.
Manage Deckhands when applicable and, at higher levels, manage project teams and hold crew accountable for assigned work.
Train and mentor Engineers I and II and Deckhands; provide constructive feedback to crew and on equipment and jobs.
Understand and comply with applicable Sub-M, ABS, and USCG requirements, and participate in internal and external audits as appropriate to level.
Plan and perform vessel repairs, heavy repairs, system installations, and retrofits as appropriate to level.
Commission new vessels, prepare critical-spares lists and standard operating procedures, and help develop training content.
Manage dry-dockings and repairs and coordinate with vendors, regulatory bodies, shipyards, and Curtin’s shoreside team, as applicable to level.
Perform emergency duties and use emergency equipment onboard the vessel.