2nd Mate Jobs
2nd Mate jobs are open across commercial shipping, cruise lines, offshore energy, and inland waterways, from entry-level officer positions to senior watch-standing roles, with specializations in navigation, cargo operations, and safety management. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
Find 2nd Mate JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 11+ 2nd Mate jobs
Strong teammate with fast-track shift leader potential needed immediately!
Great BBQ helps us grow, serving and creating happiness is the goal. We are offering the opportunity for an experienced team associate to potentially become a shift lead within 60-90 days contingent they meet the criteria required for the position.
Whether you're looking for a fun, fulfilling job, or a career that takes you places, there's a way for you to thrive at City Barbeque. City Barbeque teammates carve smoked-on-site meats, craft sides from scratch, and cultivate an atmosphere of genuine backyard hospitality in every joint, every day. No matter the role, the opportunities for growth are unmatched.
Come join City Barbeque in serving and creating happiness with America’s best BBQ, while living by 4 core values:
- Safety First
- Treat others with integrity, fairness and respect
- Deliver quality without sacrifice
- Produce profit and cash flow for long-term value
Job Summary after learning all stations & areas of our teammate positions:
Shift Leaders can perform and train all duties of joint teammates. They are responsible for shift supervision of teammates in successful day-to-day shift operations. They ensure great service and product quality for guests, they lead the team by example and are a role model of standards and behaviors consistent with our values and culture.
We're looking for individuals who:
- Have customer service experience in a restaurant environment- 2-3 years required
- Previous leadership, supervisory or management experience in a restaurant environment (1-2 years)
- Act with integrity and honesty
- Exercise situational leadership successfully
- Resolve conflict professionally
- Demonstrate effective oral communication skills
- Collaborate with others well
- Effectively build teams
- Lead with positivity and appreciation
Summary of Key Responsibilities:
- Maintain regular and consistent attendance and punctuality
- Deliver backyard hospitality service to all guests by anticipating needs and overall store flow
- Fairly delegate tasks so that teammates can create and maintain the City Barbeque experience for the guests
- Maintain a calm demeanor during periods of high volume or unusual events to keep store operating to standard
- Organize opening and closing duties as assigned, ensuring food safety systems are executed and work stations are clean/safe
- Follow all cash management and cash register policies, including those for cash handling, safety and security and ensures proper cash management practices are followed by shift team
- Make certain that safety and security standards are emphasized and adhered to, and that teammates are trained in appropriate responses to unsafe situations
- Assist with new teammate training by positively reinforcing successful performance
- Communicate regularly with the General Manager to provide feedback on teammate performance during shifts and to remain current with store production goals
- Create a positive learning environment by providing clear, specific, timely and respectful coaching and feedback to teammates on shift to ensure operational excellence and to improve teammate performance
Front of House position training:
Cashier – walk in/drive-thru (when applicable)
Counter Server - expo, curbside and guest services
Back of House position training:
Pits – prepare and smoke meats
Boards – line cook, meat cutter
Prep – prepare sides and desserts from scratch
Dishwasher – dishwasher, utility
QUALITY FOOD MADE BY QUALITY PEOPLE
Everyone likes to say it, but we really mean it: we're like one big family. After a taste of our incredible culture (not to mention the city's best barbeque), folks can't wait to join the team. City BBQ teammates love to serve, have fun at work & are eager to grow. We take care of our people with advancement opportunities, great pay and benefits, a dedication to work/life balance AND of course—the best free food. Enjoy it all when you join the City BBQ family.
