Electrical Superintendent

Electrical Superintendent

Holland America Line has been exploring the world since 1873. Our ships offer innovative features and enriching experiences focused on destination exploration and personalized travel, inviting guests to savor the journey.

We're looking for an experienced Electrical Superintendent to fill this hybrid role which is based out of our Seattle office. In this critical role you'll be responsible for ensuring the safe, reliable, and regulatory ‑ compliant operation of all electrical and electronic systems across assigned vessels. The role provides expert technical support to shipboard teams and serves as the primary electrical interface between vessels, vendors, and shore ‑ based stakeholders. Responsibilities include managing electrical projects and dry dock scopes, controlling electrical CAPEX and OPEX, and overseeing service agreements and contractor performance.

This position requires strong marine electrical expertise, sound engineering judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities across an operational fleet. The Electrical Superintendent contributes to both short ‑ and long ‑ term asset strategies, including dry dock planning, system renewals, lifecycle management, and the evaluation and integration of emerging technologies. Working closely with shipboard Chief Electrical Officers, Supply Chain, Hotel Refurbishment, and other cross ‑ functional departments, the Superintendent ensures the timely and effective execution of projects while maintaining alignment with HESS principles and company standards. The role provides technical direction, risk assessment, and decision support, delegating operational tasks to technical coordinators or shipboard personnel as appropriate. Regular ship visits are required to assess system performance, verify maintenance practices, identify risks, and support data ‑ driven decision ‑ making for fleetwide initiatives and continuous improvement.

Here's a summary of what Holland America Line is looking for in its Electrical Superintendent. Is this you?

