Marine Engineer - TS Royalist in Gosport

Location: Operating from Gosport, but sailing around the UK and near-continent

Contract: Full Time, permanent

Salary: £33,490 gross per annum

Closing Date: 2 March 2026

Are you an experienced engineer looking for a unique offshore experience? The Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) is looking for an engineer for our flagship vessel TS Royalist who is used to inspire Sea Cadets to the possibilities of a life at sea. The MSSC is a vibrant and growing charity, delivering life-changing nautical adventure for young people, to give them the best possible head start in life. We also provide personal and professional development opportunities for seafarers with the Marine Society.

Working with our staff, cadets, and volunteers, we have built a vision and five-year strategy to take us forward and further improve the astounding contribution already made through our work to the lives of thousands of young people and seafarers, while fully supporting our volunteers who are vital to our success.

We are currently looking for a Marine Engineer to join our team.

About the role

The primary purpose of the Marine Engineer is to deliver the maintenance and safe operation of all machinery on board the vessel. Responsibility spans the hull, structure, main and auxiliary machinery, electrical and electronic systems, fuel, water, hydraulics, and the planning and execution of in-season maintenance. A comprehensive level of advice and support to the onboard Engineer is provided by our two, office-based, Engineering Technical staff.

Applicants should have the requisite experience and should ideally have completed an approved engineering course or a willingness to complete one within the first 12 months of employment. They should ideally hold a current Seafarer Medical Certificate or be willing to be medically assessed for the position. The ability to work effectively with young people as well as the permanent and relief crew members is essential. Ship system familiarisation, child safeguarding and any necessary sea safety course refresher training will be given to the successful applicant.

The particular demand of seagoing employment requires the incumbent to be available for duty for prolonged periods and working hours necessarily need to be very flexible. Although overtime will not be recognised, the working and rest hours for the role will be within the confines of the terms of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006. The uncertain nature of the working hours is recognised by the holiday arrangements afforded.

For an informal discussion about the role of Marine Engineer on board TS Royalist, please contact MSSC's Offshore Office on 07798675147.

Applications should consist of a completed application form and equal opportunities monitoring form, both available from the website. You may submit your CV in support of your application, but the appropriate application form must be completed if you wish to be considered for these roles.

Responsibilities

• Support the Commanding Officer to achieve the successful execution of the offshore sailing programme.
• To conduct routine maintenance of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and water systems in accordance with the vessel’s Planned Maintenance Schedules.
• To operate engines, generators, electrical, hydraulic and water systems as required.
• To carry out general ship husbandry.
• To effect repairs and planned maintenance during the season and refit periods as requested by the Offshore Technical team.
• Maintain an in-depth knowledge of specific machinery and equipment through ongoing training and other methods as required by MSSC.
• To fully understand and utilise the Electronic Planned Maintenance System.
• To liaise with contractors on behalf of the offshore technical team as required.
• To advise and guide relief Marine Engineers.
• To assist with the delivery of the cadet training programme.
• To support the Ship’s Captain during the winter maintenance period (Dec to Feb) by ensuring all maintenance and refit job cards, checks, inspections, modifications, and servicing routines within their department are conducted in a timely and satisfactory manner. This will require close liaison with contractors and shore support staff, and regular update briefings on progress with the Captain and shore technical support staff.
• Ensure cadets and staff operate in line with the MSSC’s safeguarding and other policies.

Requirements

• Able to demonstrate the skills and experience of working with multiple engineering systems, ideally within the Marine Environment.
• A level of fitness that is not likely to be a bar for working at sea.
• Good verbal communication skills; ability to work within a small team.
• Knowledge of health and safety standards, relating to working with machinery and systems.
• Experience in investigating faults and the identification of possible rectifications.

Desirable

• Approved Engineer Qualification (such as AEC 1 or Maritime Certificate of Competence for Marine Engineering) or a willingness to undertake training to attain an AEC 1 qualification within the 1st year of employment.
• Alternatively, a time-served Engineering apprenticeship or a sound background and experience in mechanical and electrical engineering.
• Possession of an ENG 1 or ML5 medical certificate, or an ability and willingness to obtain and maintain.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, SharePoint.
• Knowledge of health and safety standards within the Maritime Environment.
• Details Skills, Experience and Practice of fault finding within Maritime Engineering Systems.
• Proven instructional or developmental experience.
• An understanding of safeguarding relating to working with children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Benefits

• 104 days annual leave per annum, 84 individual days during the sailing season and 20 working days during the winter refit period.
• Life assurance (4x salary) for those that join the charity’s pension scheme.
• Private medical insurance.
• Pension (employer contribution up to 10%).
• Wellbeing portal and EAP with 121 counselling.
• Employee development: We are investing in our employees' development and have an annual calendar of learning and development opportunities, designed to support employees to develop into their roles and stretch them to achieve their full potential.
• National staff conference: All employees come together once a year to reflect on the past year and celebrate success at our offsite staff conference. This is a great opportunity to listen to employees' views, and for employees to network, share information and socialise.

Additional Information

MSSC positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. Equity, diversity, and inclusion really matter to us, so we can best serve our beneficiaries from every community. We work to ensure a fair and consistent recruitment process and aim to be a charity where diversity of experience, identity and skills are valued and welcomed. MSSC is an equal opportunities employer.

We recognise our responsibilities to safeguard and protect the young people and vulnerable adults with whom we work. We do all we can to promote their health, safety and wellbeing, and we expect our staff to share this commitment and work in line with safeguarding policy, the MSSC’s values and ethos of inclusivity. We adhere to safer recruitment practices and therefore employment is subject to detailed pre-employment checks for successful candidates, including references and criminal disclosure checks and the completion of a disclosure questionnaire. All successful applicants are required to attend safeguarding training and undergo a criminal record check.