JOINT teammate pay & benefits (this does change once you become a shift leader with us)
- Reviews (with opportunities for raises) twice a year
- Bi-weekly pay or Daily pay options*
- Up to $2,400/year in free BBQ
- 25% discount when off the clock
- Free uniforms and slip-resistant shoes
- Vacation pay*
- Holiday pay (four holidays paid - time and a half)
- 401(k) match up to 4% of salary*
- Annual scholarship opportunity (up to $3,000/year)
- Flexible scheduling
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance (after 60 days)*
- Paid basic life insurance*
- Voluntary life insurance*
- Short-term disability*
- Bereavement pay
- A variety of healthcare benefits and programs, including accident and hospital insurance, Health Savings Accounts, and more*
- Purchasing Power Credit alternative
- Access to City Cares, our teammate assistance fund, for qualifying instances of hardship or disaster
- Access to counseling and community resources via our Employee Assistance Plan
- for eligible teammates
Relevant job titles include: Hostess, Host Staff, Front Desk, Greeter, Receptionist, Phone Worker, Restaurant Job, Hourly Job, Restaurant Hourly Job, FOH, Front of House, Server, Servers, Food Server, Food Service, Food Service Worker, Waiter, Waiters, Waitress, Waitresses, Food Server, Crew Member, Crewmember, Full Service Crew Member, Full Service Teammate, Limited Service Crew Member, Fast Casual Crew Member, Fast Casual Teammate, Crew Member, Teammate, Restaurant Teammate, Restaurant Crew Member, Customer Service, Cashier, Counter Attendant, Hospitality, Line Server, Chef, Cook, Grill Cook, Fry Cook, Prep Cook, Head Cook, Crew Person, Back Line Cook, Head Chef, Executive Chef
City Barbeque participates in E-Verify. To learn more, please visit: E-Verify Participation Poster EN & ES, 05.13.26.pdf
Strong teammate with fast-track shift leader potential needed immediately!
Great BBQ helps us grow, serving and creating happiness is the goal. We are offering the opportunity for an experienced team associate to potentially become a shift lead within 60-90 days contingent they meet the criteria required for the position.
Whether you're looking for a fun, fulfilling job, or a career that takes you places, there's a way for you to thrive at City Barbeque. City Barbeque teammates carve smoked-on-site meats, craft sides from scratch, and cultivate an atmosphere of genuine backyard hospitality in every joint, every day. No matter the role, the opportunities for growth are unmatched.
Come join City Barbeque in serving and creating happiness with America’s best BBQ, while living by 4 core values:
- Safety First
- Treat others with integrity, fairness and respect
- Deliver quality without sacrifice
- Produce profit and cash flow for long-term value
Job Summary after learning all stations & areas of our teammate positions:
Shift Leaders can perform and train all duties of joint teammates. They are responsible for shift supervision of teammates in successful day-to-day shift operations. They ensure great service and product quality for guests, they lead the team by example and are a role model of standards and behaviors consistent with our values and culture.
We're looking for individuals who:
- Have customer service experience in a restaurant environment- 2-3 years required
- Previous leadership, supervisory or management experience in a restaurant environment (1-2 years)
- Act with integrity and honesty
- Exercise situational leadership successfully
- Resolve conflict professionally
- Demonstrate effective oral communication skills
- Collaborate with others well
- Effectively build teams
- Lead with positivity and appreciation
Summary of Key Responsibilities:
- Maintain regular and consistent attendance and punctuality
- Deliver backyard hospitality service to all guests by anticipating needs and overall store flow
- Fairly delegate tasks so that teammates can create and maintain the City Barbeque experience for the guests
- Maintain a calm demeanor during periods of high volume or unusual events to keep store operating to standard
- Organize opening and closing duties as assigned, ensuring food safety systems are executed and work stations are clean/safe
- Follow all cash management and cash register policies, including those for cash handling, safety and security and ensures proper cash management practices are followed by shift team
- Make certain that safety and security standards are emphasized and adhered to, and that teammates are trained in appropriate responses to unsafe situations
- Assist with new teammate training by positively reinforcing successful performance
- Communicate regularly with the General Manager to provide feedback on teammate performance during shifts and to remain current with store production goals
- Create a positive learning environment by providing clear, specific, timely and respectful coaching and feedback to teammates on shift to ensure operational excellence and to improve teammate performance
Front of House position training:
Cashier – walk in/drive-thru (when applicable)
Counter Server - expo, curbside and guest services
Back of House position training:
Pits – prepare and smoke meats
Boards – line cook, meat cutter
Prep – prepare sides and desserts from scratch
Dishwasher – dishwasher, utility
QUALITY FOOD MADE BY QUALITY PEOPLE
Everyone likes to say it, but we really mean it: we're like one big family. After a taste of our incredible culture (not to mention the city's best barbeque), folks can't wait to join the team. City BBQ teammates love to serve, have fun at work & are eager to grow. We take care of our people with advancement opportunities, great pay and benefits, a dedication to work/life balance AND of course—the best free food. Enjoy it all when you join the City BBQ family.
