STAFF CHIEF ENGINEER

Aman at Sea is the maritime expression of one of the world’s most singular luxury lifestyle brands, carrying the Aman philosophy of peace, space, and authentic human connection beyond the shore. Guided by Aman’s enduring mission to create transformative experiences that change the way guests see the world, our inaugural luxury motor yacht, Amangati, is shaped by the same design integrity, radical personalization, and peerless service that have defined Aman since 1988. At the heart of Aman is a belief in the power of stillness, the beauty of place, and the art of considered hospitality—values that live as much in our people as in our spaces. Every member of our shipboard leadership team is a keeper of that philosophy and a living ambassador of the Aman brand.

Position Summary

Aman at Sea is seeking an exceptional Staff Chief Engineer to provide senior technical leadership and oversight for Amangati, quietly enabling the serene and immersive Aman experience through consistent, world-class engineering standards and disciplined governance.

The Staff Chief Engineer is a senior technical authority dedicated to Amangati, embodying Aman’s values of precision, discretion, safety, sustainability, and understated excellence. Operating in close partnership with the Master, onboard Chief Engineer, and Aman shoreside leadership, this role ensures that all engineering operations are aligned with regulatory compliance, Company Management Systems, and Aman’s ultra-luxury brand philosophy.

This position calls for a highly accomplished maritime engineering professional with deep technical expertise, sound judgment, and a refined understanding of ultra-luxury hospitality and expedition operations. The Staff Chief Engineer leads through influence and collaboration, fostering a strong culture of safety, environmental responsibility, energy efficiency, and operational integrity onboard.

The Staff Chief Engineer holds overarching responsibility for engineering standards, technical readiness, compliance assurance, and lifecycle performance of Amangati. While not embedded in the vessel’s daily watchkeeping or routine engineering operations, the role directly shapes technical excellence by guiding onboard leadership, reviewing performance, and ensuring that complex systems remain invisible to guests—allowing peace, comfort, and continuity to define every voyage.

The position will initially commence in the shipyard phase in Genoa, Italy, where the Staff Chief Engineer will play a critical role in overseeing engineering aspects of construction, commissioning, inspections, testing, and operational readiness. This phase requires close collaboration with shipyard teams, technical management, classification societies, and Aman shoreside leadership to ensure Amangati is delivered to Aman’s exacting standards. Following delivery, the Staff Chief Engineer will provide continuity of senior technical oversight and support throughout the vessel’s operational life.

Key Responsibilities

•Provide senior technical oversight and governance for the Engineering Department onboard Amangati, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant operation of all machinery and technical systems.

•During the shipyard phase, partner closely with shipyard management, site teams, and technical stakeholders in Genoa, Italy, providing engineering oversight for construction progress, commissioning, inspections, testing, and operational readiness.

•Support the onboard Chief Engineer in maintaining compliance with international maritime regulations, classification requirements, environmental legislation, and Company standards.

•Ensure consistent implementation and continuous improvement of the Company’s Management System as it applies to engineering operations.

•Promote and reinforce a strong onboard culture of safety, environmental stewardship, energy efficiency, and operational excellence.

•Act as a senior technical advisor and mentor to the onboard Chief Engineer and senior engineering officers, providing guidance on complex technical, maintenance, and operational matters.

•Review and support Planned Maintenance System (PMS) execution, defect management, spares strategy, and maintenance planning.

•Collaborate closely with the Master, Staff Captain, onboard Chief Engineer, and department heads to ensure alignment between technical readiness, safe operations, and guest experience.

•Ensure that machinery reliability, redundancy, and maintenance standards support uninterrupted vessel operation and a seamless guest environment.

•Serve as a key engineering liaison between Amangati, Aman shoreside technical management, shipyards, classification societies, flag authorities, and approved contractors.

•Support engineering safety standards, crew welfare, training, and professional discipline within the Engineering Department.

•Uphold Aman’s brand values through calm, discreet, and authoritative leadership, ensuring engineering operations quietly support refined luxury and guest comfort.

Experience

•Minimum of 10 years’ experience serving as Staff Chief Engineer on luxury cruise vessels, expedition vessels, or equivalent senior engineering command roles.

•Demonstrated career progression through senior engineering leadership positions, reflecting strong technical expertise, systems knowledge, and management capability.

•Proven experience providing senior technical oversight or advisory support to an onboard engineering team is highly desirable.

•Significant involvement in shipyard newbuild projects, commissioning phases, or major dry dock refits.

•Strong working knowledge of international maritime regulations, including SOLAS, MARPOL, ISM, ISPS, flag state requirements, classification society rules, and environmental frameworks.

•Proven leadership experience mentoring and supporting senior engineering officers in a high-expectation operational environment.

•Impeccable safety and environmental compliance record, with a strong commitment to risk management and regulatory excellence.

•Demonstrated ability to support and protect a luxury hospitality brand, understanding how engineering excellence underpins a seamless guest experience.

•Exceptional interpersonal skills, discretion, diplomacy, and emotional intelligence when engaging with onboard leadership, shipyard partners, senior management, and external stakeholders.

Certifications

Candidates must hold valid International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) certification, along with the appropriate flag state certification.