Engineer / Associate Engineer - Lifeboat Systems
The organisation's purpose is simple: to save lives at sea. Operating 24 hours a day, every day, life‑saving services depend on highly capable lifeboats, systems and equipment being available 365 days a year. The lifeboat fleet is recognised as amongst the best in the world, with continual investment made to improve performance, safety, reliability and supportability throughout operational life.
To support this mission, a proactive and technically capable Engineer / Associate Engineer is sought to support the in‑service performance of existing assets and the design and integration of new boats and equipment. This role is well suited to candidates from marine, mechanical, electrical or naval architecture backgrounds who enjoy practical engineering problem‑solving in a safety‑critical, operational environment.
The Role
The Engineer / Associate Engineer will contribute to the safe and effective operation of lifeboat and marine assets, with responsibilities including:
- Providing engineering support for the maintenance, troubleshooting and improvement of marine systems and equipment
- Supporting the design, procurement and integration of new boats and equipment
- Assisting with investigation, diagnosis and root cause analysis of technical faults across onboard systems
- Supporting the introduction, integration or modification of systems and equipment on existing marine platforms
- Working collaboratively with cross‑disciplinary engineering teams to develop practical and robust engineering solutions
- Producing and reviewing technical documentation, including reports, test evidence, assessments and modification proposals
- Ensuring engineering activities are conducted in line with relevant maritime regulations, internal standards and safety requirements
- Liaising with suppliers, OEMs, surveyors, operational teams and other stakeholders
Essential Skills and Experience
- Degree or equivalent qualification in engineering or a related technical discipline, or equivalent practical experience
- Experience working with engineering systems in a marine, offshore, defence or similarly regulated operational environment
- Ability to analyse technical problems and apply structured fault‑finding techniques
- Understanding of engineering assurance, safety considerations and regulatory compliance
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Experience supporting in‑service assets or operational equipment
- Experience in commercial procurement, vessel design and supplier engagement
- Exposure to systems integration across mechanical, electrical and electronic domains
- Experience working with marine craft, vessels or complex mobile assets
- Incorporated Engineer status or working towards professional registration
If not all essential criteria are met, suitable candidates may be considered for an Associate Engineer role, with development and progression opportunities.
Salary, Hours & Location
- Engineer: £35,853 - £42,181 (dependent on experience)
- Associate Engineer: £29,951 - £35,236 (dependent on experience)
- Hours: Full‑time, 37 hours per week
- Location: Poole / Hybrid
Benefits
- Minimum of 26 days' annual leave, plus public/bank holidays, increasing to 30 days with length of service
- Defined contribution pension scheme, available from the second month of employment
- Life cover provided for all employees
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) with 24/7 confidential support for wellbeing, counselling, financial matters, family care and bereavement
- Enhanced parental pay
- Eyecare support
- Cycle to work scheme
- Optional health cash plan
- Learning and development opportunities
- Travel support, including season ticket loan
- On‑site parking, subject to availability, at the main support centre
