Marine Engineer Officer

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About the role Career progression and training Salary and benefits Entry requirements

Marine Engineer Officers are the Navy’s experts on ship’s structure, propulsion, power generation, hydraulic and habitability systems.

Service Navy Specialisation Engineering and Technical Trades Location Devonport Starting Trade Training $65,075

About the role

On board a ship you will lead a team of skilled technicians who operate and maintain this diverse range of equipment. You will also be the critical incident manager in the ship’s response to fire-fighting and damage control situations.

Leadership and the ability to communicate effectively in a multi-disciplinary environment will be your key qualities. You are also likely to be a logical thinker, work well in a team, and seek challenging work environments.

Job on base

With shore based positions, located in both Auckland and Wellington, you, as a Marine Engineer Officer will ultimately be responsible for the through-life maintenance support of naval ships, procurement projects, as well as the management, welfare and training of our officers and sailors. 

Your career will be managed so that you are exposed to a diverse range of positions such as project management, equipment procurement or upgrades, system performance analysis and maintenance planning. Rotating regularly through these roles, you will develop a broad experience base of marine engineering tasks. Additional specialised training will be provided in fields such as project management, to ensure you have the skills set required for each job.

Job on deployment

Once qualified you will lead a Ships Marine Engineering Department with a team of up to 35 skilled technicians. You will be responsible directly to the Ships Commanding Officer for the performance and availability of the systems, equipment and personnel under your charge, including their welfare and training. In this position you will be part of the ship’s senior leadership team, responsible for achieving the government’s objectives. While deployed there are always excellent opportunities to experience different ports and environments in New Zealand and explore exotic international locations and cultures overseas.

As Marine Engineers, we have a broad knowledge of all the systems on board. We keep the shafts turning, we keep the lights on, we keep the galley running, to ensure the ship can do whatever it is tasked to do.

Adin Martinus

Sub-Lieutenant

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Career progression and training

Career Progression

Basic training

Job Training

Ongoing Training

After graduating basic Officer training and six months experience on-board a ship, you will complete the Systems Engineering and Management Course (SEMC) at the Royal Naval School of Marine Engineering in Portsmouth, UK; or complete the Marine Engineering Application Course at the Royal Australian Navy's Engineering Training Facility in Melbourne, Australia, learning the principles of marine engineering and management of a ship’s engineering department.

The next phase of your career will be on-the-job training, on board a naval vessel, under the supervision of a senior Marine Engineer, where you will be mentored to achieve the Marine Engineer Officers’ Charge Qualification (MCQ). This qualification recognises that you have the theoretical and practical knowledge and skills required to take sole charge of a ship’s Marine Engineering Department.

You will then rotate through various shore based engineering positions, to broaden your experience before returning to sea as the senior Marine Engineer.

Junior Officer Common Training (JOCT)

(21 weeks) Location: Devonport Naval Base

The objective of JOCT is to provide you with the core skills of military, mariner, and leadership to be an effective Officer in the Navy. The course is completed in two phases of training that train key areas of development.

Phase 1 – Introduction

This phase focuses on ‘followership’ and teamwork. Trainees are instructed in basic service knowledge, discipline, parade, and kit preparation. Physical Training will be conducted at all times throughout training to develop a high level of physical and mental fitness that promotes morale, good health, and good habits. This phase will cover various topics including:

Physical Fitness Service KnowledgeService DisciplineIntroduction to the Leadership Development FrameworkDamage Control TrainingWeapons TrainingFirst AidBasic seamanship trainingMoving to advanced application

Phase 2 – Fit for Sea

The second phase of training will focus on attributes of being in the Navy in preparation for operational service at sea. Trainees will be taught about the roles and responsibilities on board an RNZN ship. Trainees will also spend time ashore conducting academic and leadership training to further develop as a Naval Officer. This phase will cover various topics including:

Sea survivalShip familiarisationLeadership trainingCommunications skillsDefence and Strategic Studies

Two development streams are offered on completion of basic officer training.

