Project Chief Engineer -- Major Yacht Refit & Redesign | South Florida

Job Description

Job Description

A private ownership group is seeking a seasoned project or chief engineer to lead a from-the-keel-up redesign and refit of a 42-meter classed motor yacht in South Florida — a $6–8M program running 12+ months. The right person will serve as the owner's trusted technical lead, working hand-in-hand with the shipyard, naval architects, and trades as a strong collaborator and communicator. This is a career-defining project for someone who has led work at this scale before, not a stepping-stone assignment.

The ownership family is new to yachting but well established in the sport fishing world, where they run a fleet of three large, world-class vessels based in different locations. That fleet is run by a genuinely excellent team, and vendors who work with the family consistently describe them as among the best-regarded owners in the industry — the kind of program worth building a career around.

The 42M will serve as both a mothership to that sport fishing program and a full-capability yacht for extended family cruising, without geographic limitation — from the Northeast U.S. and the Mediterranean to the Atlantic and South Pacific. The engineering leadership hired here is expected to match the caliber of the team already running the fleet.

Scope of the Project
A comprehensive redesign rather than a standard refit, centered on a complete overhaul and redesign of the engine room — including a full repower and refit of all mechanical and electrical systems — alongside structural, exterior, and interior work throughout the vessel.

The vessel is classed, and the entire scope — design, fabrication, and systems work — must satisfy class society requirements throughout. Working knowledge of class survey and approval processes is essential to this role.

The Role
The owner is open to structuring this around the strongest candidate, across three paths:

• Project Engineer through Running Engineer (preferred): lead the yard period, then stay aboard as Running Engineer with full institutional knowledge of the vessel
• Land-based Project Manager / Chief Engineer: lead the yard period only, handing off to a separate Running Engineer.
• Split leadership: a mechanical chief engineer strong in design work (piping, manifolds, engine room layout), paired with a specialist covering electronics, paint, teak, and interior.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the owner's on-site technical representative, overseeing all engineering, mechanical, electrical, and structural work
• Manage the shipyard, naval architects, and subcontractors; own schedule, budget, and class compliance
• Oversee the engine room rebuild, structural and profile changes, and exterior finishing
• Maintain complete, transferable documentation of all systems and vendor relationships
• If continuing as Running Engineer: lead the engineering department and maintain all newly installed systems

Candidate Profile

• Not a role for a standard yachting engineer — this is for someone who has already built a career on projects of this scale.
• Verifiable track record leading yacht refits, redesigns, or new-builds of comparable size and budget
• Established South Florida vendor and trade relationships
• Deep fluency in marine mechanical systems, and experience satisfying class society requirements on classed vessels
• Comfortable managing structural and aesthetic scope alongside mechanical work
• Strong budget and schedule management on multi-million dollar projects
• Based in, or willing to relocate to, South Florida for the full yard period

• Preferred: combined project/running engineer experience, familiarity with sport fishing operations, and experience working directly with owners without a management company as intermediary

Location, Duration & Engagement

Location:  South Florida (yard period)
Duration:  12+ months for the yard period; ongoing for the Running Engineer path
Project Budget:  Approximately $6,000,000–$8,000,000
Engagement:  1099 contractor engagement available for the right candidate