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Royal Caribbean Group's Global Marine Operations Team has an exciting career opportunity for a full‑time Director, Underwater Systems reporting to the AVP, Marine Technical Services. This is a land‑based position that will work onsite in Weybridge, England or Miami, Florida USA.
Position Summary: The Director Underwater Systems leads the Underwater Systems team and serves as the organization's subject‑matter expert in podded propulsion, thrusters, fin stabilizers, and related underwater systems. This role oversees system performance, maintenance, and optimization across the fleet, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant operations. The position requires close collaboration with vessel leadership, shipyards, vendors, classification societies, and internal Marine Technical Operations and Marine Technology teams. Occasional travel and vessel visits are required.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Technical Leadership and Support
- Serve as the primary technical authority for underwater mechanical systems fleetwide.
- Provide expert guidance and high‑level troubleshooting support to shoreside and onboard technical teams.
- Monitor propulsion system performance using diagnostics and condition‑monitoring tools in collaboration with vendors and Marine Asset Management.
- Plan, coordinate, and oversee repairs, maintenance, overhauls, and dry‑dock activities for podded propulsion and underwater systems.
- Manage major underwater system repairs, obsolescence programs, and complex technical projects.
- Lead root‑cause investigations, corrective actions, and fleetwide lessons‑learned processes.
- Operational Management
- Deliver first‑ and second‑level support to ensure safe, reliable, and compliant vessel operations.
- Maintain strong communication with Marine Technical Operations, Marine Operations, Brands, and onboard engineering leadership.
- Coordinate underwater system projects with Ship Managers and shipboard management.
- Provide technical training and operational best practices to shipboard engineering teams.
- Compliance and Safety
- Ensure adherence to international regulations (IMO, SOLAS, MARPOL), classification society requirements (e.g., DNV, Lloyd's), and company safety and environmental policies.
- Conduct ship visits, inspections, and condition assessments to verify compliance and operational readiness.
- Lead investigations of underwater system incidents, implementing corrective and preventive measures.
- Follow up on conditions of class, non‑conformities, and audit findings.
- Project and Vendor Management
- Manage vendor relationships, including ABB and other OEM partners, for warranty claims, upgrades, and technical support.
- Lead underwater systems workstreams within dry‑dock, revitalization, and special projects.
- Stay current with technical bulletins and safety communications, ensuring timely fleet implementation.
- Prepare technical reports, performance analyses, and recommendations, including modernization and efficiency‑improvement opportunities.
- Support the Newbuilding Department with specifications, trials, and guarantee‑phase activities.
- People Leadership and Development
- Lead, develop, and performance‑manage the Underwater Mechanical Systems team, fostering a high‑performance, collaborative culture.
- Provide day‑to‑day directions, coaching, and feedback to specialist engineers and riding team members.
- Drive team capability development through mentoring, structured training, and knowledge‑sharing initiatives.
- Support succession planning, talent development, and onboarding of new team members.
- Ensure consistent ways of working across the team and alignment with broader Marine Technology strategy.
- Financial Responsibilities
- Develop and manage maintenance budgets, spare‑parts planning, and long‑term service agreements in partnership with Technical Operations.
- Manage underwater system capital projects and budgets, including multi‑million‑dollar initiatives.
- Ensure financial accountability and effective cost‑management for assigned CAPEX projects.
Qualifications, Knowledge and Skills
- Education – Bachelor’s degree in Marine Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent maritime qualifications (e.g., Chief Engineer License).
- Experience – Minimum 15 years of experience with marine propulsion systems, including proven expertise in Azipod or similar systems (sailing experience as an Engineer Officer preferred). Strong knowledge of electric propulsion and underwater mechanical systems, including ABB Azipod platforms (XO, and VO). Experience in fleet technical management, dry‑dock execution, and budget oversight. Familiarity with high‑power propulsion (10‑22 MW) and vessels using azimuthing pods (cruise, ferry, offshore). Strong analytical, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
- Preferred Skills – ABB Marine Academy Azipod certification. Experience with ice‑class or high‑maneuverability vessels. Knowledge of hybrid‑propulsion trends and emerging efficiency technologies. Proficiency with data‑analytics tools and fleet‑management systems.
Physical Requirements
- Must be able to sit, stand, write, review / type reports, compile data, operate a computer, communicate, and assess information.
- May require movement around office complexes, travel, and occasional lifting (10‑15 pounds).
- Work environment includes both office and non‑office settings.
- When visiting vessels, work may require walking up and down ramps, stairs, ladders, bending, kneeling, stooping, stretching, reaching with arms, working in confined spaces as well as working in noisy environments, wet environments, and outdoors to include various weather conditions.
It is the policy of the Company to ensure equal employment and promotion opportunity to qualified candidates without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Royal Caribbean Group and each of its subsidiaries prohibit and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment.
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