AMHS Second Assistant Engineer

ATTENTION ALL APPLICANTS!

The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) Alaska Marine Highway System is looking for a Second Assistant Engineer to help us Keep Alaska Moving!

As a 2nd Assistant Engineer, you will oversee the safe and efficient operation of engineering machinery, equipment, and spaces, logging all relevant data. Your responsibilities include conducting routine maintenance and repairs on engine room machinery and auxiliary equipment, as well as supervising repairs performed by ship crew, technicians contracted in shipyards or other shore‑side facilities. In addition to your crucial role in monitoring and ensuring the functionality of the engineering systems, you will actively participate as a leader in lifeboat and emergency response teams.

A key aspect of your role involves ensuring a professional watch, well‑informed and executing their duties effectively. Reporting to the First Assistant Engineer, you will not only manage the technical aspects of the role but also undertake any other assigned duties to contribute to the overall success of the team.

DOT&PF core values are integrity, excellence, and respect. We support an environment focused on teamwork and collaboration to achieve results. We find success in achieving our transportation mission through building credibility with our customers, stakeholders, and the public.

The State of Alaska has a generous benefits package and an excellent retirement plan. Please see here for more information: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./

AMHS provides upward mobility and progressive advancement opportunity to higher paying positions. New hires who successfully complete their probationary period can apply for regularly assigned bid positions if they meet the MQs (Minimum Qualifications). Union seniority plays a major role in how the work is assigned and how the bid positions are awarded. However, while building up seniority, it is not unusual for the new hires to work higher paying positions before being able to bid, through onboard upgrades, especially during the busy summer season.

This is a fast‑paced and dynamic work environment with a diverse workforce. Room and board are provided while on assignment. Crew stays in shared or single quarters depending on the vessel, and meals are provided in the crew and/or officers’ mess. AMHS is a Drug and Alcohol‑Free workplace and has a strictly enforced Drug & Alcohol Policy. All employees stationed onboard, including new hires utilizing housing assistance, are subject to all DOT&PF and AMHS policies.

There is zero tolerance for Drug and Alcohol policy violations.

AMHS vessels operate in a 24/7 work environment with variable crewing schedules. In general, periodic crew assignments are based on a 2 Weeks‑On and 2 Weeks‑Off rotation with some exceptions. On vessels operating in the Southwest route, your assignment duration will depend on the lengths of absence of the crew member you relieve. Once onboard, the daily schedule during each assignment may vary from 8 hours to 12 hours depending on the route/vessel.

Vessel supervisors set work schedules upon signing on to the vessel that may include split shifts. Crew lists are posted every 2 weeks by the AMHS Dispatch Office, which handles all crew scheduling.

Please note:

Work assignments are scheduled by Dispatch based on operational needs and in accordance with the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement. Seniority plays a major role in how work is assigned.

AMHS operates in two distinctive routes. The Southeast (SE) route serves the communities between Bellingham, WA and Skagway, AK. The majority of AMHS vessels operate on this route. The other, more remote route is the Southwest (SW), which includes the communities between Cordova and the Aleutian Chain.