Sea-Watch is looking for an Engineer (Rescue Boats & Technical Systems) (f/m/d)

starting 15.02.2026

Sea-Watch e.V. is a non-profit initiative dedicated to the civil sea rescue of refugees. In view of the humanitarian disaster in the central Mediterranean Sea-Watch provides emergency aid, demands and at the same time forces the rescue by the responsible European institutions and publicly stands up for legal escape routes. We are politically and religiously independent and are financed exclusively by donations.

For our SEA-WATCH 5 we are looking for an Engineer to join our mission

As Engineer with a focus on Rescue boats systems, you are responsible for the safe and efficient operation, maintenance, and repair of the ship’s machinery and technical systems, both in the engine room and on deck. In addition to your regular engineering duties, you take a lead role in maintaining and overhauling the rescue boats and their systems – including engines, pumps, compressors, steering and self-righting systems. You ensure proper recordkeeping, maintain inventories of critical spares and consumables, and support the Chief Engineer with administrative tasks and procurement coordination. Your attention to detail and hands-on expertise help ensure that all technical equipment – whether in the engine room, accommodation, or on deck – remains fully operational and ready for both standard operations and rescue missions.
While this role includes the full spectrum of engineering duties on board, it carries a particular responsibility for the maintenance, readiness, and periodic overhaul of the rescue boats.

Your tasks

  • Coordinate and execute maintenance and repairs of the rescue boats, including but not limited to engines, pumps, compressors, steering system, self-righting system, sponsons
  • Maintain engineering logs, maintenance records, and compliance checklists
  • Oversee inventory of critical spare parts and lubricants, coordinate for procurement and restocking, and ensure cost efficient use of technical resources
  • Coordinate with the SAR team leader/ deck rating, about the technical needs of the rescue boats on board of the SW5
  • Contribute to technical improvement initiatives during maintenance windows, including modifications that enhance safety, reliability, or usability of the rescue boats
  • Plan and execute major overhauls of the rescue boats engines in collaboration with onboard and backoffice department, surveyors and external contractors
  • Maintenance and repair of the engine plant and equipment, accommodation and deck
  • Officer in charge of engine room watch in accordance with STCW
  • Updates inventories and completes, or updates planned maintenance systems respectively
  • Maintenance of all mechanical equipment in and outside the engine room
  • Regular testing of machinery not in regular use

Your profile

  • Formal education in marine/mechanical engineering
  • Exhaustive experience in working in marine engineering systems and inboard engines (minimum 200h of demonstrable experience)
  • Capacity to swiftly analyze technical issues, propose innovative solutions, and adapt to rapidly changing operational contexts
  • Experience in maintaining/repairing hydraulic systems
  • Valid medical fitness certificate for seafarers
  • Valid Certificate of Proficiency Basic Safety Training (STCW A-VI/1)
  • Certificate of Proficiency for ‘Survival Craft & Rescue Boats’ or willingness to obtain it
  • Certificate of Proficiency for ‘Fast Rescue Craft’ or willingness to obtain it
  • Certificate of Proficiency in Security Awareness & Designated Security Duties (STCW A-VI/6; can be obtained on short term by an online course)
  • Proficiency in the English language
  • Commitment to challenging racism, sexism and the EU border policy

We offer you

  • A rapidly growing non-profit organization with constantly new challenges and ideas
  • Insights into the work of an NGO in sea rescue
  • Offers of internal training and promotion of individual further education
  • Independent work and the creative freedom to help shape our operations
  • Salary: 3400 €/month (employee gross, increases possible based on various factors**)
  • Two months on/off rotation (2 months on board, 2 months leave, monthly salary will be paid as mentioned above)
  • Special payments and additional benefits, such as company pension scheme

We look forward to receiving your application!

Please send your application with a letter of motivation and a CV (listing all your relevant certificates including their validity) without a photo to: application@sea-watch.org. Deadline 21st of December 2025

Applications (letter of motivation and CV) please in ONE pdf-document. Please include a list of your maritime certificates and their expiry dates but no scans of the certificates.

We are committed to an inclusive society without racism and with freedom of movement for all. In case of equal qualification, we favor applications from women*, LGBTQI*, BIPOC, people with disabilities, people with migration experience, and people from other groups underrepresented in the maritime and NGO world. Should you feel addressed here, we invite you to provide relevant information on this in your application. Please refrain from providing application photos and any information on age and marital status.

** From January 1, 2024, we have a new salary model that allows for various supplements to the basic salary and takes into account family needs and personal disability. In addition, the salary increases by 3% with every year of service. In addition, there is the possibility of supplements due to previous relevant professional experience based on internal criteria, a maximum of 5 years can be recognized here, a supplement of 3% per year of previous experience is possible.