As an engine specialist at Boskalis, you will provide expert-level technical support, project management, and strategic advice for the maintenance, repair, and optimization of our main propulsion engines — with a focus on Wärtsilä, Caterpillar, MAN, Cummins, and Bergen systems. Acting as the knowledge owner for our fleet’s engines, you will ensure reliability, cost efficiency, and compliance, while proactively seeking innovative, risk-based solutions for complex repairs.
You are a visible, approachable specialist who supports Fleet Teams with in‑depth technical knowledge, critical assessments, and practical advice during both planned and unplanned repairs. You understands the business we are working in and supports the fleet in assuring commercial and technical attractiveness of the vessels.
This role places you at the heart of our technical operations, working closely with Fleet Management teams, project teams, and suppliers to keep our global dredging operations running smoothly.
Your responsibilities as an engine specialist are:
Technical Authority & Support
-
Act as the technical reference point for Fleet Teams on propulsion and auxiliary engines.
-
Be approachable and available to discuss technical concerns, failures, or doubts raised by vessels or Fleet Teams.
-
Diagnose and technically assess complex engine issues, failures, and abnormal trends.
-
Support Fleet Teams in understanding technical risks and consequences of repair decisions.
-
Support in providing input for repairs including planning, budgeting, and resource requirements.
Technical Assessment of Repairs and Suppliers
-
Technically assess repair scopes, service reports, and quotations from OEMs and service providers.
-
Technically challenge third parties scope, performance and pricing.
-
Ensure all technical work complies with OEM requirements, class rules, and internal standards.
-
Evaluate workmanship and technical quality during and after repairs.
Knowledge Sharing & Continuous Improvement
-
Feed technical insights and lessons learned back into the organization.
-
Contribute to standard technical guidelines, repair philosophies, and best practices.
-
Support development of technical knowledge within Docking Support and Fleet Teams.
On‑site Technical Presence
-
Attend critical repair moments on board or in dock when technical judgment is required.
-
Act as Boskalis’ technical representative during inspections, overhauls, and failure investigations.
-
Capture lessons learned from repairs and feed them back to Fleet Teams and Docking Support.
Your qualities:
-
Business minded: understands Boskalis its business.
- Reliable, approachable, and trusted.
-
Marine Engineering degree or equivalent technical qualification, former chief engineer or sr. service engineer with hands-on experience on multiple engine types.
-
Solid understanding of lubricants, fuels, engine wear mechanisms, and root‑cause analysis.
-
Proven track record in managing 4-stroke marine engine and auxiliary systems overhauls and troubleshooting, preferred OEM expertise in Wärtsilä, Caterpillar, MAN, Cummins, Bergen.
-
Entrepreneurial approach to cost control and risk mitigation.
-
A good command of written and spoken English.
This vacancy is open for candidates who are living in The Netherlands.
What you can expect
-
A dynamic environment: A job where you can make an impact, as part of a diverse, international team of experts.
-
Rewarding conditions: A competitive salary and much more, including holiday allowance, holiday entitlement, a non-contributory pension scheme, collective schemes such as company health insurance, travel allowance.
-
Career development: Plenty of opportunities to realize your full potential. Challenge yourself with (online) courses in our Boskalis academy.
Extra information
-
Your team: consists of the Docking Support team within Fleet Management, and your primary internal stakeholders are the Fleet Teams.
-
Where you will work: This role is office based in Papendrecht, however travel of approx. 1 week per month will be required, or longer term during a repair to manage the repair of the engine;
-
Fulltime/ part- time job: The position of engine expert is a fulltime job.;
-
Next steps: Apply easily by completing the online application form. Interviews are held online or in the office. Once it’s clear we’re a good match, we’ll make you an offer – and look forward to welcoming you to the company.
Working at Boskalis is about creating new horizons and sustainable solutions. In a world where population growth, an increase of global trade, demand for (new) energy and climate change are driving forces, we challenge you to make your mark in finding innovative and relevant solutions for complex infrastructural and marine projects.
Dredging is one of our traditional core activities. Boskalis is famous for projects like the expansion of the Suez Canal and the extension of the Maasvlakte at the Port of Rotterdam. Creation of new nature areas like the Markerwadden is something we contribute to. Combining our state-of-the-art fleet, equipment and incredible manpower, we’re able to achieve projects that no one believed were even possible.
Want to know more?
We are more than happy to answer your questions about the engine specialist role. Please contact Emilie Stratenus, Corporate Recruiter, via [email protected].
Interested?
Please apply by filling in your details and by uploading your motivation letter and CV on our careers site.
Please note: Boskalis never requests a financial contribution to arrange visas or other documents related to a job vacancy. Be wary of individuals who pretend to be our recruiters and do ask for such contributions.
Disclaimer for recruitment and selection agencies
We appreciate your interest in our vacancies and understand that your candidate might be enthusiastic about this exciting opportunity.
However, our recruitment process is not structured this way, at Boskalis we handle recruitment ourselves. Therefore we do not accept unsolicited applications or CVs from recruitment agencies. Any submission will be treated as a direct application.
#LI-EW1
