Job Description
This is a shipboard position with the Military Sealift Command, a U.S. Navy command. Ships operate worldwide, so the work is at sea and the San Diego location is a reference point only; assignments are made by MSC. Applications are submitted through MSC's own application portal (apply.sealiftcommand.com) - contacting your Veteran Staffing Consultant does not submit one.
MSC's average annual earnings for this role: $208,790 plus a recruitment bonus of up to $75,876. That is total take-home including overtime and penalty pay, not the base pay in the job announcement.
Announcement opens continuously from 10/01/2026, with periodic cut-offs.
A recruitment incentive is authorized for eligible selectees and requires a service agreement. Incentive is paid as a lump sum at the beginning of employment with the Command. Mixed Work Schedule, VEOA candidates and Annuitants selected for employment are not eligible for recruitment incentives.
The Third Assistant Engineer is a civil service mariner (CIVMAR) employed by the Navy to serve the Military Sealift Command (MSC) onboard naval auxiliaries and hybrid-manned warships worldwide, in peace and war. MSC exists to support the joint warfighter across the full spectrum of military operations. MSC provides on-time logistics, strategic sealift, as well as specialized missions anywhere in the world, contested or uncontested environments.
Monitors the safe and efficient operation of engineering machinery, equipment and spaces, enters data in logs, and reports special events in the appropriate logs. Performs routine maintenance and repair of engine room machinery and auxiliary equipment; and observes engine/fire room repairs and work being done by shipyard or other shore side facility. Incumbent must have the ability to perform assigned duties, carry out instructions safely and efficiently, and take the initiative to perform emergency duties without specific orders or instructions. Manages the cooling water treatment of main propulsion engines and auxiliary generators and any other water-cooled engineering systems. Manages potable water, testing and treatment, storage of bulk lube oil and performs routine testing of lube oils in various engineering systems. Performs machinery overhauls, dismantle machinery and equipment, effect repairs to same by replacing or fabricating components, perform subsequent reassembles, operational testing of controls, safeties, shutdowns, and place equipment in service. Participates as a lifeboat crewmember and a firefighting and emergency response team leader. Ensures that all personnel assigned to watch are aware of their duties during scheduled drills and participates in same; and ensure that an engineering casualty drill is held at least once a day. Report to the Chief and/or First Assistant Engineer.
Everything in this Position Description is considered to be an essential function of this position. Ensures continuing application of and compliance with EEO laws, regulations and policies. Performs all other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Minimum Eligibility Requirements: Must be a United States citizen of at least 18 years of age and possess and maintain:
- U.S. Regular Passport (also referred to as a tourist or blue passport) with minimum of ten (10) months of expiration date.
- Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) with a minimum of ten (10) months remaining of expiration.
- United States Coast Guard (USCG) Merchant Mariner's Credential (MMC), with a minimum of ten months remaining of expiration date.
- United States Coast Guard (USCG) Medical Certificate without any Limitations/Restrictions, with a minimum of ten (10) months remaining of expiration date.
Position Specific Requirements:
- MMC endorsed with the following endorsement(s): • Third Assistant Engineer or higher - Steam, Motor, or Gas Turbine Vessels of Unlimited Horsepower. • Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED) - Any Rating. (Any indicates mariner holds all Unlicensed Engine Department Ratings.) • Standards of Training and Certification of Watchkeeping (STCW): - III-1, III-4 and III-5. - Officer in Charge of Engineering Watch (OICEW). - Proficiency in survival Craft & Rescue Boats Other than FRB (PSC). • USCG Medical Certificate without any Limitations/Restrictions.
Work for Warriors is a no-cost employment program of the California Military Department for Service Members, Veterans, and military family members. The Veteran Staffing Consultant for Military Sealift Command is Chuck Callahan.
Qualifications
State
Immediate Fill
Job Reference
Mission
As a global Type Commander (TYCOM) and Navy Component Commander to U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), MSC provides combat logistics, special mission, service support, and strategic sealift to deploy and sustain U.S. Forces worldwide, during peacetime and war.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As the Department of War’s maritime logistics provider, Military Sealift Command (MSC) delivers agile, persistent, and innovative sealift logistics solutions to the Navy and Joint Force, generating effects across the spectrum of military operations in strategic competition, crisis, and conflict.
MSC crews, trains, equips, and operates more than 140 government and commercially-owned and chartered vessels to directly support Navy Fleet Commanders. MSC, as Naval Sealift Transportation Command (NAVTRANS), also serves as the Naval Component of U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM).
The MSC Fleet includes cargo vessels, tankers, naval auxiliaries, and a variety of special mission ships. MSC ships are underway around the world to serve joint warfighters and call on ports in every continent, including Antarctica.
MSC Area Commands provide expertise and operational perspective to Navy Fleet Commanders worldwide. The Area Commands are operationally focused and aligned with the Numbered Fleet logistics staffs in their respective theaters: MSC Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia; MSC Pacific in San Diego; MSC Europe and Africa in Naples, Italy; MSC Central in Manama, Bahrain; and MSC Far East in Singapore. The MSC Area Commands also directly command and control vessels assigned USTRANSCOM missions as part of the NAVTRANS mission.
Ship maintenance and support functions are integrated into six maintenance hubs under the Area Commands in the following locations: Naples, Italy; Manama, Bahrain; Singapore; Yokohama, Japan; San Diego and Guam.
MSC is a $5 billion per year organization which provides services to the Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Space Force, U.S. Transportation Command, Missile Defense Agency, and other U.S. government agencies.
Worldwide operations are funded through two working capital funds, complemented by Navy’s Operations and Maintenance funding to support Maintenance and Repair. The Navy Working Capital Fund is used to support Navy Fleet Commanders and other Department of War entities. The Transportation Working Capital Fund is used to support sealift services.
MSC receives direct funding appropriations from the Navy for Maintenance and Repair. MSC customers transfer funding for their requirements to MSC into the appropriate working capital fund and MSC draws from the fund to pay for command operations. Essentially, MSC is primarily funded by purchases from its customers.
Unlike private industry, that budgets to make a profit, the goal of the Working Capital Fund is to break even, i.e., charges levied on customers equal MSC’s expenses and no more.
Created in 1949, MSC, then called Military Sea Transportation Service, became the single managing agency for the Department of War’s ocean transportation needs. MSC has been present during every major conflict since World War II, providing vital logistics and operational support to the U.S. Navy and Joint Force around the globe.
MSC is focused on continuing to achieve maritime success in a contested logistics environment by developing new technologies and strategies. The next decade will see the delivery of new ships with modernized systems, and emerging capabilities such as new ship to shore connectors, unmanned resupply, and expeditionary munitions reload to better support distributed maritime logistics and no-fail mission sustainment.