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Internship Merchant Marine Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Internship Merchant Marine information

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$11

$19

$29

How much do internship merchant marine jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for internship merchant marine in the United States is $19.31, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.11 and $20.91 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an internship merchant marine?

Internship Merchant Marine positions are training roles designed for students or recent graduates interested in a maritime career. These internships provide hands-on experience aboard ships or at ports, allowing interns to learn about navigation, cargo operations, safety procedures, and ship maintenance under the supervision of experienced professionals. The goal is to give interns practical knowledge and skills that can lead to future employment as a merchant mariner. Internships may vary in duration and specialization depending on the company or educational program. Completing such an internship is often a valuable step toward obtaining required maritime certifications.

What does an internship merchant marine do?

During a Merchant Marine internship, you can expect to assist with a variety of duties such as ship maintenance, navigation watchstanding, cargo operations, and safety drills. Interns often rotate through different departments, including deck, engineering, and sometimes the galley, to gain broad exposure. You'll work closely with experienced officers and crew, learning both practical seamanship and regulatory compliance. The environment is typically fast-paced and requires adaptability, teamwork, and a strong commitment to safety protocols.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an internship merchant marine?

To thrive as an Internship Merchant Marine, you need foundational maritime knowledge, basic seamanship, and often enrollment in a maritime academy or completion of relevant coursework. Familiarity with navigation systems, shipboard safety protocols, and sometimes STCW certification is typically required. Strong teamwork, adaptability, and effective communication are crucial soft skills in this role. These skills and qualifications are vital to ensure safety, efficient vessel operations, and successful integration into the shipboard environment.

What is the difference between Internship Merchant Marine vs Deck Cadet?

AspectInternship Merchant MarineDeck Cadet
Required CredentialsBasic maritime training, STCW certificationSTCW certification, maritime academy attendance
Work EnvironmentOnboard ships, training vesselsOnboard ships, training ships
Employer & Industry UsageShipping companies, maritime training programsShipping companies, maritime academies
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

Internship Merchant Marine and Deck Cadet roles both involve maritime training and onboard experience. The main difference is that internships are often short-term training programs, while deck cadet positions are part of a formal maritime education pathway leading to certification. Both roles prepare individuals for careers in the merchant marine industry, with similar credentials and work environments.

What cities are hiring for Internship Merchant Marine jobs?

Cities with the most Internship Merchant Marine job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Merchant Marine jobs?

The most popular types of Merchant Marine jobs are:

What states have the most Internship Merchant Marine jobs?

States with the most job openings for Internship Merchant Marine jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Internship Merchant Marine jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Internship Merchant Marine jobs are:

Internship Merchant Marine jobs near you
Infographic showing various Internship Merchant Marine job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 97% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $40,174 per year, or $19.3 per hour.

