Electrical & Control Technician

MaritimeVariesAs a mariner on board a hospital ship, you help guide and maintain the vessel. Your hands-on work with the ship ensures smooth sailing to bring hope and healing.Please carefully read the role description below to verify that you meet the requirements. The apply button can be found at the bottom of this page.Driven to provide hope & healing.Mercy Ships is an international charity that brings hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor through state-of-the-art hospital ships. Since 1978, our volunteer crew—made up of medical professionals and skilled workers from over 60 nations—has delivered free surgeries and medical care to over 2.8 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, transforming lives one patient and one port at a time. Join our global team of over 3,000 volunteers and help us change lives daily.About This RoleMaintain, troubleshoot, repair, and monitor the condition of the vessels’ electrical and electronic equipment and control systems, whilst complying with company safety management system (SMS) procedures and statutory regulations.RequirementsEach role with Mercy Ships calls for a unique blend of experience, skills, and qualifications. The info below outlines what’s needed to serve effectively in this position—to meet operational standards and to help you thrive as part of the team.Commitment VariesWhat you will contributeMaintenance and repair of the vessel’s electrical, navigational, and communication systems.Testing and maintaining safety systems including fire detection, public address, and emergency lighting systems.Monitoring operation and function of automated control systems for propulsion and auxiliary machinery.Assists in training personnel within the electrical and other departments as required.For This Role, You Will NeedSuccessful completion of the Mercy Ships On Boarding program is required for commitment longer than 1 year.Maritime electrical experience is preferred but relevant industrial electrical experience will be considered.Basic Training certification (STCW A-VI/1-1 to 1-4) is required.Medical Certificate (I/9) or equivalent accepted by the Maltese flag stateRequired Experience WithControl systemsElectronic equipmentElectrical power supplyDistribution systemsGeneral electrical installations including electrical motorsMotor controls including motor starts, variable frequency drives, and standard electrical componentsProgrammable Logic Controls (PLCs)About The TeamYou’ll be part of the Maritime Team, a professional crew ensuring the safe operation and navigation of the ship, maintaining maritime standards, training others, and supporting the vessel’s readiness to deliver hope and healing wherever it serves.Apply NowFull Job Description Available Upon Request.Proceed to ApplicationFrequently asked questions.We are so excited that you are interested in learning more about serving with us. These are the most common questions we receive for this department. Please contact us if you have additional questions.SCAM ALERT: Please be aware of recruitment scams. Mercy Ships will never charge any fees as a part of the recruitment process. For more info click here.What are the medical requirements to serve with Mercy Ships?Click here for a list of medical requirements to serve, including required immunizations.What kinds of positions are available?The complex nature of Mercy Ships projects and programs demands a wide range of skills. We need biomedical technicians, sterilization technicians, marine officers, engineers and ratings, teachers, mechanics, and photographers, and so much more.For a current list of opportunities, please click here .How long can I serve?Mercy Ships provides opportunities to serve for various lengths of time, both in shorter-term or longer-term capacities. Those wishing to serve for more than twelve (12) months must first successfully complete our On Boarding Program (including Foundations of Mercy Ships). All positions have both minimum and maximum lengths of commitment.Please note: In principle, we believe that families are important, and encourage our staff and crew to maintain a healthy life/work balance, which includes not being separated for more than a six-month period. Do I need seaman’s papers to serve on board?Both the Deck and Engineering departments (technical crew) consist of licensed and non-licensed crew members, depending on position. For example, all officer and rating positions do require current certificates of seafarer training. Other positions on board, such as entry-level positions and skilled trades (carpenters, welders, electricians, etc.) do not require maritime licensing.What kinds of certificates are required to serve in deck or engineering?This varies with the position. All technical crew should have a current certificate of Basic Training (BT) according to STCW standards. For licensed crew members, a valid certificate of competency is required, in addition to the other position-specific requirements as