Entry Level Shipyard Field Engineer

The Entry-Level Shipyard Field Engineer supports the construction of commercial vessels by working directly with Engineering, Production, Planning, Quality, Safety, Purchasing, subcontractors, and craft personnel. This developmental position is intended for a recent graduate or currently enrolled in engineering studies who wants to learn the intricacies of shipbuilding through practical, hands-on exposure to fabrication, assembly, erection, outfitting, testing, commissioning, and vessel delivery. The Field Engineer helps and translate design information into executable field work, documents actual conditions, resolves routine technical questions under supervision, and develops the judgment needed to support safe, quality, and on-schedule construction.

Primary Responsibilities

• Support production personnel by interpreting drawings, specifications, bills of material, vendor information, and work packages under the direction of experienced engineering and production leaders.
• Observe and learn shipbuilding sequence and trade interfaces, including structural fabrication, module assembly, vessel erection, piping, electrical installation, machinery, outfitting, testing, and commissioning.
• Perform regular field walkdowns to verify installed conditions, identify interferences or discrepancies, photograph and document conditions, and communicate findings to the responsible supervisor or engineer.
• Assist with resolving routine design-to-field questions, requesting clarification when design intent, dimensions, routing,
• material, or access is unclear.
• Mark up drawings and maintain red lines for as-built documentation; support the controlled incorporation of approved field changes into project records.
• Assist in planning system routing and equipment installation so that structure, piping, electrical, ventilation, machinery,
• and access requirements are coordinated.
• Support preparation and maintenance of work packages, material lists, installation sketches, test documentation, punch lists, deficiency lists, and turnover records.
• Track assigned technical issues, drawing revisions, material needs, vendor questions, and field actions through closure.
• Participate in production, planning, engineering, quality control, and project meetings; provide clear status updates supported by current field information.
• Help verify that materials, equipment, and components match approved drawings, specifications, purchase information,
• and intended installation locations.
• Assist with inspections, testing, commissioning, acceptance activities, and closure of punch-list items in coordination with Quality and project leadership.
• Identify opportunities to improve constructability, sequencing, access, productivity, quality, and prevention of rework, then elevate recommendations through the proper approval process.
• Learn and follow applicable company procedures, shipyard safety requirements, quality-system controls, contractual
• specifications, and regulatory or classification requirements.
• Maintain organized field notes, photographs, calculations, logs, and engineering records in accordance with document-control requirements.
• Perform other engineering and construction-support duties assigned to build practical shipbuilding knowledge and support project execution.

Education/Experience

• Associate or bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university program or currently enrolled in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electromechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Practical experience is required and may be demonstrated through a college co-op, internship, senior design project, laboratory work, machine or fabrication shop experience, construction, industrial maintenance, military technical service, electrical or mechanical installation, marine work, or similar hands-on experience.
• Ability to read and understand basic engineering drawings, schematics, specifications, dimensions, and technical instructions.
• Basic understanding of mechanical or electrical systems and demonstrated interest in learning vessel construction and shipyard operations.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications. Exposure to AutoCAD, 3D modeling, electrical design tools, or similar engineering software is preferred.
• Ability to communicate clearly with engineers, supervisors, craft personnel, vendors, inspectors, and project leadership.
• Ability to organize multiple assignments, maintain accurate records, follow issues to closure, and ask for guidance when required.
• Must be willing to spend substantial time in active production areas and learn through direct observation and field participation.

Knowledge and Competencies to Be Developed

• Shipyard organization, terminology, trade responsibilities, and construction workflow.

• Build strategy and construction sequence from material receipt through vessel delivery.

• Structural fabrication, welding, assembly, erection, alignment, and dimensional control.

• Marine piping, machinery, electrical distribution, controls, cable routing, HVAC, outfitting, and equipment integration.

• Constructability review, system routing, access, maintainability, testing, and commissioning.

• Drawing control, as-built records, design changes, discrepancy reporting, and configuration management.

• Quality assurance, inspection points, nonconformance controls, corrective action, and prevention of rework.

• Basic project controls, including schedule awareness, material status, labor impacts, work-package readiness, and production constraints.

• Applicable ABS, U.S. Coast Guard, customer, contract, and company requirements under the guidance of qualified personnel.

Physical Requirements (Applicable to all including Administrative and Office-Based Roles)

• The employee must have correctable vision to 20/40 , however contact lenses are not permitted in certain production area positions.
• The employee must pass the Ishihara test for color blindness and have the ability to read and understand safety symbols and colors, (i.e. red, yellow, green, etc.).
• The employee must be able to stand, sit, walk, squat, kneel, stoop, or climb stairs or a ladder.
• The employee must have good balance and the capability of standing on each foot for a period of 30 seconds or more.

Physical Responsibilities (Applicable to Trades, Production, and Field Supervisors Only)

• The employee must pass a pulmonary function exam for positions requiring respiratory protection.
• The employee must be able to perform overhead work, as necessary, with a full range of motion.
• The employee must not be claustrophobic and may be required to work in confined spaces.
• The employee must have the capability to maneuver through openings as small as 18 inches by 23 inches, and would need to be able to move and crawl into awkward positions.
• The employee must be able to work in static positions for extended periods of time.

• The employee must not have a fear of heights and may be required to work in an elevated environment (which could include heights of more than 50 feet) on scaffolding, from staging, planking, or a mechanical lift.
• The employee must be able to carry tools and or equipment to their designated work area. They could include but are not limited to the tools associated with their trade, or others as designated by their responsibilities. The approximate weight could be as much as 75 pounds.

Work Demands

• The employee is required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) including but not limited to respirator, hardhat, face shield, safety goggles, safety shoes (steel toe), safety harness, gloves or other protective clothing as determined by a Senesco Marine Job Hazard Analysis.
• The employee must report all accidents or injuries to their supervisor and the Environmental Safety and Health Department.
• The employee must report to their supervisor any and all damages to equipment, or broken and misused tools.
• The employee may be working in several different areas and environments; this includes work inside and outside of buildings or structures.
• The employee needs to work at a pace consistent with meeting company deadlines.

Disclaimer

This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.