Heavy Equipment Operator (Watercraft Operator)

UICGS / Bowhead Family of Companies; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Bowhead Family of Companies is seeking an experienced Watercraft Operator to support military maritime operations at Camp Pendleton, California. The role will operate and maintain RHIBs and other watercraft during testing and safety-critical missions.

Candidates should have a current U.S. Coast Guard license or 10+ years of military small-boat operations experience, with strong navigation, communication, and emergency response skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of military small-boat operations and maintenance experience.
• Current U.S. Coast Guard license or equivalent small-boat experience.
• Proficiency in marine navigation, radios, charts, radar, and comms.
• Experience supporting DoD/Navy test & evaluation operations.
• Ability to pass background checks and meet citizenship requirements.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain RHIBs and other watercraft during tests and operations.
• Support military maritime test activities, sea trials, and data collection.
• Coordinate safety procedures, emergency response, and SAR activities.
• Maintain vessel logs and maintenance records; ensure compliance with procedures.

Skills

Military watercraft ops

Navigation & comms

Safety & risk mgmt

Emergency response

Diving support

Education

U.S. Coast Guard license

Tools

Marine radar

GPS/navigation systems

Nautical charts

Electro-optic systems

Job description

Heavy Equipment Operator (Watercraft Operator) (AVTV-2026-26058):

Bowhead is seeking an experienced Watercraft Operator to support military maritime operations and testing at Camp Pendleton, California. The position will operate and maintain RHIBs and other military watercraft while supporting safe, reliable, and effective test operations.

Essential functions will include:

• Small Boat Operations: Minimum of 10 years of military experience operating and maintaining small boats, including 10/11-meter RHIBs or larger watercraft, or a current U.S. Coast Guard license with equivalent small-boat operating experience.
• Military Maritime Operations: Demonstrated experience supporting military maritime operations, watercraft testing, sea trials, and test and evaluation activities.
• Watercraft Experience: Demonstrated experience operating and maintaining watercraft comparable to Military vessels, including 11-meter RHIBs and 64-foot workboats.
• Navigation and Communications: Proficiency in marine navigation and communication systems, including radar, GPS, nautical charts, compass, depth sounder/fathometer, marine VHF/UHF radios, and other vessel-to-vessel and vessel-to-shore communication equipment.
• Electro-Optic and Signaling Equipment: Experience operating night-vision/electro-optic systems and pyrotechnic signaling equipment.
• Multi-Vessel and Close-Quarters Operations: Extensive experience coordinating and safely operating multiple watercraft in close proximity to other vessels, waterborne structures, and personnel, including 10/11-meter RHIB operations at speeds ranging from below one knot to approximately 45 knots.
• Diving Operations: Experience supporting military and emergency scuba-diving operations, including live-boat operations and maintaining vessel position and stability while divers are in the water.
• Emergency and Search and Rescue Operations: Thorough understanding of maritime emergency procedures, including communications and coordination with civilian and military Search and Rescue personnel and helicopter/stokes-basket medical evacuation operations.
• Offshore and Amphibious Operations: Demonstrated experience with over-the-horizon navigation and offshore operations up to 50 nautical miles from shore, including support of launches from amphibious shipping.
• Passenger and Personnel Transfers: Experience conducting or supporting safe passenger and personnel transfers between small boats and naval vessels using Jacobs ladders, stern gates, or other approved transfer methods.
• Marine Mechanical and Electrical Systems: Demonstrated experience performing or supporting maintenance, troubleshooting, and repairs involving marine engines, transmissions, electrical systems, electronics, steering systems, fuel systems, and associated vessel equipment.
• Preventive and Corrective Maintenance: Experience conducting pre- and post-operational inspections, identifying equipment deficiencies, troubleshooting problems, performing preventive and corrective maintenance, and coordinating repairs.
• Operational and Maintenance Documentation: Ability to accurately maintain vessel logs, maintenance records, inspection documentation, discrepancy reports, test records, and other required operational documentation.
• Test and Evaluation Support: Experience following test procedures, supporting test objectives, collecting and documenting operational data, recording test results, and coordinating with test personnel and government representatives.
• Safety and Risk Management: Working knowledge of maritime safety procedures, risk management, emergency equipment, personal protective equipment, crew safety, and safe operating practices.
• Environmental and Operational Conditions: Demonstrated ability to safely operate watercraft during day and night operations and under varying weather, sea-state, visibility, and operational conditions.
• Operational Judgment: Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment and make timely decisions regarding vessel operations, weather and sea conditions, personnel safety, equipment limitations, and emergency situations.
• Other duties as assigned
• Current U.S. Coast Guard license appropriate for the size and type of watercraft operated and/or Minimum of 10 years of military experience operating and maintaining small boats
• Prior experience supporting Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, or other military test and evaluation organizations.
• Experience operating and maintaining 11-meter RHIBs, LCACs, workboats, or similar military watercraft.
• Experience supporting amphibious operations and ship-to-small-boat operations.
• Experience supporting military diving, underwater test, or emergency response operations.
• Formal training or certification in small-boat operations, navigation, maritime safety, first aid/CPR, or emergency response.
• Experience operating marine radar, GPS/navigation systems, night-vision/electro-optic systems, and other specialized test or operational equipment.
• Experience with diesel marine propulsion systems, waterjets, transmissions, electrical systems, and marine electronics.
• Experience working directly with government personnel, Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs), engineers, and other government representatives.

Physical Demands:

• Must be able to lift up to 75 pounds
• Must be able to stand and walk for prolonged amounts of time
• Must be able to twist, bend and squat periodically

SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS:

No security clearance is required for this job.

CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS:

There are currently no Security Clearance requirements for this position; however, candidates must be able to successfully pass a background check. Due to the location of this work, US Citizenship is required. Bowhead reserves the right to change this requirement if necessitated by business needs or contractual obligations.