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Ship Mechanic Jobs in Florida (NOW HIRING)

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Ship Mechanic information

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How much do ship mechanic jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for ship mechanic in Florida is $18.54, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.38 and $21.54 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a ship mechanic do?

A Ship Mechanic is responsible for maintaining, repairing, and inspecting a vessel's engines, mechanical systems, and related equipment. They ensure that all machinery, such as propulsion systems, pumps, and generators, operates efficiently and safely. Ship Mechanics diagnose mechanical issues, perform routine maintenance, and replace or repair faulty components. They may work on various types of vessels, including cargo ships, passenger ships, and naval vessels. Their role is essential in ensuring a ship's operational reliability at sea.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a ship mechanic?

To thrive as a Ship Mechanic, you need strong mechanical aptitude, knowledge of marine engine systems, and typically a vocational or technical certification in marine technology or a related field. Familiarity with diagnostic tools, engine control systems, and compliance with maritime safety regulations and certifications such as STCW are often required. Problem-solving ability, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are important soft skills for this role. These qualifications are vital to ensure the safe and efficient operation, maintenance, and repair of vessels at sea or in port.

What are the typical working conditions and team structure for a ship mechanic?

Ship Mechanics often work in both shipyards and onboard vessels, where they may encounter challenging conditions such as confined spaces, variable weather, and the need for physical stamina. The role typically involves collaborating closely with engineers, electricians, and other maintenance staff to ensure all mechanical systems are operating efficiently. Work can be scheduled in shifts, particularly during long voyages or in 24/7 port operations, and may require occasional overtime or emergency repairs. This team-oriented environment enables Ship Mechanics to build valuable technical expertise while contributing to the safety and reliability of both commercial and private vessels.

How do you become a ship mechanic?

To become a ship mechanic, you typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, followed by technical training or an apprenticeship in marine or diesel mechanics. Certification or licensing may be required depending on the employer and location, and hands-on experience with marine engines and systems is essential for this role.

How much do ship mechanics make?

Ship mechanics typically earn a median annual salary of around $50,000 to $70,000, depending on experience, location, and certifications. Those working on large vessels or with specialized skills can earn higher wages, and overtime or shift work may increase total compensation.

What are the most commonly searched types of Ship Mechanic jobs in Florida?

The most popular types of Ship Mechanic jobs in Florida are:

Infographic showing various Ship Mechanic job openings in Florida as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $38,570 per year, or $18.5 per hour.

Senior Marine Engineer - Ship Completion & Delivery

THE MCHENRY MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC

Port Saint Joe, FL • On-site

$87K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Posted 18 days ago


Job description

Description

Background check, US Citizenship, and a successful drug screening at requirements of this position. Travel is 95%.


Duration: Approximately 6-months

Work Environment: Shipyard/ onboard vessel/ engineering office

Program: HOS 369/370

Position Level: Senior/ Subject Matter Expert

Position Summary

TMMG is seeking a highly experienced Senior Marine Engineer - Ship Completion & Delivery to provide onsite engineering support during the completion, system startup, testing, regulatory closeout, and delivery of HOS 369 and HOS 370 at Eastern Shipbuilding Group's Port St. Joe facility.

This is a senior, hands-on shipyard engineering position for an individual who can enter an active vessel completion program, quickly understand the design and current ship status, take ownership of engineering problems, and independently drive them to resolution.

The successful candidate will have significant experience working in shipyards and marine design/engineering organizations and direct experience supporting vessels through construction, machinery and system startup, testing, commissioning, trials, regulatory/class closeout, and final delivery.

This position requires an engineer who can operate with minimal supervision and direction. The individual must be comfortable moving between drawings and technical documentation, shipboard conditions, production, testing, vendors, regulatory requirements, and engineering problem resolution as vessel completion progresses.


Requirements

Primary Responsibilities

Provide senior-level onsite marine engineering support for HOS 369/370 during vessel completion, startup, testing, commissioning, and delivery.

Independently investigate and resolve engineering issues affecting construction completion, system operation, testing, and vessel delivery.

Support startup and commissioning of main propulsion, auxiliary machinery, piping, exhaust, fuel, cooling, lubrication, and other shipboard mechanical systems.

Troubleshoot machinery and system problems identified during installation, startup, testing, and operation.

Evaluate shipboard conditions against drawings, specifications, vendor technical information, regulatory requirements, and accepted marine engineering practices.

Conduct shipchecks and field investigations to identify existing conditions and develop practical engineering solutions.

Review and develop engineering drawings, sketches, redlines, technical dispositions, calculations, and other documentation required to support production and vessel completion.

Work directly with shipyard engineering, production, test personnel, vendors, and other stakeholders to resolve technical issues quickly and efficiently.

Support test activities and investigate deficiencies identified during machinery startup, system testing, dock trials, sea trials, and other vessel acceptance activities.

Assist in determining root causes of system or equipment performance problems and develop technically sound corrective actions.

Evaluate field changes and proposed solutions for impacts to system functionality, interfaces, maintainability, safety, regulatory compliance, and vessel delivery.

Support resolution and closeout of outstanding engineering, construction, testing, and regulatory items affecting vessel completion.

Review vendor drawings, technical manuals, equipment information, and system documentation as required to resolve shipboard issues.

Support regulatory and classification compliance activities as assigned.

Provide engineering support for gas-fueled vessel requirements and applicable IGC Code matters when required.

Coordinate engineering solutions across mechanical, electrical, structural, test, production, and regulatory disciplines when issues cross traditional engineering boundaries.

