Chief Engineer

Bristol Wave Seafoods; Unalaska (AK); On-site; USD 65,000 - 148,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Life insurance

HSA with company contribution

Job summary

Bristol Wave Seafoods seeks a Chief Engineer to oversee all onboard machinery, ensure safe operation of equipment, and manage fueling and parts purchasing. The role requires hands-on maintenance, timely repairs, and meticulous logging of maintenance activities.

Working at sea in the Bering Sea entails long hours and extended trips; the Chief Engineer will lead technical operations across cycles, with travel and rotation schedules typical for offshore fishing vessels.

Qualifications

• Experience maintaining shipboard machinery to ensure safe operations.

Responsibilities

• Maintain shipboard machinery and onboard systems.
• Oversee refueling and fuel transfer operations.
• Perform timely repairs and maintenance.
• Log and record all repairs and maintenance activities.
• Track orders for parts and supplies.

Skills

Shipboard machinery experience

Refueling operations

Hydraulic systems experience

Ammonia refrigeration systems

Maintenance planning

Repair logging

Education

USCG License DDE 4000+

Job description

The Chief Engineer is responsible for maintaining all onboard machinery, ensuring safe and effective operation of all equipment and systems, as well fueling and fuel transfer operations and the ordering of all necessary parts and supplies.

Essential Duties

• Maintenance of all machinery and onboard systems.
• Refueling and fuel transfer operations.
• Complete necessary repairs in a timely manner.
• Log and record all repairs and maintenance.
• Track orders for parts and supplies.

Working in the Bering Sea

Working at sea is physically and mentally challenging and requires long hours in remote locations, often several days? travel from the nearest port. Our deck and processing crews work 16-hour shifts, 7 days a week. Most trips average 4-5 weeks in duration, but depending on the fishing season, catch rates, weather, vessel size and other factors, trips can be as short as 10-12 days or as long as 60+ days. Crew members generally work multiple trips (2 months or longer) in a single rotation.

Compensation, Travel & Expenses

Chief Engineers receive the higher of crew share percentage or a guaranteed daily rate. Daily rates are determined by the hiring manager (VP of Operations). Crew share calculations are based on the net adjusted sales. Net sales total is calculated by accounting for certain operating costs such as bait, fuel, observer expenses, etc. 40% of net sales go to the officers and crew. All travel for officers is arranged and paid for by the company, including flights, hotels, and meals while traveling.

Requirements

• Experience maintaining shipboard machinery to ensure safe operations.
• USCG Licensing required: DDE 4,000 or greater.
• Ability to handle all refueling and fuel transfer operations.
• Shipyard competency certification required.
• Extensive hydraulic experience required.
• Ammonia refrigeration system experience required.
• Ability to prevent equipment failure through proper maintenance.
• Ability to assist with necessary repairs in a timely manner.
• Attention to detail when logging and recording repairs and maintenance, ordering supplies, etc.
• Must pass pre-employment drug screening (commercial fishing falls under federal authority; we cannot hire anyone who tests positive for THC).
• Pre-employment background check required (past convictions will not necessarily prevent employment).
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• BWS participates in eVerify.

Benefits

• Vessel officers are eligible for healthcare benefits, subsidized by the company at 75% for both employees and dependents, including medical coverage, dental coverage, vision coverage, voluntary life insurance, and a Health Savings Account (HSA) with a discretionary company contribution.
• Vessel officers are eligible to enroll on the first day of the month after a one-month waiting period.