Responsibilities

• Vessel Electrical Team Support & Execution: Provide day ‑ to ‑ day technical support to shipboard Chief Electrical Engineers, Chief Engineers, and operational teams across assigned vessels. Act as shore ‑ side escalation point for complex electrical, automation, navigation, communication, and power ‑ generation issues. Support fault investigation, corrective actions, and follow ‑ up for electrical incidents and system failures. Ensure continued compliance with Class, Flag, statutory, and company electrical requirements. The role requires proactive identification of obsolescence risks and opportunities for modernization. Partnering with the Asset Management Group ensures consistency in standards and practices across the Holland America Line and Seabourn fleets. The Superintendent integrates environmental considerations and emerging technologies into asset planning. They assess the feasibility of extending asset life through maintenance or upgrades.
• Project Execution & Coordination: Support planning and execution of electrical work during dry docks and in service periods. Review quotations, cost estimates, and technical scopes for vessel level projects. Coordinate vendors, riding teams, and shipboard stakeholders to ensure timely and effective execution.
• Financial & Commercial Support: Develop and validate vessel level cost estimates and budget inputs. Monitor project costs against approved budgets and escalate variances. Ensure supporting documentation (quotes, scopes, technical justifications) is complete and compliant.
• Vendor & Stakeholder Interaction: Act as the primary point of contact for vendors supporting assigned vessels. Monitor vendor performance and escalate quality, schedule, or cost issues. Support vendor site visits, testing, and commissioning activities.
• Compliance & Safety: Ensure all electrical work aligns with regulatory, classification, and internal safety requirements. Support audits, inspections, and incident investigations as required. Promote consistent application of electrical safety procedures onboard.
• Decision Making Authority: Recommend technical solutions, cost estimates, and execution plans. Operate within approved budgets, standards, and delegated authority. Escalate deviations, risks, or cross fleet impacts to Sr. Director level.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Scope: The Superintendent, Electrical operates within Fleet Technical Operations, supporting both Holland America Line (HAL) and Seabourn (SBN). The role combines shore ‑ based and fleet ‑ facing responsibilities, with direct accountability for electrical systems across an assigned group of vessels. Acting as the primary link between shipboard electrical teams and shoreside departments, the position ensures alignment on technical standards, planning, and execution. It contributes to the strategic management of electrical assets and works closely with Supply Chain, Hotel Refurbishment, Fleet Governance, and Asset Management to support operational, refurbishment, and capital initiatives. Responsibilities include routine operational support, long ‑ term planning, dry dock activities, and fleetwide upgrades, while ensuring compliance with regulatory, safety, and environmental requirements. The role has a direct impact on vessel readiness, guest experience, and environmental performance, and requires regular ship visits for inspections and project oversight.
• Problem solving: The role requires strong technical judgment and the ability to operate in complex, fast ‑ paced environments. The Superintendent, Electrical assesses the condition and performance of fleet electrical systems and determines optimal maintenance, upgrade, or replacement strategies. The position involves anticipating lifecycle risks, balancing cost, safety, and reliability, and making data ‑ driven decisions using vendor input, regulatory requirements, and performance metrics. The role frequently addresses time ‑ critical onboard issues, requiring rapid prioritization and coordination with shipboard teams and external partners. Responsibilities include root ‑ cause analysis, implementation of sustainable corrective actions, evaluation of emerging technologies, and alignment of technical needs with budgetary constraints to ensure compliant, resilient, and efficient electrical systems.
• Impact: The Superintendent, Electrical has a direct impact on the reliability, safety, and modernization of the fleet's electrical infrastructure, supporting operational continuity across Holland America Line (HAL) and Seabourn (SBN). The role influences guest experience, crew safety, and vessel readiness by ensuring electrical systems meet regulatory, class, and corporate standards. Through input into capital planning, asset lifecycle strategies, and fleetwide standardization, the position shapes long ‑ term asset performance and consistency. The role also supports the adoption of new technologies that enhance energy efficiency and environmental performance. Collaboration with cross ‑ functional teams and oversight of vendor performance ensure electrical requirements are effectively integrated into operational, refurbishment, and modernization initiatives, sustaining the fleet's technical integrity and future readiness.
• Leadership: The Superintendent, Electrical provides technical and functional leadership across fleet and shore ‑ based operations, serving as the direct leader for Chief Electrical Officers through mentorship, guidance, and performance oversight. The role leads cross ‑ functional project teams involving internal stakeholders, vendors, and contractors, ensuring alignment, accountability, and timely delivery. Responsibilities include managing multiple concurrent initiatives, budgets, and schedules, while influencing without authority across functions such as Corporate, Supply Chain, Hotel Refurbishment, and Fleet Governance. The Superintendent represents the electrical discipline in planning forums and technical reviews, ensures shipboard teams are equipped to meet operational and compliance requirements, and drives continuous improvement and innovation in electrical practices across the fleet.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Management, or equivalent maritime qualifications.
• Valid certification or license supporting electrical competency at sea, such as Chief Electrical Officer or 1st Electrical Officer credentials.
• Demonstrated knowledge of international electrical codes and maritime regulatory standards (e.g., IEC norms, flag state, and classification society requirements).
• Certification or documented training in high-voltage systems and safety protocols.
• Proficiency in the use of Planned Maintenance Systems (e.g., AMOS) for electrical asset management.
• Familiarity with HESS (Health, Environment, Safety, and Security) principles and their application to electrical systems.
• Ability to travel internationally and conduct shipboard inspections as required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 applications.
• This position requires to be able to climb ladders and work flexible hours.
• Proven experience leading the maintenance and lifecycle planning of electrical systems on large passenger vessels or equivalent maritime environments.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex capital projects involving electrical upgrades, vendor coordination, and budget oversight.
• Experience supporting dry dock planning and execution, including integration of electrical systems in guest and crew areas.
• Hands-on knowledge of power distribution systems, switchboards, transformers, and hotel and navigation electrical systems.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams including Supply Chain, Hotel Refurbishment, and Fleet Governance.
• Familiarity with managing service agreements and coordinating with internal and external subject matter experts.
• Experience implementing preventative maintenance strategies and responding to system failures or incidents.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret technical documentation, vendor specifications, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience contributing to strategic planning and budget forecasting for electrical assets.
• Proven ability to support shipboard teams and influence decision-making without direct authority.

Travel: 25-50% with shipboard travel likely

Work Conditions: Work beyond normal business hours or on weekends may be required occasionally to support business needs, projects, or operations.

Physical Demands: Requires