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Job Description

Overview

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is seeking a Third Assistant Engineer responsible for the repair of electrical equipment, operation of main propulsion and ship's service generators, and supervision of un-licensed watch standers. The role involves ensuring safety and maintenance of machinery on the R/V Atlantis.

Responsibilities

  • Check cleaning, lubrication, and routine maintenance of all machinery and electrical equipment.
  • Maintain the Launch and Recovery System (LARS) for the Alvin.
  • Clean engine room bilges, strainers in the lubricating system, and all water pumps, tanks, and connected systems.
  • Ensure safety devices are in proper working condition.
  • Assist with supervision, maintenance, and repair of engine room equipment and spaces while in port.
  • Keep a log of all watch operations and conditions, including unusual occurrences and emergency signals.
  • Stand engine room watch and supervise Oiler.
  • Perform other duties as required.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited sea service academy and one year sea duty as an engineering officer, or equivalent work experience.
  • Computer literacy in word-processing, inventory and database management, and electronic mail programs.
  • Prefer Third Assistant Engineer experience on similar research vessels.
  • U.S. Coast Guard license, preferably Third Assistant Engineer Unlimited Horsepower, Motor Vessels.
  • All applicable training as required by STCW 95 and valid U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariners Credentials.
  • Good communication and personnel management skills.
  • In-depth understanding of the proper operation and maintenance of ship's engines and related equipment.
  • Good safety practices and procedures.
  • Unexpired USCG medical certificate.
  • Ability to pass a DOT Pre-employment drug screen.

Additional Information

  • Hourly rate is $39.38.
  • Work schedule includes at least 8 hours per day, sometimes in excess of 12 hours per day, 7 days per week.
  • Work at sea for three to five months continuously.
  • Live and work in cramped quarters, frequently in bad weather and with violent ship motion.
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How this job compares in Iselin, NJ

Pay in context

At roughly $39/hr, this posting sits about 13% above the $35/hr median for welding jobs across New Jersey — toward the top of a $30–$40/hr middle band drawn from 143 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 64% of the comparable postings we have wage data for. Pay that far above local median usually comes attached to something: a harder cert requirement, travel, night shift, or overtime that isn't really optional. Worth establishing which before you accept.

The local market in Iselin, NJ

Iselin, NJ is a small market in our index: 2 other active welding openings alongside this one, from 1 employer. Across New Jersey as a whole we're tracking 216 other active welding openings from 131 employers. With this few local postings, most welders here end up either commuting or looking at travel work. Browse welding jobs across New Jersey.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution currently has 2 other openings live in New Jersey, which is usually a sign of either steady growth or steady turnover — worth asking which in the interview.

The most active employers in New Jersey at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are Rhoads Industries (12), gpac (10), and Gpac (10). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within New Jersey, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Camden at $51/hr, Northvale at $40/hr, and Newark at $38/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

Similar openings near Iselin, NJ

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Third Assistant Engineer figures were last recalculated when this page was built.