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Marine Engineering Technician

Attending to boats, from yachts to cargo ships, to keep them seaworthy and safe

How this role makes a difference

Just like vehicles on the road, boats at sea need to be properly maintained to make sure they are in a good condition and safe to sail. This includes all kinds of boats, from yachts to passenger ferries, cargo ships to superyachts.

Their engines and other technical equipment need to be thoroughly checked and any issues repaired. You could be the technician who makes sure boats are seaworthy and goods and people are transported safely.

The kind of work you’ll do

  • Understanding technical drawings and engineering data
  • Selecting, storing, and looking after tools and materials
  • Taking precise measurements
  • Cutting, drilling, and finishing components
  • Carrying out planned maintenance
  • Assembling and refining engineering systems
  • Completing service documentation
Useful skills
Decisive
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Precise
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Technologically minded
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Problem solving
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Instructing others
Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the role

An interest in boats and working in a marine environment.

The confidence to work independently and prioritise your tasks.

Great attention to detail when you’re measuring and recording information.

A natural instinct to learn about new tools, technology and approaches.

The ability to look at a problem from different angles and make a choice about the best way forward.

A knack for teaching others how to do something and putting what you’ve learnt into practice.

You could also be right for this role if you have any of the following interests:

- Building, making and fixing things

- cars, trains or planes

- exploring problems and finding answers

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per year *
£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

Future career opportunities

You could work for a commercial shipping company, helping to maintain a big fleet of ships. Alternatively you could choose to work on smaller boats in a specialist repairs and maintenance business.

If you get involved in engineering on superyachts, you could find yourself travelling all over the world.

How to get into this role

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:  

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

Some engines are incredibly large and need cranes to lift them out to be worked on. You’ll help to strip the engines, repair and rebuild them using specialist measuring equipment, machines, and tools. You’ll also be involved in sea trials, when new and repaired boats are tested.

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technicians who
do this role

Freya Wood

Marine Engineering Technician

Freya Wood
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