Senior Marine Surveyor

Australian Maritime Safety Authority; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 155,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

15.4% employer superannuation

20 days annual leave

Paid parental leave (18 weeks primary,

Flexible work including WFH

Career development and study support

Staff networks

Job summary

Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is seeking a Senior Marine Surveyor to provide expert technical advice and oversee audits and assessments for the Regulation and Vessel Certification Division. The role supports the safe operation and certification of domestic commercial vessels across Australia and contributes to national standards and policy development.

You will work in a nationally distributed team, reporting to the Principal Surveyor, and engage with accredited surveyors, industry

Qualifications

• Experience in the survey and technical assessment of domestic commercial vessels within the Australian framework.
• STCW qualifications must be supported by demonstrated experience on domestic commercial vessels or relevant near coastal operations.
• Knowledge of legislative, regulatory and technical frameworks governing Australia's domestic vessel sector.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills across government, industry and regulation.

Responsibilities

• Conduct audits, assessments and monitoring activities relating to accredited surveyors and contribute to auditing procedures and frameworks.
• Assess applications and make delegated decisions using AMSA's systems (certificates of survey, exemptions, and alternate survey permissions).
• Provide expert technical advice to accredited surveyors, stakeholders and colleagues via workshops and direct engagement.
• Monitor industry developments and maritime technologies, contributing to NSCV and Marine Orders standards and instructions to surveyors.
• Prepare reports, submissions and briefings for internal and external stakeholders, including AMSA's Executive and Government.
• Contribute to project work and broader AMSA priorities as directed by the Principal Surveyor.

Skills

Domestic vessel survey

Regulatory compliance

Auditing & assessments

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory standards knowledge

Education

Naval architecture / vessel engineering degree

Job description

Australian Maritime Safety Authority - Sydney NSW

• Apply your marine survey expertise to support the safety and compliance of Australia's domestic commercial vessel fleet.
• Contribute to audits, assessments and regulatory decision-making that support AMSA's accredited marine surveyor scheme and National System.
• Enjoy flexible work, generous benefits incl 15.4% super and Christmas shutdown.

About AMSA - Work with Purpose

Safe Seas. Clean Seas. Saving Lives.

At Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), every role contributes to our mission to protect lives, support safe maritime operations, and safeguard Australia’s marine environment.

We are Australia's national agency responsible for maritime safety, protection of the marine environment, and maritime and aviation search and rescue. We regulate vessel safety and seafarer qualifications, provide the infrastructure for safe navigation in Australian waters, and coordinate national search and rescue services. These outcomes are enabled by strong corporate, digital and specialist capabilities that support our operational work nationwide.

With around 500 employees across Australia, AMSA operates in a complex, highly regulated environment and offers meaningful careers with national reach and long-term impact. Learn more at amsa.gov.au.

Senior Marine Surveyor

$154,955 - $179,636 + 15.4% super

AMSA Level 7

Location flexible (any AMSA office)

Ongoing

About the Role

As Senior Marine Surveyor, you will provide expert technical advice to support the objectives of AMSA's Regulation and Vessel Certification Division.

Reporting to the Principal Surveyor and working as part of a national team, you will undertake audits and technical assessments, make delegated decisions, contribute to standards development, and provide advice to accredited surveyors, industry stakeholders and colleagues. Your expertise will support the safe operation and certification of domestic commercial vessels across Australia.

This role offers the opportunity to apply your specialist knowledge in a nationally significant regulatory environment while contributing to the continuous improvement of Australia's domestic commercial vessel sector.

In this role you will:

• Conduct audits, assessments and monitoring activities relating to accredited surveyors and contribute to the development of auditing procedures and frameworks.
• Assess applications and make delegated decisions using AMSA's MARS system including certificates of survey, standing exemptions, specific exemptions and equivalences, and alternate survey permissions.
• Provide expert technical advice and guidance to accredited surveyors, industry stakeholders and AMSA colleagues through surveyor workshops and direct engagement.
• Monitor industry developments and emerging maritime technologies, contributing to national and international standards, Marine Orders, the National Standards for Commercial Vessels (NSCV), and Instructions to Surveyors.
• Prepare reports, submissions and briefings for internal and external stakeholders, including AMSA's Executive and Government.
• Contribute to project work and broader AMSA priorities as directed by the Principal Surveyor.

What We're Looking For

You will bring:

• Experience in the survey and technical assessment of domestic commercial vessels within the Australian framework, including practical knowledge of vessel construction, modification, maintenance, compliance and risk-based assessment.
• Relevant qualifications and technical expertise in naval architecture, vessel engineering, as a shipwright or related discipline, together with the ability to become accredited as a DCV Surveyor under the National Law in that discipline.
  • STCW qualifications must be supported by demonstrated experience on domestic commercial vessels, or in directly relevant near coastal operations, to ensure the candidate has practical knowledge of the domestic commercial vessel sector.
• Considerable knowledge of the legislative, regulatory and technical frameworks that govern Australia's domestic commercial vessel sector.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to build productive relationships across government, industry and regulatory environments.
• Experience in audit, assurance or compliance activities, supported by sound judgement and risk-based decision-making.
• Behaviours aligned with One AMSA values and ways of working

What We Offer at AMSA

• Competitive remuneration and salary packaging options
• 15.4% employer superannuation contribution
• Generous leave entitlements with 20 days annual leave plus paid Christmas shutdown
• Paid parental leave with 18 weeks for primary and 11 weeks for secondary carer (increasing to 14 weeks from 1 March 2026)
• Wellbeing focus with health reimbursements, flu vaccinations and an Employee Assistance Program for you and your family
• Flexible work including work from home arrangements
• Career development including training, study assistance, paid professional memberships.
• Opportunity to connect, collaborate, and make a difference through AMSA's staff-led networks

One AMSA: Shaping Our Future Together

One AMSA is our commitment to creating a workplace that is safe, respectful and inclusive - where every employee feels valued, supported and empowered to contribute. It shapes how we work together and ensures collaboration, trust, and shared purpose across AMSA.

Getting to know the Australian Maritime Safety Authority

At the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), we acknowledge the value diversity brings. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, people with a disability and people from other diverse backgrounds. AMSA is Australia's National agency responsible for coordinating maritime and aviation search and rescue. We regulate domestic commercial vessels, Australian and foreign shipping - from 12 metre prawn trawlers to 350 metre liquefied natural gas tankers, and everything commercial in between. We are also responsible for protecting Australia’s precious marine environments like the Great Barrier Reef, from the impacts of shipping. Our stakeholders are just as diverse as our role but our mission connects them all and inspires our people to make a real difference every day - Safe and clean seas, saving lives. AMSA offers unique and challenging career opportunities, and we employ around 430 people across Australia. To learn more about our organisation please visit our website.

AMSA does not engage staff under the Public Service Act 1999. AMSA engages employees under the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990 and our remuneration arrangements are specific to AMSA.