Marine Operations & Maintenance Engineer / Skipper
The Marine Operations & Maintenance Engineer / Skipper is responsible for the day-to-day operational, maintenance, and engineering oversight of the organisation's fleet of vessels. This is a senior, hands‐on technical role combining marine engineering, maintenance management, and vessel operations, including skippering as required, to ensure the fleet is maintained and operated to the highest operational, safety, and reliability standards.
The role requires strong capability in fault-finding, repair, preventative maintenance planning, and maintenance administration, including the management of digital maintenance systems, technical documentation, and parts inventories.
The position will be primarily based at the Fremantle facility but will also involve travel and work at other locations as required to support vessel operations, maintenance, and projects.
Key Responsibilities
Fleet Operations & Skippering
Support and, where required, undertake vessel operations and skippering duties.
Assist the Marine Manager with day-to-day vessel operations, logistics, and scheduling.
Monitor and report on vessel readiness, including fuel, stores, spares, and maintenance status.
Coordinate vessel deployment, movements, and turnaround schedules.
Ensure vessels are presented, crewed, and equipped to operational and safety standards.
Maintenance & Engineering
Take a leading role in mechanical, electrical, and structural maintenance and repairs across the fleet.
Own and manage the preventative maintenance system, including:
* Planning and scheduling maintenance
* Ensuring tasks are completed to standard and on time
* Continuous improvement of maintenance programs
Ensure all maintenance meets marine standards, regulatory requirements, and manufacturer specifications.
Maintain accurate maintenance logs, service records, defect reports, and compliance documentation.
Build, manage, and maintain electronic maintenance systems and databases, including:
* Equipment and vessel manuals
* Maintenance histories
* Checklists and work instructions
Develop and maintain parts lists, critical spares registers, and inventory control systems.
Liaise with contractors and suppliers for specialised works, inspections, and procurement.
Troubleshooting & Technical Leadership
Diagnose and resolve issues across mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and electronic systems.
Provide hands‐on technical support to crew and operational staff.
Lead or support vessel inspections, refits, surveys, and modification projects.
Provide engineering input into reliability improvements, upgrades, and lifecycle maintenance planning.
Safety & Compliance
Ensure compliance with AMSA and the company Safety Management System (SMS).
Assist with audits, safety drills, equipment checks, and regulatory inspections.
Maintain compliance documentation and support continuous improvement in safety systems.
Promote and enforce environmental, health, and safety standards across operations and maintenance.
Marine Electrical & Systems
Undertake or supervise marine electrical installation, fault‐finding, and repairs, including:
* DC and AC systems
* Batteries, charging systems, inverters, and shore power
* Navigation, communication, and monitoring systems
Manage installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of vessel electronics and monitoring systems.
Coordinate with specialist service agents for advanced diagnostics and system upgrades.
Planning, Administration & Reporting
Prepare and manage maintenance plans, schedules, and work scopes.
Track maintenance performance, costs, and vessel availability.
Contribute to operational planning, reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Support the Marine Manager with contractor coordination, budgeting input, and project planning.
Skills & Experience
1. Strong engineering and maintenance background in marine, mechanical, or electrical environments.
2. Proven experience in vessel operations and maintenance, ideally in a multi‐vessel fleet environment.
3. Demonstrated capability in preventative maintenance planning, scheduling, and administration.
4. High‐level troubleshooting skills across mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and electronic systems.
5. Experience using and managing maintenance management systems, digital records, and technical documentation.
6. Experience developing and maintaining parts lists, spares registers, and inventory systems.
7. Strong practical knowledge of marine electrical systems; marine electrical fitter experience highly regarded.
8. Solid understanding of marine compliance, AMSA requirements, and safety management systems.
9. Coxswain or Master