Vessel Engineering Manager

Matson Navigation Company, Inc; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Matson Navigation Company, Inc. seeks a Vessel Engineering Manager to provide strategic leadership of the engineering team, ensuring vessel schedule integrity, regulatory compliance, and cost-effective maintenance operations.

The role reports to the Director of Engineering and oversees all M&R activities, safety, and finances. The candidate should bring a USCG Chief Engineer license, experience with containership operations, and proficiency in NSE and MS Project, with strong communication skills

Qualifications

• Licensed USCG Chief Engineer, Unlimited Steam and Motor (First Assistant or Chief Engineer preferred).
• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from a State or Federal Maritime Academy preferred.
• Experience as a Containership Technical Manager.

Responsibilities

• Oversee vessel maintenance and repair (M&R) including safety, financials, and personnel management.
• Manage maintenance plans, budgets, and compliance with regulatory standards.
• Coordinate and communicate repair plans and timelines to stakeholders.

Skills

USCG Chief Engineer license

Project management

Excel (pivot tables)

MS Office Suite (Word/PowerPoint/Outll

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Tools

Nautical Systems Enterprise (NSE)

MS Project

SharePoint

Windows proficiency

Job description

Position at Matson Navigation Company, Inc.

About Us

Matson has been the leading ocean shipping and logistics provider throughout the Pacific since 1882. We are the supply chain lifeline for Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, and islands of the South Pacific. We also offer the top two ocean shipping services in the world's largest trade lane – Asia to the U.S. West Coast. With our subsidiaries Matson Terminals and Matson Logistics, our business focus is exceeding customer expectations with quality, reliability, and integrity.

We strive to operate in an environmentally sustainable manner and promote land‑based environmental programs in Hawaii, Guam, and Alaska. We help improve the communities in which we work and live through our community giving program that annually supports hundreds of local organizations.

Matson is honored to be certified as a Great Place to Work. Our team of dedicated and talented employees consistently deliver exceptional results for our customers and the communities in which we serve.

Learn more at matson.com.

About the Role

The Vessel Engineering Manager provides strategic leadership to the engineering team, ensuring vessel schedule integrity, regulatory compliance, and cost effective maintenance operations. The position reports to the Director of Engineering. The position is responsible for the management and oversight of all aspects of vessel maintenance and repair (M&R) of the vessels, including safety, financial, accounting, engineering, and personnel management, including the following:

Responsibilities

• Operational Management
  • Verify vessel schedule integrity by monitoring daily performance and identifying potential disruptions.
  • Approve Port Engineer maintenance plans to align with fleet objectives and regulatory standards.
  • Coordinate emergent maintenance solutions to minimize downtime.
  • Communicate repair plans and timelines to stakeholders for transparency.
  • Manage Port Engineer schedules for optimal resource allocation.
  • Develop lay period work lists for interim dry dock planning.
  • Provide timely reporting through daily, weekly, and monthly updates.
  • Oversee senior engineering personnel onboard, including recruitment/selection, training, and preparation of performance reviews.
• Financial Management
  • Develop and manage annual vessel budgets aligned with operational goals.
  • Audit vendor deliverables and invoices to ensure accuracy and prevent overbilling; resolve discrepancies promptly.
  • Monitor purchase order performance for cost control and accountability.
  • Prepare and submit Capital Expenditure Requests (CERs) for planned and emergent upgrades.
• Compliance and Safety
  • Implement and refine policies supporting the Safety Management System (SMS).
  • Ensure environmental stewardship in all vessel operations.
  • Maintain regulatory certificates and verify compliance with classification requirements.
  • Monitor safety compliance as a member of the Marine Safety Committee meetings.

Skills

• Licensed USCG Chief Engineer, Unlimited Steam and Motor (First Assistant or Chief Engineer preferred).
• Familiarity with all aspects of vessel operations and technical management for modern US flag containerships.
• Experienced in overseeing shipboard maintenance and repair administration through Nautical Systems Enterprise (NSE).
• Proficient in project management with expertise in MS Project for planning and execution.
• Excellent ability to craft clear, concise documentation and apply critical analysis to complex problems.
• Strong Excel capabilities with hands‑on experience in pivot tables for analytical and reporting tasks.
• Strong expertise in Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and SharePoint, combined with solid Windows operating proficiency.
• Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage both large and small audiences.

Qualifications

• Licensed US Coast Guard Chief Engineer, Unlimited Steam & Motor (First Assistant or Chief Engineer preferred).
• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from a State or Federal Maritime Academy preferred.
• Experience as a Containership Technical Manager.

Extra Credit

• Ability to travel as required.
• Ability to commit to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals and/or deadlines, including work on the weekends and holidays, to meet deadlines.

Physical Requirements

• Sitting 60 minutes per hour
• Walking 60 minutes per hour
• Standing 60 minutes per hour

The annual salary range is posted for this position in Washington and California. The salary offered will depend upon qualifications and other operational considerations.

Matson offers medical, dental, and vision insurance benefits as well as a wide variety of other benefits to employees and their families. These benefits options include life insurance, supplemental life insurance, paid leaves of absence, and long-term disability insurance, as well as more specialized benefits such as emergency childcare, death, and dismemberment insurance, prepaid legal services, and adoption assistance. Matson offers a 401k with employer matching, cash balance plan, and profit sharing, along with 13 paid holidays, 10 sick days and a tiered vacation plan. More information on our benefits can be found here.

Equal Opportunity

Matson is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, parental status, ancestry, disability, AIDS/HIV status, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected status. Qualified applicants with arrest and/or conviction records will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with federal and state laws, as well as applicable local ordinances, including, but not limited to, the San Francisco and Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinances. View our applicant privacy statement: https://www.matson.com/media/Applicant_Privacy_Statement.pdf.