Maintain clear documentation of technical issues, decisions, recommendations, and resolution status.

Identify emerging technical risks that could affect system startup, testing, trials, schedule, or vessel delivery and elevate them to project leadership.

Perform other senior marine engineering assignments necessary to support successful completion and delivery of HOS 369/370.

Required Qualifications

Extensive professional experience in marine engineering, shipbuilding, ship repair, vessel conversion, or comparable shipyard engineering environments.

Demonstrated experience working directly in shipyards and aboard vessels during construction, repair, conversion, or completion.

Significant practical knowledge of marine machinery and shipboard mechanical systems, including:

o Main propulsion machinery

o Auxiliary machinery

o Piping systems

o Fuel and lubrication systems

o Cooling systems

o Exhaust systems

o Pumps, valves, and associated equipment

o Machinery controls, instrumentation, and sensors

Demonstrated experience supporting machinery and system startup, commissioning, testing, troubleshooting, and corrective action.

Direct experience supporting vessels through late-stage construction and successful vessel delivery.

Ability to interpret and apply engineering drawings, system diagrams, equipment technical information, specifications, and regulatory requirements.

Demonstrated ability to independently investigate complex shipboard problems and develop practical, executable engineering solutions.

Ability to work effectively with shipyard engineering, production, test organizations, vendors, owners, regulatory bodies, and other technical stakeholders.

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Ability to work independently with minimal supervision in a fast-paced shipyard environment.

Ability and willingness to work onboard vessels and in active industrial/shipyard environments.

Preferred Qualifications

Previous experience in both a shipyard and marine design/engineering organization.

Experience with vessel completion, commissioning, dock trials, sea trials, and delivery.

Previous responsibility as a lead engineer, chief engineer, engineering manager, technical lead, or senior shipyard engineer.

Commercial vessel construction and delivery experience.

Experience with ABS, USCG, and other applicable classification and regulatory requirements.

Experience supporting regulatory waivers, equivalencies, or technical compliance issues.

Experience with LNG or other gas-fueled vessels and familiarity with the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code).

Experience resolving late-stage construction and commissioning issues where engineering, production, testing, vendors, and regulatory requirements intersect.

Professional Engineer (PE) license or other relevant professional credentials are desirable but not required.

Desired Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a seasoned marine engineer who has personally helped take ships from construction through startup, testing, trials, and delivery.

This individual should be equally comfortable reviewing a drawing in the engineering office, walking a machinery space to investigate a problem, discussing an equipment issue with a vendor, working with production to develop a practical correction, and supporting test personnel during machinery or system startup.

The successful candidate will not require detailed daily tasking or continuous supervision. Once given an issue or area of responsibility, the engineer is expected to understand the problem, identify the necessary stakeholders and technical information, develop a path forward, and drive the issue toward closure.

The position is best suited for an engineer with broad shipbuilding experience who understands that late-stage vessel completion frequently requires working outside narrowly defined engineering disciplines to keep construction, testing, commissioning, and delivery moving forward.

Key Success Measures

Success in this position will be measured by the individual's ability to:

o Become productive quickly after arriving at the shipyard.

o Independently take ownership of assigned engineering problems.

o Provide technically sound and practical solutions that can be executed by the shipyard.

o Reduce the engineering burden on existing ESG personnel rather than requiring additional oversight.

o Support timely machinery and system startup and testing.

o Identify and resolve technical issues before they become significant schedule or delivery risks.

o Effectively coordinate engineering, production, test, vendor, and regulatory stakeholders.

o Drive assigned technical and regulatory issues through documented closure.

o Contribute directly to the successful completion and delivery of HOS 369 and HOS 370.


Physical Requirements

The physical requirements described below are representative of those necessary to successfully perform the essential functions of this position in an active shipyard and onboard vessel environment.

Ability to work in both office and active shipyard environments, including aboard vessels under construction, repair, testing, and commissioning.

Ability to frequently stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and reach while conducting shipboard inspections, shipchecks, and engineering investigations.

Ability to safely climb and descend stairs, vertical ladders, inclined ladders, and gangways to access vessel compartments and machinery spaces.

Ability to move throughout machinery spaces, equipment rooms, tanks, passageways, and other shipboard areas where access may be restricted or confined.

Ability to work in areas with limited headroom and around installed machinery, piping, cableways, foundations, and temporary construction equipment.

Ability to board and depart vessels using shipyard-provided gangways and access systems.

Ability to lift and carry engineering equipment, drawings, laptops, measuring devices, PPE, and similar items weighing up to approximately 25 pounds.

Ability to perform visual inspections and take measurements in shipboard spaces, including locations requiring bending, reaching, kneeling, or climbing.

Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, safety footwear, gloves, and other equipment required by the shipyard or vessel.

Ability to work for extended periods in industrial environments that may include elevated noise levels, vibration, dust, fumes, temperature variations, humidity, and exposure to ongoing construction and machinery operations.

Ability to safely navigate uneven surfaces, temporary decking, staging areas, and other typical shipyard and vessel construction conditions.

Ability to remain onboard and move between engineering, production, machinery, and test areas for extended periods as required to investigate and resolve technical issues.

Ability to travel to and work onsite at the Port St. Joe, Florida shipyard for the duration of the assignment, with additional travel as required by the project. 


Education/Certification Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Marine Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture, or a closely related engineering discipline.

15+ years of progressively responsible marine engineering and shipbuilding experience.