listed on the job descriptions.Missing something? We may be able to help you receive certain certifications through our Maritime Training Center. If you have questions, please contact our Technical Recruiter .Note: Some national certificates are not recognized by the flag state of our vessels (Malta). We will review your certificates during the application process.Will my service time on a Mercy Ship count toward a Merchant Marine Certificate?That depends on your licensing or certifying administration. You will do best to consult with them on any restrictions or limitations they may impose. The fact that our ships spend most of their time in port, as do many ‘stand-by’ vessels, means that some maritime administrations may not accept service time on board our ships, or they may accept it at a reduced rate; for example one day’s credit for each three days served.Will my Navy experience benefit Mercy Ships?That depends on what your specialty was, and what training and experience you’ve had. With regard to certificates, since we are required to follow merchant marine training and certificate standards, typically, there is not a direct equivalent of your naval rating or commission. However, we would be more than happy to discuss your specific skills and training to see if you may be a fit within our technical crew.Why does Mercy Ships register its ships in Malta?Because of the international nature of our organization, we register our vessels in Malta, because it is one of the few flag states that place little restriction on the nationalities of the technical crew.With what countries does Malta hold bilateral agreements to accept mariner documentation and licensure?All member states of the European UnionArgentinaAustraliaCabo VerdeCanadaChinaCubaEgyptEthiopiaGeorgiaGhanaHong KongIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIslamic Republic of IranIsraelJamaicaJapanJordanMaldivesMontenegroMyanmarNew ZealandNorwayPeruPhilippinesRepublic of KoreaRussiaSingaporeSri LankaTunisiaTurkeyUkraineUnited KingdomUnited States of AmericaVietnamIs Mercy Ships compliant with safety and environmental regulations?Malta is signatory to IMO conventions, including SOLAS, MARPOL, ISM, ISPS, and STCW. We comply with these and other international regulations, as surveyed and audited by member societies of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). In addition to the international regulations, Malta, as a member of the European Union, imposes additional national regulations with which the ship must comply.How much time is spent at sea?The typical 12-month cycle of a Mercy Ships vessel is as follows:8-10 months in port during field service in West Africa6-8 weeks in shipyard and dry dock4-6 weeks cumulative sailing between field services and shipyardYou can also refer to our ship schedules, as noted hereI’m interested in a maritime career, but I don’t have any experience. Can Mercy Ships help?We can provide entry-level crew with basic maritime training, including STCW 95 Basic Training (BT)(US Coast Guard Standards.Crew joining as Deck or Engine Hands hoping to pursue a career in the maritime field can join our watch rating training (II/4 or III/4), with a commitment of at least twelve months to complete the program.Looking for more information? View our general FAQs to learn about life on board, volunteering, and more.General FAQsThe experience of a lifetime is calling.More than 1,200 volunteers from over 60 nations serve with Mercy Ships each year.At Mercy Ships, we are proud to be recognized around the world for the life-changing surgeries and training we deliver. We could not achieve this without our dedicated community of talented volunteers.Imagine finishing your shift and stepping onto deck as the sun sets—knowing that today you’ve helped transform the lives of those who need it most. Apply now to start a journey that will reshape the lives of those you serve—and your own.Captain Perez, Africa Mercy & Global MercyRachel Lubitz, Project Assistant, Global MercyFind Your Place On BoardFaith-Led Commitment to Diversity & InclusionMercy Ships is a faith-based organization welcoming volunteers from diverse backgrounds and experiences who are committed to our mission and values. All qualified applicants will receive consideration.Beware of Imposters: Confirm All Volunteer CommunicationsVolunteer opportunities and invitations to serve will always come directly from Mercy Ships’ official volunteer engagement teams. Never provide personal information to anyone without confirming their connection to Mercy Ships.Apply NowFull Job Description Available Upon Request.Proceed to Application“I think you get lifelong friends in a different way than I’ve done back home. I like the variety of people, cultures, and views.”Maria Ekstrand — Dining Room Team Leader“The more I'm seeing peoples' lives being transformed, the more I realize this isn't me giving away two years, it's me gaining two years. For me, it's more like a gift.”Eugene Ampadu (Videographer, Africa Mercy, Senegal.)