Job Description

Marine Project Engineer

Puget Sound Region | Onsite in Two Shipyard Locations | $90,000–$100,000+ DOE

A well-established Pacific Northwest shipbuilder is hiring a Marine Project Engineer to support new vessel construction and major overhaul projects. This is a mid-career opportunity for a hands-on engineer who wants to see complex vessels go from concept to launch.

With multiple large-scale contracts underway — including an upcoming high-profile pilot vessel project — this is an opportunity to join a growing engineering team at a critical inflection point.

Why This Role Is Compelling

• Work on state-of-the-art commercial vessels from bid through delivery
• Join a stable, privately held shipyard with strong backlog visibility
• Be part of a collaborative engineering team (2–3 peers in similar roles)
• Direct exposure to executive engineering leadership
• See your designs built in real time in an active production yard
• Competitive base salary with flexibility for highly qualified candidates

What You’ll Do

As Marine Project Engineer, you will serve as the technical bridge between engineering, external designers, and production teams. You’ll lead engineering execution for assigned projects and ensure that construction teams receive accurate, timely, and regulatory-compliant design information.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead engineering efforts from bid review through vessel delivery
• Coordinate internal engineers, outside design firms, and specialty contractors
• Review and release production work packages to the shipyard floor
• Support regulatory approvals and inspection processes
• Develop and manage engineering budgets and schedules
• Partner with Production and Project Management to maintain integrated schedules
• Resolve technical challenges during vessel assembly, erection, and launch
• Participate in project review meetings and stakeholder updates
• Support estimating and bid development when needed

You will split time between two shipyard facilities (primarily one location, with periodic time at a second yard). Candidates must be comfortable working in an active shipbuilding environment, including climbing ladders and navigating vessels under construction.

Required Qualifications (Clear Must-Haves)

• Bachelor’s degree in Marine Engineering, Naval Architecture, or closely related discipline
• 3+ years of experience in marine construction or shipyard engineering
• Strong understanding of vessel systems and sequencing in new construction
• Experience managing engineering documentation flow to production teams
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and standard project tools
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work onsite in Washington State
• Eligible to work in the United States

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with AutoCAD or similar drafting tools
• Familiarity with MS Project or scheduling software
• Experience working with regulatory bodies and quality assurance processes
• Background in government or “Buy American” contract environments
• Demonstrated leadership on engineering or project teams

Compensation & Benefits

• $90,000–$100,000 base salary (flexible for exceptional candidates)
• 401(k) with company match
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• HSA options
• Life and disability insurance programs
• Paid time off
• Employee assistance programs
• Long-term stability in a growing maritime sector

Hiring Process

• Introductory call with internal recruiting
• Two onsite team interviews (candidates will visit both shipyard locations)
• Executive leadership participation in final stages

Target start date: Within the next 60 days.

If you are a marine engineer who wants to take ownership of real vessel builds — not just drawings on a screen — this is a rare opportunity to do meaningful work in a high-impact shipyard environment.

Who is Rainier Recruiting?

Rainier Recruiting is a boutique, award winning national staffing agency and executive search firm. Using an approach that “treats every candidate like an executive search”, we offer positions in contract-to-hire, Full-Time, and executive search. Named the #1 Best Workplace in Washington State in 2022, recognized as a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing firm, and identified as a top recruitment firm by multiple business journals, Rainier Recruiting is fast becoming a respected company. We are no longer the “best recruiters you have never heard of”. Rainier Recruiting is also proud to share our clients have a 93% repeat business rate. Rainier Recruiting is an equal opportunity employer and service provider and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation or belief, or any other protected class. We are committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and are dedicated to making employment decisions based on merit and value, for ourselves, our client companies, and for the candidates we represent. We engage in socially conscious business practices and believe that diverse, equitable, inclusive, and non-biased talent and recruitment processes are foundational to the success of every organization that we partner with.

Job Tags

Similar Jobs