Director of Engineering

Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Inc; Fort Lauderdale (FL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Water Taxi in Fort Lauderdale, FL, seeks a Director of Engineering to own fleet reliability, regulatory readiness, and maintenance leadership. The role reports to the President and oversees mechanics, shipwrights, and contractors, directing capital and dry-dock projects while ensuring safe operations.

You will manage maintenance records, budgets, and safety compliance for a 15-vessel fleet in a shore-based, on-site role with no offshore rotations.

Qualifications

• Five or more years in marine engineering, vessel maintenance, or related technical field.
• Experience leading maintenance personnel, contractors, and projects.
• Strong knowledge of propulsion, electrical, and auxiliary machinery.

Responsibilities

• Direct preventive and corrective maintenance for the fleet, including propulsion, diesel, generator, electrical, fuel, hydraulics, plumbing, HVAC.
• Set priorities, perform root-cause analysis, and ensure vessel uptime.
• Maintain USCG compliance and prepare vessels for inspections and dry docks.
• Oversee budgets, procurement, vendors, and inventory controls.
• Lead engineering staff and coordinate with operations to minimize service disruptions.

Skills

Maritime engineering experience

Leadership & project management

Regulatory/compliance knowledge

MS Office proficiency

Maintenance-management systems

TWIC eligibility

Driver's license

Education

Marine engineering license or technical degree

Military-maritime background or equivalent training

Manufacturer certifications (preferred)

Tools

Maintenance-management systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Lead fleet reliability and technical readiness.

FULL-TIME | FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA | REPORTS TO THE PRESIDENT

About Water Taxi

For more than 30 years, Water Taxi has provided scheduled service, sightseeing, charters, and special-event transportation. Based in the Yachting Capital of the World, we operate 15 passenger vessels ranging from 26-foot launches to 64-foot high-speed catamarans, supported by more than 100 employees. Had over 1.6 Million boarding in 2025.

Stay in the marine industry without offshore rotations or extended travel. This Fort Lauderdale-based leadership role offers significant technical responsibility while allowing you to return home each day.

Position Summary

Reporting to the President, the Director of Engineering owns fleet reliability, regulatory readiness, maintenance personnel, contractors, dry docks, capital projects, inventory, and shoreside facilities. This hands‑on leader combines marine technical expertise with disciplined planning, financial management, and urgent troubleshooting.

Core Responsibilities Fleet Reliability, Safety, and Compliance

• Direct preventive and corrective maintenance for the fleet, including propulsion, diesel, generator, electrical, fuel, hydraulic, plumbing, HVAC, and auxiliary systems.
• Set maintenance priorities and lead root-cause analysis for failures, repeat deficiencies, and vessel downtime.
• Maintain USCG compliance and prepare vessels for inspections, surveys, dry docks, and corrective-action closeout.
• Ensure work orders, maintenance records, equipment histories, and the computerized maintenance system are accurate and current.

Leadership, Projects, and Cost Control

• Lead, schedule, coach, and evaluate engineering personnel, mechanics, shipwrights, cleaning personnel, and contractors.
• Develop maintenance, dry-dock, major-repair, and capital plans; deliver projects safely, on time, and within budget.
• Manage budgets, purchasing, vendors, shipyards, contractors, critical spares, tools, and inventory controls.
• Coordinate with Operations to minimize service disruptions; oversee vessel presentation and shoreside maintenance; report fleet status, risks, projects, and spending to senior leadership.

What Success Looks Like

• High vessel availability with fewer preventable failures and repeat repairs.
• Consistent preventive-maintenance completion, accurate documentation, and successful USCG inspections.
• Predictable project delivery and effective control of labor, parts, contractor, and inventory costs.
• An accountable engineering team with clear priorities, standards, and development plans.

Candidate Profile

• Five or more years of progressively responsible marine engineering, vessel‑maintenance, fleet‑maintenance, or related technical experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading maintenance personnel, contractors, projects, and competing operational priorities.
• Strong knowledge of marine diesel propulsion, generators, electrical systems, fuel, hydraulics, plumbing, and auxiliary machinery.
• Proven problem‑solving, organization, communication, documentation, budgeting, and project‑management skills.
• Ability to make sound decisions under pressure, manage multiple priorities, and drive work through completion.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and maintenance‑management systems; valid driver's license; and ability to obtain and maintain a TWIC.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with USCG‑inspected passenger vessels under Subchapter T and/or K and with dry docks, repowers, refits, or capital projects.
• Marine engineering license, technical degree, military‑maritime background, manufacturer certification, or equivalent advanced training.

Schedule and Work Environment

This full-time, shore-based position is primarily on site in Fort Lauderdale, with no routine offshore rotations or extended travel. Flexible scheduling and assigned on‑call coverage are required. The Director must be able to board vessels, climb ladders, enter machinery spaces, work around marine hazards and weather, and lift up to [insert required weight] pounds, with reasonable accommodation where applicable.