
Chief Engineer
San Diego, CAFull-time$65/hrSeen 2 days agoSeen in employer's feed 2 days ago
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At a glance
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Requirements
Credentials this posting asks for.
Job overview
Astrion seeks a Chief Engineer to work full time aboard the USAV Worthy, a special-purpose vessel, with a permanent change of station to Kwajalein and 100% travel. The role operates and maintains propulsion and auxiliary engineering systems, oversees vessel maintenance and engineering crew, and coordinates with vessel leadership, mission staff, and technical personnel. The position requires five years of licensed Chief Engineer experience or an education substitute, along with specified maritime credentials and U.S. citizenship.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Full job description
Overview
Chief Engineer (Permanent Party)
LOCATION: San Diego, CA
JOB STATUS: Full Time PCS to Kwajalein (permanent change of station)
CLEARANCE: background check/CAC card
CERTIFICATION: USCG
TRAVEL: 100%
COMPENSATION: Max $65/hr
Astrion has an exciting opportunity for a Chief Engineer to work full time aboard USAV Worthy.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS
Education:
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Must have a High School diploma or equivalent.
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Graduate of a state or federal Maritime Academy, or U.S. Naval or Coast Guard Academy, as a Marine Engineer, or U.S. Naval schools or equivalent in Propulsion; Machinist Mate; Engineman; Damage Control; Air Conditioning and Refrigeration; etc.
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A total of five (5) years of experience as a licensed Chief Engineer aboard comparable or larger vessels may be substituted for the formal education requirement.
Experience:
- A total of five (5) years of experience as a licensed Chief Engineer aboard comparable or larger vessels
Certifications:
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US Coast Guard license as Chief Engineer of inspected motor vessels operating on oceans, on vessels powered by not less than 2500 HP. USCG Chief Engineer of Steam / Motor / Gas Turbine, STCW International license and accompanying endorsements.
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Ability to pass a federal background check to obtain and hold a DoD Common Access Card (CAC). Current U.S. Citizenship Required
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Ability to pass a post offer drug screen and physical/medical clearance.
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Current and Valid U.S. Passport*.
*(Passport, MMC/MMD, and med cert must have minimum of 6 months of validity prior to placement, or proof of renewal in progress.)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS
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Experience or background in government/public vessel operations.
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Experience with vessels in a reduced operating status (ROS).
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Background in supporting US Army requirements as it pertains to ocean going vessels.
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Experience with diesel electric propulsion systems.
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Knowledge of common safety practices and protective equipment used on an ocean-going vessel.
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Self-starter, team player and conscientious worker.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Chief Engineer on the vessel and must work closely with the vessel Master, Chief Mate, and other personnel involved with vessel operations including RGNEXT range safety personnel and embarked personnel. The USAV Worthy is a 200 ft long, 1,483 ton, special purpose vessel with a diesel electric propulsion system and a bow thruster. She typically carries a crew of 13 and up to 20 embarked mission personnel. Operates and maintains the assigned vessel's propulsion and auxiliary engineering systems.
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Work with the vessel Master and the Chief Mate in executing the USAV Worthy maintenance program. Oversee the maintenance and upkeep of the vessel's systems in accordance with applicable standards and regulations.
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Determine, source, and order parts, supplies, and material requirements for job accomplishment.
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Accurately inputs O&M data, as well as projects long range maintenance issues.
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Ensures the vessel maintains ABS Load-line and U.S. Army standards.
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Remains on standby/recall status to the vessel during dockside periods, as needed.
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Participates in the vessels off site OCCM (On-Condition Cyclic Maintenance) Dry-docking on a three-year basis
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Supervises engineering team including permanent crew and surge crew. Aids in training and development of crew members.
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Reports to the Master and the RGNEXT Technical lead for Range and Mission Safety.
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Coordinates with mission staff (supernumeraries) and other personnel on Kwajalein for logistics, provisioning, re-stocking, and requesting maintenance activities for the vessel.
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Ensures the vessel maintains ABS Load-line and U.S. Army standards.
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Ensure logbooks and records are maintained and accurately completed.
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Complies with and enforces safety regulations, guidelines, policies and procedures both within the Astrion polices and the relevant and applicable RGNEXT OSHE policies: including but not limited to RGNEXT OSHE hearing conservation and respiratory protection programs.
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Ensures the vessel is operated and navigated in accordance with applicable US laws/regulations and host nation laws/regulations.
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Perform Fire and Emergency duties associated with the Chief Engineer's billet on Ship's Station Bill.
#CJ
How this job compares
Set against the 407 open Chief Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 3, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$65/hr
- US median$56–58/hr23 hourly ranges
This rate, $65/hr, is 17% above the US median midpoint ($56/hr) — in the middle half of Chief Engineer hourly ranges across the US.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 92 open Chief Engineer jobs in California and 407 across the US. 2% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in California
- Anduril21 open
- Anduril Industries15 open
- AeroVironment4 open
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 5 years of experience — less than three in four Chief Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for (median 10 years, across 331 postings).
- Education
- 166 of the 407 open Chief Engineer jobs (41%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 3, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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