Chief Engineer - Felixstowe

Svitzer; Felixstowe; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 79,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension matched up to 10%

Life Cover (4x pensionable salary) and

Single Private Medical Insurance

Uniforms and PPE provided

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Svitzer is seeking a hands-on Chief Engineer to join our Felixstowe operation. You will be responsible for maintaining and operating high-power tug machinery in a busy port, diagnosing faults, and ensuring the engine room is ready at all times.

This is a senior role that requires reliability and leadership on shift with the Master and crew. Expect a 1 week on / 1 week off rotation, a modern fleet, and a strong commitment to safety.

Qualifications

• Minimum STCW III/3 Chief Engineer <6000kW (III/2 Unlimited preferred).
• Valid ENG1 and STCW certification (minimum 6 months validity).
• Harbour towage or small-vessel experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Maintaining and operating high-power tug machinery in a live port environment.
• Diagnosing faults and fixing problems under pressure.
• Owning the condition, safety, and readiness of your engine room.
• Supporting the Master and crew to keep the tug operational at all times.
• Working as part of a small, professional crew where trust and competence matter.

Skills

Fault-finding

Maintenance

Problem-solving

UK work eligibility

Education

STCW certification

ENG1 certificate

Job description

Not Everyone Is Cut Out to Be a Chief Engineer on Tugs - That’s Exactly the Point.

Svitzer is looking for a Chief Engineer to join our Felixstowe operation.

This is not a supervisory role from the sidelines.

As Chief Engineer, you are hands-on, accountable, and ultimately responsible for keeping powerful tug vessels operational in a demanding, safety-critical environment where downtime is not an option.

If you want real ownership, technical challenge, and responsibility this is the role where it counts.

This Is What the Job Really Looks Like

• Maintaining and operating high-power tug machinery in a live port environment

• Diagnosing faults and fixing problems under pressure

• Owning the condition, safety, and readiness of your engine room

• Supporting the Master and crew to keep the tug operational at all times

• Working as part of a small, professional crew where trust and competence matter

If you’re looking for a desk-based Chief Engineer role, this isn’t it.

If you want to be trusted with real authority and responsibility, it probably is.

Why Svitzer?

Because tug engineering should be done properly.

• 1 week on / 1 week off rotation – work hard, then properly switch off

• Modern, well-maintained fleet – no corner-cutting, no neglected machinery

• A company that expects high standards — and backs you to meet them

• Local technical support – close, capable, responsive

We don’t promise an easy job.

We promise one worthy of the title Chief Engineer.

What You Get

• Competitive Salary of £68,440.88 per annum

• Permanent, Time-for-Time contract

• Pension matched up to 10%

• Life Cover (4x pensionable salary) and Single Private Medical Insurance

• Uniforms and PPE provided

• Employee Assistance Programme

What You Bring

• Minimum STCW III/3 Chief Engineer <6000kW (III/2 Unlimited preferred)

• Valid ENG1 and STCW certification (minimum 6 months validity)

• Strong fault-finding, maintenance, and problem-solving skills

• Harbour towage or small-vessel experience preferred

• A professional mindset and pride in safe, reliable engineering

• The right to live and work in the UK

• Full UK Driving Licence and Own Vehicle to be able to access the port

• Ideally living locally to the Port of Felixstowe

This is a senior engineering role for someone who wants responsibility, challenge, and influence — not just a job title.

If that sounds like you, we want to hear from you.

Building a Diverse Workplace

In Svitzer we value the diversity of our talent and will always strive to recruit the best person for the job – we value diversity in all its forms, including but not limited to gender, age, nationality, race, sexual orientation, disability, or religious beliefs. We are proud of our diversity and see it as a genuine source of strength for building high performing teams.

Don’t meet every single requirement?Studies have shown that members from some under-represented groups are less likelyto apply for jobs if they don’t meet every single qualification. At Svitzer we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles, and we are excited about hearing from you!