Engineering
Job title: Chief Engineer
Location: Port Glasgow (Onsite)
Duration- 12-month FTC
Salary: £65K-£75K
What You’ll Be Doing
The Chief Engineer plays a critical leadership role in supporting all mechanical commissioning, system readiness, and vessel handover operations during ship construction and retrofit projects.
The role includes direct oversight of mechanical commissioning, close coordination with electrical and automation teams, and ownership of crew handover and post-delivery support.
This position ensures that the vessel is delivered in a fully functional and certified state, supports the project during sea trials, handover and dry-docking phases, and provides extended technical assistance throughout the warranty period post-delivery.
Responsibilities
Mechanical Commissioning Leadership
Lead All Mechanical Setting-to-work (STW) And Commissioning Activities, Including
Main and auxiliary engines
Fuel systems (diesel, LNG/LPG), lube oil, HVAC, freshwater, compressed air, and propulsion systems
Ballast/bilge systems and mechanical cargo systems for tankers/gas vessels
Manage mechanical testing activities: pressure/leak tests, flushing, alignment, and performance checks.
Supervise functional validation and ensure mechanical readiness for sea trial and handover.
Cross-Functional Coordination
Work Collaboratively With
Electrical teams (power, distribution, lighting)
Automation/instrumentation teams (controls, safety shutdowns, alarm monitoring)
Support integrated testing and resolve cross-system faults impacting mechanical operations.
Crew Handover & Onboard Support
Lead Mechanical System Handover To The Crew, Ensuring
Onboard walkthroughs, as-built verification, and system demonstration
Delivery of system manuals, certificates, and operating procedures
Technical briefings and training sessions for crew operational readiness.
Sea Trial & Client Engagement
Plan and execute sea trials in coordination with the shipyard, client, Class, and Flag.
Supervise live testing of propulsion, manoeuvring, automation, gas systems, and critical operations.
Troubleshoot in real time and lead post-trial technical debriefs.
Document and close out sea trial findings and recommendations
Handover, Dry Dock & Warranty Support
Actively Support The Business And Shipyard Team During
Vessel handover phase including punch list closure, acceptance documents, and final inspections
Dry-docking periods, providing onboard mechanical support, diagnostics, and adjustment feedback
Warranty period addressing operational defects, coordinate with OEMs, and ensure proper resolution and documentation
Capture and feed lessons learned back into shipyard procedures and design improvements.
Mechanical Team Management
Lead mechanical commissioning and handover teams, including shipyard staff, subcontractors, and vendor engineers.
Manage schedules, assignments, safety, and quality of field teams.
Ensure all testing, commissioning, and handover activities are executed according to plan.
Documentation & Regulatory Compliance
Compile And Submit
Commissioning records, test reports, inspection protocols, and checklists
Final system completion dossiers and handover packages
Ensure compliance with Class, Flag, and IMO requirements, including SOLAS, MARPOL, and IGF Code.
Experience
Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Marine, or Naval Engineering
Extensive experience in shipyard commissioning and mechanical systems
Proven expertise in mechanical system testing and commissioning
Experience with LNG, LPG, or dual-fuel gas systems is highly advantageous
Chief Engineer experience is a strong asset
Watchkeeping mariner status is considered a plus (ticket not required)
Familiarity with Class rules and international marine regulations
Skilled in team leadership, defect resolution, and client-facing delivery roles
Benefits
You’ll receive benefits including a competitive pension scheme and our Perk Box rewards scheme.
Why Ferguson Marine?
With 120 years of expertise, Ferguson Marine is proudly looking to the future.
We plan to invest in modern technology and infrastructure that can deliver world-class vessels, fabrication and engineering services for centuries to come.
This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and particularly from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our industry.
We also want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to our recruitment team about potential reasonable adjustments.
Candidates wishing to apply who would require sponsorship can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for the role by assessing their circumstances against the relevant criteria prior to an application- www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
Closing Date: July 20th 2025
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.