Senior Deck & Engineering Technician (BOSUN)

PML; Plymouth (MA); On-site; USD 41,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Plymouth Marine Laboratory invites applications for an experienced Senior Deck & Engineer Technician (Bosun) to join the Marine Operations Group aboard RV Plymouth Quest. You will lead day-to-day deck operations, supervise two Deckhands, and coordinate routine engineering and maintenance to keep vessels and gear safe and ready to operate.

This role blends practical maritime skills with working alongside scientists, clients and contractors, including deployment of marine monitoring equipment and

Qualifications

• Significant maritime experience with practical deck and operations capability.
• Experience supervising or coordinating the deck team and work allocation.
• Practical lifting, rigging and deployment/recovery at sea.
• Strong marine engineering maintenance experience and fault-finding.
• Certifications: ENG1/ML5 or equivalent before deployment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate practical deck operations under Skipper/Deputy Skipper.
• Supervise two Deckhands and allocate work by competence and priority.
• Mobilisation, deployment and recovery of scientific and survey equipment.
• Coordinate lifting, rigging, mooring, cranes, winches and A-frames.
• Oversee routine engineering and maintenance across Bosun/Deckhand teams.
• Collaborate with external contractors for specialist support.
• Support scientific and commercial projects with clients and partners.
• Assist deployment of uncrewed and autonomous marine systems.

Skills

Maritime experience

Deck operations supervision

Lifting & rigging

Marine engineering & maintenance

ENG1/ML5 cert

Safety & risk assessment

Deck machinery operation

IT skills

Communication with scientists/clients

Out-of-hours flexibility

Education

MCA AEC1 or equivalent

Engineering qualification or equivalent

Job description

Location: Plymouth

Vacancy Type: Open Ended Appointment

Application Deadline: Friday, November 6, 2026

Salary: £30,991-£36,104 DOE

Job Eligible for Skilled Worker Visa: No

Plymouth Marine Laboratory is looking for an experienced and practical Senior Deck & Engineer Technician (Bosun) to join its Marine Operations Group at an important point in the development of our marine capability.

Working primarily aboard RV Plymouth Quest, the Senior Deck & Engineer Technician (Bosun) will be the senior practical deck role within a small, multi-skilled team. You will lead day-to-day deck operations, supervise two Deckhands and coordinate the routine engineering and maintenance activity required to keep our vessels and equipment safe, serviceable and ready to operate.

This is not a narrow, deck-only Bosun role. Marine Operations supports scientific research, commercial projects, small-craft operations and an increasing range of marine technology and uncrewed systems. We are therefore looking for someone with strong maritime experience and practical engineering skills who is also comfortable working with scientists, clients, digital systems and emerging technology.

What might a typical week look like? There probably is not one.

You might be preparing and deploying marine monitoring systems, seabed instruments or other scientific equipment from Plymouth Quest, coordinating planned maintenance with the Deckhand team, fault-finding a vessel system, supporting a commercial mobilisation through PML Applications, working with contractors during a repair period, or helping prepare and deploy an uncrewed marine system. Where appropriately qualified, you may also support operations using PML Explorer and other small craft.

PML Marine Operations is continuing to develop across traditional vessel operations, commercial marine work and emerging remote and autonomous systems.

For the right person, this is an opportunity to join that development early and help shape how we operate in the future, while remaining firmly rooted in the practical deck, engineering and maritime skills needed to deliver safe and effective marine operations.

Key Deliverables

• Leading and coordinating practical deck operations under the direction of the Skipper or Deputy Skipper.
• Supervising two Deckhands and allocating work according to competence, workload and operational priority.
• Leading and participating in the mobilisation, deployment and recovery of scientific, survey and commercial equipment, including buoys, moorings and seabed instrumentation.
• Coordinating lifting, rigging, mooring and other practical deck activities, including operation of cranes, winches and A-frames within appropriate competence and certification.
• Coordinating routine engineering and maintenance activity across the Bosun and Deckhand team, including planned maintenance, fault finding, defect management and engineering spares.
• Working with external engineering and maintenance contractors where specialist support is required.
• Supporting scientific and commercial projects, including work delivered through PML Applications and direct interaction with clients and project partners.
• Supporting the deployment and recovery of uncrewed and autonomous marine systems and contributing to future Remote Operations activity where training and operational requirements allow.

Skills Specification

Essential

• Significant relevant professional maritime experience, typically 5 years or more, with strong practical deck and marine operational capability.
• Experience supervising or coordinating deck operations and the work of others.
• Practical experience of lifting, rigging and deploying or recovering equipment at sea.
• Good practical marine engineering and maintenance experience, including fault finding and routine maintenance of vessel systems.
• MCA AEC1, recognised equivalent engineering qualification, or demonstrable equivalent competence supported by relevant experience.
• Relevant Workboat Code safety training, including approved sea survival, fire-fighting and first-aid training, or the ability to obtain this before operational deployment.
• Experience operating deck machinery such as cranes, winches or A-frames.
• Good understanding of marine safety, risk assessment and safe systems of work.
• Strong IT skills, including confident use of Microsoft Office and the ability to produce clear reports and maintenance records.
• Good organisational and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with crew, scientists, clients and contractors.
• A genuine interest in marine technology, particularly uncrewed and autonomous systems.
• A valid ENG1 or ML5 medical certificate as appropriate, or the ability to obtain the required certification before undertaking seagoing duties.
• Flexibility to support operational requirements, including occasional out-of-hours working.

Desirable

• MCA AEC2 or equivalent marine engineering qualification.
• RYA Powerboat Level 2 or Advanced Powerboat.
• Previous Bosun, Senior Deckhand, Able Seafarer or equivalent experience.
• Research, survey, workboat or specialist vessel operations.
• Deployment of oceanographic, hydrographic or scientific equipment.
• Formal lifting, rigging, slinger/signaller or crane qualifications.
• Planned maintenance or vessel management systems such as SeaFlux or similar.
• Marine Safety Management Systems.
• Commercial marine projects or direct client-facing work.
• USVs, AUVs, ROVs or other uncrewed marine systems.

Applicant Information

Interviews for this position will be held on 1st December 2026.

You can find out more about working at PML here and view ourcompany benefits here.

For more information about living and working in Plymouth here.

If you have any questions about this position please email [e-mail].

Information about using AI in job applications can be found here. Using AI outside of these boundaries may negatively affect your chances of progressing in the recruitment process

PML is a Disability Confident employer, and we have recently attained the Investors in Diversity Silver accreditation. We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive culture, where all can succeed based on merit, and will provide any reasonable adjustments required to enable this. To support staff from all backgrounds, we offer a range of family-friendly and inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and staff engagement forums.