1st Engineer Jobs

1st Engineer jobs are open across maritime shipping, railroads, oil and gas, and industrial plant operations, from entry-level third or second engineer roles advancing to chief engineer, with common specializations in diesel propulsion, steam systems, and electrical plant management. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

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Overview

Open roles93
Top stateOhio
Top employerGXO Logistics
Top cityDayton, OH
Work type91% On-site
Top industryElectronics

Showing 5 of 93+ 1st Engineer jobs

Quality Engineer (1st shift)
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New 22h ago
Quality Engineer (1st shift)
Clarios
Holland, Ohio
Business Development
Partnerships & Business Development
Sales
ISO certification process
10,000+

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1st Shift Facilities Engineer Tech Maintenance Associate
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New 22h ago
1st Shift Facilities Engineer Tech Maintenance Associate
Asama Coldwater Manufacturing
Coldwater, Michigan
Maintenance & Repair
Quality Control
Skilled Trades
On-Site
201-500

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Controls Engineer - 1st Shift
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Added 2d ago
Controls Engineer - 1st Shift
Challenge Manufacturing
Holland, Michigan
Customer Support
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Product & Program Management
Technical Program Management
Bachelor's degree in engineering
1,001-5,000

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Building Engineer - City of Tulsa 1st Class Stationary Engineer Licensed
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Added 2d ago
Building Engineer - City of Tulsa 1st Class Stationary Engineer Licensed
Union Public Schools
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Account Management
Customer Service
Sales
$20.11 - $33.52/hr
High school diploma or GED
501-1,000

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Building Engineer/Boiler Operator - City of Tulsa 1st Class Stationary Engineer Licensed
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Added 2d ago
Building Engineer/Boiler Operator - City of Tulsa 1st Class Stationary Engineer Licensed
Union Public Schools
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Account Management
Customer Service
Sales
High school diploma or GED

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1st Engineer Job Market

Who's Hiring

GXO Logistics7 open roles
Jabil5 open roles
Lockheed Martin3 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Electronics & Hardware
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
  • Manufacturing
  • Consulting & Professional Services

What Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in 1st engineer jobs.

  • Valid USCG or FRA engineer license at the appropriate class and tonnage endorsement
  • Documented sea service or plant operating hours verified by official sea service letters
  • Proficiency in SOLAS safety procedures, ISM Code compliance, and onboard drills
  • Experience maintaining and overhauling diesel or steam propulsion machinery and auxiliary systems
  • Competency with computerized planned maintenance systems and engine room watchkeeping logs
  • STCW certification including BOSIET, medical fitness certificate, and tanker endorsement where required

Tips for Your 1st Engineer Job Search

Tailor your resume to license class

List your Coast Guard or FRA-issued license prominently at the top, including endorsement class and any limitations. Hiring managers screen on credential tier before reading anything else, so burying your license in a skills section loses you interviews immediately.

Apply early to roles that fit

Migrate Mate lists 1st engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.

Highlight watchkeeping hours by machinery type

Operators hiring for a specific propulsion plant want sea service documented by engine type, not just total hours. Break your sea service letter details into diesel, gas turbine, or steam sections so decision-makers can verify suitability without asking follow-up questions.

Target postings by vessel class or facility

Filter openings by vessel type, such as tanker, container ship, or offshore supply, or by plant category for shore-side roles. Applying only to positions that match your logged sea service or plant experience dramatically improves your callback rate.

Prepare for systems-troubleshooting interview questions

Interviewers for 1st engineer roles routinely ask you to walk through a specific fault scenario, such as a main engine lube oil alarm at sea. Rehearse structured responses that cover isolation, diagnosis, and contingency operation rather than generic answers about teamwork.

Negotiate relief schedule before you sign

Rotation length directly affects your total compensation and license renewal timeline, so confirm whether the posting follows a four-and-four, two-and-two, or other rotation before accepting an offer. Getting this in writing prevents schedule disputes once you join the vessel.

1st Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are hiring the most 1st engineers?

The companies hiring the most 1st engineers right now include GXO Logistics, Jabil, and Lockheed Martin, with the largest share of openings in Ohio, California, and Wisconsin, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is typically strongest with operators running large commercial fleets or industrial facilities with continuous shift coverage needs.

How many 1st engineer jobs are remote?

About 9% of 1st engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on, vessel-based or plant-based nature of most positions. The sub-areas with the greatest remote flexibility tend to be technical superintendent roles, marine engineering consulting, and fleet maintenance planning positions that do not require watchkeeping duties.

How do you become a 1st engineer?

You become a 1st engineer by earning the required lower-grade engineer license, logging the minimum sea service or plant operating hours specified by your licensing authority, and passing the written and oral examinations for the first engineer endorsement. Building demonstrated experience with a specific propulsion type, completing STCW safety training, and maintaining a current medical certificate are all required steps before you can sit for the upgrade.

Can you get hired as a 1st engineer with limited experience?

Getting hired as a 1st engineer with limited experience is possible if your license class, sea service hours, and machinery endorsements satisfy the minimum legal requirements for the vessel or plant you are targeting. Many operators hire newly licensed first engineers for relief or port engineer roles first, allowing you to build supervised experience before taking full watchkeeping responsibility on a larger or more complex plant.

What does the 1st engineer interview process look like?

The 1st engineer interview process typically begins with a credentialing review where the hiring team verifies your license, sea service documentation, and STCW certificates. A technical interview follows, covering machinery fault diagnosis, emergency procedures, and maintenance planning. Some operators add a vessel or facility walkthrough to assess your familiarity with the specific plant, and the process usually concludes with a discussion of rotation schedule and joining date.

Where can I find and apply to 1st engineer jobs?

You can find and apply to 1st engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your license class, machinery experience, and preferred rotation, then apply directly to each position that fits.

See All 93 1st Engineer Jobs

Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find 1st Engineer Jobs