Technical & Engineering
Step ashore with top Technical & Engineering career support
Those employed in technical & engineering jobs are responsible for the running of a shipping company’s fleet.
Technical staff are engineering professionals, and traditionally Technical Superintendents have been Chief Engineers on ships who have chosen to come ashore. They are responsible for the technical management of vessels, including planned maintenance, repairs, dry docking and vessel inspections.
At Spinnaker we are here to help with your next Technical & Engineering job role.
Example Job Descriptions
Technical Superintendent
Technical Superintendents are responsible for planned and unplanned maintenance and costs, drydocking and major repairs, vessels surveys and audits, vessel budgets, maintaining certificates, supervising vessels’ crews, health & safety, environmental compliance, giving technical support to ships, ensuring accurate supply of stores and spares, reporting on vessel condition and performance (speed, fuel consumption, etc), overseeing vetting inspection results, investigating breakdowns, accidents and damage.
Technical Manager
A Technical Manager oversees the maintenance and technical operations of vessels. They ensure compliance with safety and regulatory standards, manage repair schedules, and coordinate technical projects. Responsibilities include supervising engineering teams, overseeing equipment performance, and managing budgets for maintenance and repairs. Their goal is to ensure the fleet’s operational efficiency, safety, and reliability while minimising downtime and costs
Fleet Manager
The role of a Fleet Manager is to oversee vessel operations, ensuring efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and regulatory compliance. Key responsibilities include managing budgets, monitoring performance via fleet management software, coordinating with other departments and handling emergencies.
Example Job Titles
Electrical Engineer, Engineering Superintendent, Fleet Assistant, Fleet Director, Fleet Manager, Fleet Operations Manager, General Manager Technical, Superintendent Engineer, Technical Assistant, Technical Director, Technical Manager, Technical Superintendent, Vessel Manager.
Where can I work in a technical or engineering role?
Roles in technical and engineering can be found in most shipowners and shipmanagers, as well as oil majors.
Jobs can be found globally, but major locations include Germany, Hong Kong, India, London (UK), Philippines, Singapore and UAE.
Key Skills and Experience
For Technical Superintendents, although traditionally seagoing experience as a Senior Engineering Officer or Chief Engineer was a pre-requisite, this is no longer essential.
Depending on the role, a degree in engineering or naval architecture is often needed.
In-depth technical and policy knowledge of how a fleet operates and an in-depth understanding of maritime regulations, strong managerial skills, and knowledge of port and cargo operations.
The career path is typically; Technical Superintendent, moving to Fleet Manager or Technical Manager, then to Fleet and Technical Director and ultimately Head of Shipmanagement.
The ability to travel at the drop of a hat.
Ready to search for your next career in Technical & Engineering?
Get in touch
To find out more about technical & engineering jobs, please get in touch with the team who specialise in these vacancies.
Real Life Stories from Marine Professionals
I started on little coasters where no formal education was required as oiler/cook/ab during my time on seafaring college. After my graduation I have been working from apprentice level to Chief Engineer on Merchant vessels. Moved to Offshore support Fleet on a variety of vessels (AHTS, PSV, DSV) After 15 years sailing I started ashore as Technical Superintendent and grew to my current position as Technical Manager/Project Manager.
Some qualifications: Marine Engineer unlimited, several specific maritime and project courses.
What I love most about the industry is that no day is the same and the variety of projects keeps you on your toes at all times. There are little routine jobs. You get to see a lot of the world.
It will be hard, you will be away from family and friends a lot but the benefits are great. You will have a life that a lot of people dream off. And you have extended holidays that are only possible in this line of work.
Roy van der Ploeg
Technical Manager, Hilong Geological Services
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Did you know?
Approximately 33 billion gallons of fuel are consumed by cargo ships annually.
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During my interaction with David, I was pleasantly surprised by how different his approach was as compared to others in similar position. He was extremely forthright and patient in explaining the role I was seeking and guided me well in the initial stages. In no small way, I was helped by the resources he provided me for preparing for the interview process and also gave me some really pragmatic advice that helped me secure employment.
In a sector where expectations from job-seekers are quite high, I must say that David is unique in his ‘personal touch’ approach which is why I believe that he is by far, the best in his field. From an employer’s point of view, I have seen first-hand how David’s expertise is immensely useful in putting forward the right candidates for a role and this makes the selection process so much easier.
I wish David and his team all the success he deserves. Rightly so, he is on an altogether different level.