All roles/Engineering/Electrical Engineer
Engineering
Electrical Engineer
The Electrical Engineer keeps the power, lighting, switchboards and electrical systems of a large yacht running safely, so the engine room, hotel services and guest areas never lose supply.
- Department
- Engineering
- Reports to
- Chief Engineer
- Yacht size
- 70m to 150m+
- Contract
- Permanent or rotation
- Starting pay
- €5,000 per month
What the job is
You look after everything on board that runs on electricity, from the main switchboards and generators' electrical side to galley equipment, stabiliser drives, HVAC controls and the cabin lights. On large yachts the electrical load is closer to a small hotel than a boat, and a fault in the wrong place can shut down air conditioning or leave guests in the dark. Your job is to stop that happening and fix it fast when it does.
Most of the work is planned maintenance. You test insulation resistance, check breakers and contactors, clean and inspect switchboard panels, thermal image connections and keep the shore power and battery systems healthy. You log every job in the maintenance system, such as IDEA or AMOS, and keep drawings up to date when anything is modified. You also handle the steady stream of small requests from the interior, deck and galley teams.
The role usually exists on yachts over 70m, where there is too much electrical work for the general engineers. You work closely with the ETO, who often takes the lead on navigation, AV and IT systems, while you focus on power distribution and machinery. You stand engine room watches or duty days like the rest of the department and support refits, class surveys and yard periods, where much of the heavy electrical work happens.
What makes a good one
- Fault finding on AC and DC systems
- Reading electrical drawings and schematics
- Switchboard and generator maintenance
- Safe isolation and permit to work
- Calm, tidy work in guest areas
A day in the life
- 07:00Morning meeting in the engine control room with the Chief Engineer. You go over overnight alarms, generator load and the jobs planned for the day.
- 07:30Engine room rounds focused on the electrical side. You check switchboard readings, generator voltage and frequency, battery chargers and earth fault indicators.
- 08:30The galley reports a combi oven tripping its breaker. You isolate it, find a failed heating element contactor and replace it from spares before lunch prep starts.
- 10:30Planned maintenance on a lighting distribution board in the crew area, done while guests are ashore. You thermal image the connections, tighten two warm terminals and log the job.
- 12:30Lunch in the crew mess, then a quick walk through guest areas with the Chief Steward to note dead downlights and a sticky motorised blind.
- 14:00You replace the guest area lamps and adjust the blind motor limits, working quietly and fast so the deck is clear before guests return from the beach club.
- 16:00Insulation resistance testing on a stabiliser motor during a calm spell at anchor. You record the readings to compare against last month's trend.
- 18:30You check the exterior and underwater lights ahead of dinner on deck and confirm the generator load can take the extra HVAC demand of a warm evening.
- 20:00Handover to the duty engineer with notes on open jobs and spares to order. You stay on call overnight if it is your duty night.
Pay by country
Monthly salary for an Electrical Engineer on a 70m to 150m+ yacht, usually paid in EUR or USD. Charter yachts add tips, which can be significant on busy programmes. Rotation roles often pay at the top of the range.
- France and Monaco
- €5,000 – 7,000
- Spain
- €5,000 – 7,000
- Italy
- €5,000 – 7,000
- United Kingdom
- £4,300 – 6,000
- USA (Florida)
- US$5,500 – 7,500
- Caribbean
- US$5,500 – 7,500
- UAE
- AED 20,000 – 28,000
- Australia
- A$8,500 – 11,500
- New Zealand
- NZ$9,500 – 12,500
Required
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- PDSD
- Recognised electrical trade qualification (Level 3 or equivalent)
Recommended
- Electro-Technical Officer Certificate of Competency (STCW III/6)
- High Voltage Safety training
- AEC 1
- HELM (Operational)
- 18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations
- Advanced Fire Fighting
Visas
- Schengen visa
- US C1/D
- US B1/B2
- Australian MCV
Where it leads
Electrical Engineer jobs open now
Questions crew ask
Do I need yacht experience to get hired as an Electrical Engineer?
Not always. Many come from commercial shipping, offshore or industrial electrical work, and a strong trade background matters more than yacht time. Expect to start on a yacht where an ETO or Chief Engineer can show you the yacht way of doing things.
What is the difference between an Electrical Engineer and an ETO?
An ETO usually holds the STCW III/6 Certificate of Competency and covers electronics, navigation, AV and IT as well as power. The Electrical Engineer focuses mainly on power distribution and machinery, and often works towards the ETO certificate.
Will I work on high voltage systems?
Some of the largest yachts run high voltage or diesel electric propulsion, and those boats will want High Voltage training. Most yachts are low voltage, but the course is worth having if you aim for 100m+ boats.