Mission Operations Sustainment Engineer, MUSV

Saronic Technologies

Austin, TX • On-site

$68K - $93K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

Saronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance maritime operations through autonomous and intelligent platforms.
Job Summary
You will join the team responsible for keeping Saronic's Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) platforms mission-ready: low-signature, autonomous vessels built to move critical supplies across contested littoral environments without a sailor on board. As a Sustainment Engineer, you'll support the propulsion, electrical, hydraulic, and hull systems that keep these platforms running, help diagnose and repair faults in the field under the guidance of senior engineers, and assist in training military technicians to sustain the platforms long-term. This role sits at the intersection of field maintenance and product development. Your hands-on findings from vessel maintenance and the waterline help inform how these platforms are engineered for reliability. The ideal candidate brings a foundational marine or mechanical engineering background, hands-on comfort with autonomous systems, and the ability to communicate clearly with both technicians and engineers.
Responsibilities
Vessel Maintenance & Repair
• Assist with scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on Saronic's USV platforms (propulsion, electrical, hydraulic, and hull systems) in both shore-based and forward-deployed environments.
• Help diagnose and troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, and software-interfaced system faults, and support repairs to restore mission readiness within operational timelines.
• Conduct pre- and post-mission inspections (dockside and waterborne) to verify system integrity, watertight/structural condition, and safety of the vessel prior to launch.
• Maintain maintenance logs, technical records, and configuration status in accordance with class society guidance and DoD material condition standards.
• Support spare parts inventory management, technical documentation, and OEM/vendor coordination for critical propulsion, power, and control components.
• Assist in developing and maintaining maintenance SOPs, technical manuals, troubleshooting guides, and casualty/emergency repair procedures, including remote scuttle system servicing.
• Support coordination with operators on waterspace deconfliction, safety boat integration, and range safety compliance during maintenance test runs and sea trials.
Training & Technician Development
• Support the development and delivery of platform maintenance training courses across the full curriculum: Technician Fundamentals, Preventive Maintenance, Corrective Maintenance & Troubleshooting, and Advanced Systems Repair.
• Assist in training and qualifying military personnel on platform-specific maintenance procedures, including propulsion and electrical system servicing, confined-space engine access, and safe work practices in marine environments.
• Help build and run train-the-trainer programs that establish long-term organic military maintenance capability with the platforms.
Product Development & Stakeholder Engagement
• Support the liaison relationship between Mission Operations/Maintenance and Saronic's Product and Engineering teams, helping ensure field reliability data informs design decisions.
• Capture and synthesize failure modes, MTBF/MTTR data, and technician feedback from testing and deployments to refine requirements, roadmaps, and system maintainability.
• Support engagements with government customers and DoD program offices on maintenance status and readiness.
• Build reporting and visualization tools to communicate fleet health, maintenance backlog, system performance, and readiness risk to internal and external stakeholders.
• Support Mission Operations/Maintenance representation at PDRs, IDRs, and CDRs, contributing subject-matter input on reliability and maintainability.
• Assist in planning and conducting site surveys to assess port infrastructure, maintenance facility requirements, tooling, and logistics constraints ahead of field operations.
Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in marine engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field, or equivalent operational experience.
• Minimum: valid U.S. Coast Guard Third Assistant Engineer license (unlimited horsepower, oceans) with an unrestricted STCW endorsement as Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch (OICEW), STCW Regulation III/1.
• Experience maintaining marine propulsion, electrical, or mechanical systems aboard vessels in the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, or Special Operations (internship, co-op, or military training experience considered).
• Experience maintaining unmanned surface vessels (USVs), autonomous systems, or remotely operated maritime platforms is a plus.
• Working knowledge of diesel and/or electric propulsion systems, hydraulics, marine electrical systems, and shipboard control/automation systems.
• Familiarity with GPS-denied or communications-degraded system architectures is a plus.
• Willingness and aptitude to help deliver technical maintenance training to military personnel.
• Strong diagnostic and troubleshooting skills; able to make quick, sound decisions under pressure in dynamic field environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to help author maintenance manuals, SOPs, and discrepancy/casualty reports for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Prior SOF experience or work with DoD or other government agencies is a plus.
• Possess an active clearance or have the ability to obtain one.
• Up to 75% travel required for field trials, demonstrations, and customer engagements.
Physical Demands
• Must be able to swim and tread water; ability to certify as fit for duty is required.
• Regularly lift, push, and carry up to 50 lbs., including tools, parts, and maintenance equipment.
• Work in confined and elevated spaces, including engine compartments and equipment bays, using flashlights and hand tools.
• Operate in daylight, low-light, and night conditions using marine navigation and diagnostic equipment.
• Perform physically demanding work (stooping, bending, reaching, squatting, kneeling, crouching, twisting, and crawling) for up to 12 hours a day.
• Climb and maintain balance on ladders, platforms, and scaffolding.
• Stand and walk for up to 10 hours a day over varied and uneven terrain.
• Work in marine environments including sun, wind, rain, cold, and saltwater spray for extended periods.
• Work in hot and humid conditions with adherence to hydration and heat safety practices.
• Detect alarms, verbal instructions, and hazards in high-noise environments.
• Wear and maintain PPE including safety glasses, safety shoes, hard hat, and hearing protection in compliance with site safety requirements.
Benefits
Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance plans covering a range of services
Saronic pays 100% of the premium for employees and 80% for dependents
Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for routine dental check-ups, orthodontics, and vision care
Saronic pays 100% of the premium under the basic plan for employees and 80% for dependents
Time Off: Generous PTO and Holidays
Parental Leave: Paid maternity and paternity leave to support new parents
Competitive Salary: Industry-standard salaries with opportunities for performance-based bonuses
Retirement Plan: 401(k) plan with company match
Stock Options: Equity options to give employees a stake in the company's success
Life and Disability Insurance: Basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage
Pet Insurance: Discounted pet insurance options including 24/7 Telehealth helpline
Additional Perks: Free lunch benefit and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office
Saronic CCPA Notice for Candidates and California Employees
If this role is based in the United States, it requires access to export-controlled information or items that require "U.S. Person" status. As defined by U.S. law, individuals who are any one of the following are considered to be a "U.S. Person": (1) U.S. citizens, (2) legal permanent residents (a.k.a. green card holders), and (3) certain protected classes of asylees and refugees, as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).
Saronic does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

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