Propulsion Engineer – Florida

Darwin Recruitment; Fort Lauderdale (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Overtime opportunities

Company-paid travel expenses

OEM and technical training

Career development

Medical, dental, vision, PTO

Job summary

Darwin Recruitment is seeking a Marine Propulsion Field Engineer to join a Fort Lauderdale team. The role focuses on inspection, troubleshooting, and repair of propulsion equipment on commercial vessels.

You will work directly with vessel crews and shipyards, performing installations, commissioning, and sea trials while maintaining safety and documentation standards.

Qualifications

• Experience servicing marine propulsion systems onboard vessels or in shipyards.
• Ability to inspect, diagnose, repair and overhaul propulsion equipment.
• Comfortable reading mechanical drawings and OEM manuals.
• Willingness to travel roughly 50% domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Inspect, troubleshoot, maintain and repair propulsion systems on vessels.
• Service and overhaul shaft lines, stern tubes, bearings, seals and couplings.
• Diagnose tunnel/azimuth thrusters and CPP/FPP systems; perform installations and sea trials.

Skills

Marine propulsion systems

Shaft alignment

Troubleshooting

Onboard maintenance

Reading drawings

Field service

Driver's license

Passport

Education

Marine Engineering qualification

Mechanical Engineering background

Job description

Marine Propulsion Field Engineer

Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Job Type: Full-Time
Hours: 40 hours per week + overtime available
Travel: Approximately 50% domestic & international travel

Position Overview

I'm working with an established marine engineering and service company looking to add an experienced Marine Propulsion Field Engineer to its Fort Lauderdale team.

This is a highly hands‑on field service position focused on the inspection, troubleshooting, repair, overhaul, installation, and commissioning of marine propulsion equipment onboard commercial vessels.

The ideal candidate will have strong mechanical experience with propulsion equipment such as shaft lines, stern tubes, thrusters, azimuth propulsion units, CPP/FPP systems, bearings, seals, couplings, and shaft alignment.

Responsibilities

• Inspect, troubleshoot, maintain, and repair marine propulsion systems onboard commercial vessels.

• Service and overhaul shaft lines, stern tube arrangements, bearings, seals, couplings, and associated equipment.

• Diagnose and repair tunnel thrusters, azimuth thrusters, CPP systems, and other propulsion equipment.

• Perform mechanical installations, commissioning, and sea trials.

• Conduct shaft alignment using laser alignment systems and precision measurement equipment.

• Interpret mechanical drawings, OEM manuals, and technical documentation.

• Diagnose complex mechanical faults and recommend appropriate corrective actions.

• Prepare detailed field service reports following maintenance and repair activities.

• Work directly with vessel crews, shipyards, project managers, and technical teams.

• Support both planned maintenance projects and emergency vessel breakdowns.

• Maintain company and customer safety standards throughout field activities.

Required Experience

• Previous hands‑on experience servicing marine propulsion systems.

• Strong knowledge of several of the following:

  • Shaft lines and shaft alignment

  • Stern tubes

  • Azimuth propulsion units

  • Tunnel thrusters

  • Controllable Pitch Propellers (CPP)

  • Fixed Pitch Propellers (FPP)

  • Bearings and seals

  • Couplings

• Strong mechanical troubleshooting and fault-finding capabilities.

• Previous experience working onboard commercial vessels and/or within shipyards.

• Ability to read mechanical drawings and technical documentation.

• Comfortable working independently in field service environments.

• Valid driver's license and passport, or ability to obtain one.

Preferred Experience

• Marine Engineering qualification, Mechanical Engineering background, or equivalent hands‑on technical experience.

• Experience with propulsion manufacturers such as Wärtsilä, Kongsberg, Schottel, Rolls-Royce/MTU, Brunvoll, Berg Propulsion, MAN Energy Solutions, or similar OEMs.

• Experience performing laser shaft alignment and vibration analysis.

• Exposure to dry dock repair, overhaul, installation, and vessel commissioning projects.

• Familiarity with classification societies such as ABS, DNV, Lloyd's Register, Bureau Veritas, or ClassNK.

Travel

• Approximately 50% travel throughout the year.

• Combination of domestic and international assignments at ports, shipyards, and customer facilities.

• Candidates should be comfortable responding to both scheduled projects and urgent vessel breakdowns.

What's Offered

• Competitive salary based on experience.

• Overtime opportunities in addition to standard 40-hour weeks.

• Company-paid travel expenses.

• OEM and technical training opportunities.

• Career development within marine field service and propulsion engineering.

• Exposure to a wide variety of commercial vessels and propulsion systems.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and paid time off benefits.