Director of Marine Engineering & Fleet Reliability

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

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.