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: $120,776 plus a recruitment bonus of up to $50,115. 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 Unlicensed Junior 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.
The Unlicensed Junior Engineer will work directly under the supervision of the licensed watch engineer that he/she is assigned to or the First Assistant Engineer if he/she is a day worker. The Unlicensed Junior Engineer is responsible for making rounds of the engine room and outside spaces while on duty, recording all plant temperatures, pressures, fuel meters, water meters, revolution counters as designated by the engine room log book. They will report all abnormal conditions directly to the engineer on watch. The Unlicensed Junior Engineer makes rounds at a frequency designated by the Chief Engineer and the Watch Engineer. They will stand watches designated by the Chief Engineer. The Unlicensed Junior Engineer will take tank soundings, test water, and operate evaporators to fill various water tanks as required. They will take readings on evaporators; fill out evaporator logs, and acid clean evaporators when directed. They will stand by main throttle while maneuvering and assist the watch engineer with answering bells from the bridge. In addition, they will perform maintenance and repairs as directed by the watch engineer. As a day worker, the Unlicensed Junior Engineer will perform various maintenance and repair work as directed by the First Assistant Engineer or his/her designate. They will assist in the taking on and off loading of fresh water, lube oil, fuel oil, and with connecting and disconnecting all shore services. The Unlicensed Junior Engineer will know the locations and uses of all fire fighting, damage control and rescue equipment in engineering spaces. They will know the locations and how to operate all emergency remote shut down devices. The Unlicensed Junior Engineer will have a thorough knowledge of all casualty control procedures, main space fire doctrine, and rescue procedures. The Unlicensed Junior Engineer shall know all environmental protection and pollution laws. They will also have a thorough knowledge in the operation of all pollution abatement equipment. During underway replenishment operations the Unlicensed Junior Engineer will perform all duties as assigned. Ensures continuing application of and compliance with EEO laws, regulations and policies.
Everything in this Position Description is considered to be an essential function of this position. 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: • USCG Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) endorsed as: Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED) Junior Engineer OR • QMED - Any Rating (“Any” indicates the mariner holds all QMED ratings)
- STCW Certificate endorsed as: • Able Seafarer Engine • Rating forming Part of an Engineering Watch (RFPEW)
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.