Job Description

Salary
34,893 to 41,050 (dependent on experience)
Contract type
Permanent
Hours
Full Time
Location
Poole, Dorset, England
Location description
Hybrid
Closing Date
18-01-2026
Reference
20645
Documents (please view all documents)
(Word, 298.4kb)
(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 and equipment we provide 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Our lifeboats are amongst the best in the world but we're constantly looking at ways in which we can improve their performance, safety and reliability.
Your role
We are looking for a proactive and technically skilled Engineer with a strong foundation in marine engineering and hands-on experience in marine electronics. This role is ideal for someone passionate about supporting and enhancing the performance of marine systems throughout their operational lifecycle.
As an Engineer, you will be tasked with focus on the following areas:

• Provide engineering support for the maintenance, troubleshooting, and upgrade of marine systems, with a focus on electronic and electrical subsystems.
• Conduct diagnostics and root cause analysis of electronic and control system faults.
• Support integration of new electronic systems into existing marine platforms.
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to deliver effective engineering solutions.
• Prepare technical documentation, including test procedures, reports, and modification proposals.
• Ensure compliance with relevant maritime regulations and standards.
• Engage with coastal teams, surveyors, suppliers, OEMs, and stakeholders to ensure timely and effective resolution of technical issues.

Essential skills and experience

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Marine Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience in marine engineering with a strong understanding of electronic systems (e.g., navigation, communication, control systems).
• Familiarity with fault-finding tools and techniques for electrical and electronic systems.
• Knowledge of marine safety standards and regulatory compliance.
• Strong communication and documentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Desirable

• Experience in defence or commercial maritime sectors.
• Knowledge of systems integration and software-hardware interfacing.
• Incorporated Engineer status or working towards professional registration.
• Experience with PLCs, SCADA systems, or embedded systems in marine applications.

Safeguarding
The RNLI is committed to safeguarding; protecting a person's health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment and have a zero-tolerance approach. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out dependent on the eligibility of the role. (England & Wales; DBS check, Scotland; Disclosure Scotland PVG, Northern Ireland; Access NI, Republic of Ireland; Garda Vetting; International, International Child Protection Certificate process).
Diversity at the RNLI
Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.

Skills Required