Engineer / Associate Engineer
Salary Engineer £35,853 to £42,181 / Associate Engineer £29,951 to £35,236 (dependent on experience) Contract type Permanent Hours Full Time Location Poole, Dorset, England Location description Hybrid Interview date To be confirmed Closing Date 07-05-2026 Reference 21409 Documents (please view all documents)
1.
(PDF, 274.95kb)
2.
(PDF, 279.48kb)
3.
(PDF, 244.37kb)
About Us
Our purpose is simple: to save lives at sea. 24 hours a day, every day, RNLI lifesavers are ready to launch to the rescue. They depend on the lifeboats, systems and equipment we provide 365 days a year. Our lifeboats are amongst the best in the world, and we are continually seeking to improve their performance, safety, reliability and supportability throughout their operational life.
We are looking for a proactive and technically capable Engineer / Associate Engineer to support the in-service performance of existing RNLI assets and the design and integration of new boats and equipment. This role is suited to individuals from a range of marine, mechanical, electrical, or naval architecture backgrounds, who are motivated by practical engineering problem-solving and working with operational assets in a safety-critical environment.
Your Role
As an Engineer / Associate Engineer, you will contribute to the safe and effective operation of RNLI assets by focusing on the following areas:
4. Provide engineering support for the maintenance, troubleshooting and improvement of RNLI marine systems and equipment.
5. Support the design, procurement and integration of new boats and equipment.
6. Support investigation, diagnosis and root cause analysis of technical faults across a range of onboard systems.
7. Support the introduction, integration or modification of systems and equipment to existing marine platforms.
8. Work collaboratively with cross-disciplinary engineering teams to develop practical and robust solutions.
9. Produce and review technical documentation such as reports, test evidence, assessments and modification proposals.
10. Ensure engineering activities are conducted in line with relevant maritime regulations, internal standards and safety requirements.
11. Liaise with suppliers, OEMs, surveyors, operational teams and other stakeholders.
Essential Skills and Experience
12. Degree or equivalent qualification in engineering or a related technical discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
13. Experience working with engineering systems in a marine, offshore, defence or similarly regulated operational environment.
14. Ability to analyse technical problems and apply structured fault-finding techniques.
15. Understanding of engineering assurance, safety considerations and regulatory compliance.
16. Strong written and verbal communication skills.
17. Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Desirable
18. Experience supporting in-service assets or operational equipment.
19. Experience in commercial procurement, vessel design and supplier engagement.
20. Exposure to systems integration across mechanical, electrical and electronic domains.
21. Experience working with marine craft, vessels or complex mobile assets.
22. Incorporated Engineer status or working towards professional registration.
If not all essential criteria are met, suitable candidates may be considered for an Associate Engineer role, with development and progression opportunities.