Scholarship Entry: (see education) Where candidates without tertiary engineering qualifications are sponsored to complete either a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), or a Bachelor of Engineering Technology.  Direct Entry: Where candidates with an appropriate tertiary engineering qualification, will be promoted to Sub-Lieutenant, and begin the next available SEMC 

Systems Engineering and Management Course (SEMC) or Marine Engineering Application Course (MEAC)

Location: Defence School of Marine Engineering, Gosport, UK; or the Royal Australian Navy's Engineering Training Facility in Melbourne, Australia. (6-8 months) SEMC / MEAC training is recognised as professional development towards registration as a Chartered Engineer.

On return to New Zealand you will be assigned to a New Zealand Navy ship to gain further experience and training towards the award of the Marine Engineer Officers’ Charge Qualification (MCQ), necessary to manage the entire Marine Engineering Department.

The Navy supports Marine Engineering Officers to become Chartered Engineers. There is also a streamlined Masters programme available through the University of Portsmouth.

Salary and benefits

Careers in the Navy are well-rewarded, as well as being diverse and exciting. As you become more experienced and move up through the ranks, gaining additional skills and qualifications, you will see your salary rise accordingly.

$50,597

Under Initial Training

$65,075

Starting Trade Training

$183,984

Future Potential Earnings

Figures updated on July 1st 2023

Benefits and allowances

Earn a competitive salary while training or learning your trade, along with additional allowances for time spent in the field, at sea, overseas, or deployed on operations.

In addition to salary and allowances, other benefits of joining the New Zealand Defence Force include:

Access to your Service marae or tūrangawaewae

Sponsored tertiary study programmes at all levels

Free access to gyms and swimming pools on camp and bases

Opportunities to travel

Free and subsidised medical and dental care

Subsidised food and accommodation on camps and bases

Free and subsidised insurance cover

Help to buy a home and save for retirement

Entry requirements

Basics

Education

Fitness and Medical

Citizenship

Period of Service

Be a minimum of 17 years of age upon entry.Be free of any criminal convictions.Pass an Officer Selection Board.

Direct entry

Direct Entry applicants need to hold, or be or be in their final year of, a BE(Hons) or BEngTech. Typically applicants specialise in mechanical, electrical or mechatronics engineering, however, applicants from most engineering specialisations will be considered, including Chemical, Process, Materials and Electronics.

Scholarship entry

The Navy offers graduate and undergraduate scholarships for engineering students who demonstrate the qualities required to become a Marine Engineer Officer.

The minimum educational requirement to apply for a scholarship is NCEA Level 3 with 18 credits in Level 3 Mathematics and Physics and University Entrance.

The scholarships are:

Salary (Tangaroa) Scheme: Become an Officer in the Navy and be paid to study at the University of Auckland, Massey University (Albany Campus), or the Auckland University of Technology on a ‘year for a year’ return of service basis. There will also be an opportunity for one Tangaroa Scheme MEO per year to study naval architecture through the conjoint AUT and University of Tasmania maritime studies programme.Bursary (Chatham) Scheme: Study at the university of your choice while the Navy covers your fees and a living allowance on a ‘year for a year’ return of service basis.Graduate (Amakoura) Scheme: Study at the university of your choice and, on completion of your degree, you will have approximately a quarter of your course fees reimbursed annually for every year you serve for up to four years. No return of service incurred.

Read more about our scholarships >

You must be medically fit for service.You must meet the minimum entry fitness standards.Colour perception requirements may apply. 

There are strict citizenship and security requirements to gain the SV security clearance required for this trade. You must be free of any criminal convictions.

Find out if you’re eligiblehere.

There is no minimum period of service you are required to commit to the Navy.

The exception to this is the salaried and bursary university scholarship schemes which incur a year for a year return of service. Therefore, if the Navy pays for one year of your tertiary qualification then you will have to give a one year return of service. If they pay for two years you will have to give two years return of service and so on. The SEMC also incurs a two year return of service, however, this occurs concurrently with any return of service from your tertiary qualification (they do not add together).

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