Vacancies for El. Engineer

El. Engineer (Electrical Engineer) is a traditional shipboard electrical officer position that is still used by many companies, especially on more conventional merchant vessels. Other operators prefer to hire an ETO under the STCW 2010 model, but the role of the El. Engineer remains clear: this is the officer responsible for keeping the vessel’s electrical power systems and key electrical equipment working properly every day.

El. Engineer Salary Expectations

El. Engineer salary today usually starts at around USD 4,500 per month on simpler merchant fleet contracts and can move into the USD 7,000 - 7,500 range on stronger tanker, container and passenger vessel jobs. In current vacancies on the site, you can see around USD 4,500 on General Cargo, about USD 4,500 - 6,000 on Bulk Carrier, around USD 7,500 on Container Ship, about USD 5,500 - 7,000 on Crude Oil Tanker and roughly USD 6,900 - 7,500 on Chemical Tanker. On more specialized offshore and drilling contracts, the pay can go higher. For a broader overview, see the El. Engineer salary statistics page.

Duties

The El. Engineer is responsible for the vessel’s electrical systems and for the reliable operation of power distribution on board. This usually includes main and emergency switchboards, generators, motors, electrical parts of pumps and machinery, alarm systems, lighting, batteries and other essential electrical components in the engine room and around the vessel.

The job also often includes maintenance of refrigeration and air-conditioning systems, battery checks, fault finding, routine electrical repairs and support during maneuvers or mooring when reliable operation of electrical propulsion and deck equipment is critical. On many ships, the Electrical Engineer also keeps electrical records up to date and works closely with the Chief Engineer during planned maintenance and repairs.

This role is close to an ETO position, but not exactly the same. In practice, the El. Engineer is usually more focused on day-to-day shipboard electrical maintenance and power systems, while the ETO title is more often linked to modern automation-heavy vessels, integrated control systems and broader electro-technical functions.

Requirements

An El. Engineer vacancy usually requires previous sea service in an electrical role, strong practical knowledge of marine electrical systems, fault-finding skills and the ability to maintain the vessel’s power equipment safely and reliably. Some employers, especially under stricter flags, may also accept or prefer candidates with an ETO Certificate of Competency (STCW III/6) even for El. Engineer positions. Depending on vessel type, employers may also ask for tanker experience, offshore sea time, refrigeration knowledge, high-voltage training (STCW A-V/2 or equivalent), or previous work with more complex electrical installations.

If you are looking for the best El. Engineer vacancies, compare not only salary, but also vessel type, contract length, the scope of electrical responsibility and the reputation of the company. The best contract is not always the one with the highest number. A well-run engine department, realistic workload and properly maintained equipment often matter just as much.