Location: Weybridge, UK
Sector: Cruise (Shore-Based)
A specialist leadership role for Wärtsilä engine experts
We are seeking a Director, Power Plant to join a shore-based team in Weybridge, UK, supporting a leading global cruise operator. This role is designed for a true Wärtsilä subject‑matter expert—someone with direct, hands-on experience working with Wärtsilä engines and systems.
This position goes beyond traditional Chief Engineer responsibilities. While senior shipboard experience is valued, the core requirement is deep, technical authority over Wärtsilä engine platforms, lifecycle management, and high-level technical decision-making across a modern cruise fleet.
If you are passionate about marine power plants, alternative fuels, and driving technical excellence from shore, this is an opportunity to shape fleet-wide strategy at the highest level.
The Role
As Director, Power Plant, you will act as the technical authority for Wärtsilä engines and power plant systems across the fleet. You will provide expert oversight of engine performance, major overhauls, reliability initiatives, and the technical integration of alternative fuels such as LNG and methanol.
You will work closely with shipboard senior engineers, Marine Operations, Newbuilding, and Technology teams, ensuring decisions are driven by deep OEM-level knowledge and best-in-class engineering standards.
Your expertise will directly influence safety, performance, lifecycle cost, and long-term decarbonisation strategies.
Key Responsibilities
Wärtsilä Technical Leadership & Subject-Matter Expertise
- Serve as the fleet authority on Wärtsilä 4-stroke engines and power plant systems
- Provide expert guidance on engine performance optimisation, troubleshooting, and failure analysis
- Oversee major engine overhauls, long-term service plans, and lifecycle strategies
- Act as the technical interface with Wärtsilä and key OEM stakeholders
- Lead technical evaluations, root-cause investigations, and reliability improvement initiatives
- Ensure class and regulatory compliance for all engine-related systems
- Provide technical oversight for LNG and methanol engine systems
- Develop and maintain shore-side and onboard procedures for alternative-fuel operations
- Support design reviews, approvals, and technical readiness for new fuels and technologies
- Contribute expert input to decarbonisation strategies, including EEXI and CII compliance
- Support newbuilding and major retrofit projects from a power plant and engine perspective
- Report to senior leadership on fleet engine condition, risks, and strategic initiatives
- Collaborate with Marine Technology teams to evaluate and implement next-generation solutions
- Lead and develop a specialist Engines team, embedding strong technical standards
- Mentor shipboard and shore-side engineers, sharing Wärtsilä-specific knowledge
- Support succession planning and technical capability development within the organisation
- Lead budget planning related to engine overhauls, upgrades, and retrofit programmes
- Manage CAPEX related to engine systems and provide variance analysis as required
Essential
- Direct, hands-on experience with Wärtsilä engines
- Deep technical understanding of Wärtsilä 4-stroke engine platforms, installations, and lifecycle management
- Proven experience acting as a technical decision-maker or subject-matter expert, not purely operational oversight
- Extensive experience supporting main engine overhauls, dry docks, and complex technical projects
- Strong ability to engage at a technical peer level with OEMs, class societies, and senior stakeholders
- Bachelor’s degree in Marine, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering
or - Senior maritime engineering qualification (Chief Engineer license or equivalent)
- Competitive compensation and benefits package
- A high-impact, technically focused shore-based role
- The opportunity to influence fleet-wide engineering strategy
- A collaborative, international working environment at the forefront of marine innovation