JOINT teammate pay & benefits (this does change once you become a shift leader with us)
- Reviews (with opportunities for raises) twice a year
- Bi-weekly pay or Daily pay options*
- Up to $2,400/year in free BBQ
- 25% discount when off the clock
- Free uniforms and slip-resistant shoes
- Vacation pay*
- Holiday pay (four holidays paid - time and a half)
- 401(k) match up to 4% of salary*
- Annual scholarship opportunity (up to $3,000/year)
- Flexible scheduling
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance (after 60 days)*
- Paid basic life insurance*
- Voluntary life insurance*
- Short-term disability*
- Bereavement pay
- A variety of healthcare benefits and programs, including accident and hospital insurance, Health Savings Accounts, and more*
- Purchasing Power Credit alternative
- Access to City Cares, our teammate assistance fund, for qualifying instances of hardship or disaster
- Access to counseling and community resources via our Employee Assistance Plan
- for eligible teammates
Relevant job titles include: Hostess, Host Staff, Front Desk, Greeter, Receptionist, Phone Worker, Restaurant Job, Hourly Job, Restaurant Hourly Job, FOH, Front of House, Server, Servers, Food Server, Food Service, Food Service Worker, Waiter, Waiters, Waitress, Waitresses, Food Server, Crew Member, Crewmember, Full Service Crew Member, Full Service Teammate, Limited Service Crew Member, Fast Casual Crew Member, Fast Casual Teammate, Crew Member, Teammate, Restaurant Teammate, Restaurant Crew Member, Customer Service, Cashier, Counter Attendant, Hospitality, Line Server, Chef, Cook, Grill Cook, Fry Cook, Prep Cook, Head Cook, Crew Person, Back Line Cook, Head Chef, Executive Chef
City Barbeque participates in E-Verify. To learn more, please visit: E-Verify Participation Poster EN & ES, 05.13.26.pdf
See All 11 2nd Mate Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find 2nd Mate Jobs2nd Mate Job Market
Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in 2nd mate jobs.
- Valid USCG Merchant Mariner Credential with OICNW endorsement
- Minimum sea service hours on vessels of appropriate gross tonnage
- Current STCW Basic Safety Training and medical fitness certificate
- Proficiency with ECDIS and electronic chart navigation systems
- Experience standing independent navigational watch as officer in charge
- Familiarity with cargo operations, stability calculations, or safety management systems
Tips for Your 2nd Mate Job Search
List your STCW endorsements prominently
Hiring officers scan for specific STCW certificates before reading anything else on a 2nd mate resume. Put your OICNW, medical, and any advanced endorsements in a dedicated credentials block near the top, not buried in a summary paragraph.
Tailor your watchkeeping hours to each listing
Different employers weight sea time differently. When a posting specifies a vessel type or gross tonnage requirement, make sure your documented sea service hours for that category appear early and clearly, so reviewers don't have to calculate it themselves.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists 2nd mate openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings by vessel type and trade route
A 2nd mate background on tankers reads differently to bulk carrier or passenger vessel employers. Search for openings that match your actual vessel experience rather than applying broadly, since many companies prioritize candidates whose sea service mirrors their own fleet.
Prepare for practical navigation scenario questions
Interviews for 2nd mate positions routinely include collision regulations scenarios, chart work problems, or ECDIS-related situations. Review COLREGS rules of the road and practice talking through your decision-making process aloud before your interview, not just the final answer.
Negotiate start dates around your STCW renewals
If a certificate is due for renewal within six months of your target start date, address it proactively in your cover letter or during the offer stage. Companies often prefer a candidate who flags a renewal timeline early over one who surfaces the issue after an offer is extended.
2nd Mate Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most 2nd mates?
City Barbeque, Amentum, and Metris Global are hiring the most 2nd mates right now, with openings concentrated in California, Ohio, and Texas, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Fleet size and rotation schedules tend to drive hiring volume, so companies with large domestic fleets consistently post the most openings.
How many 2nd mate jobs are remote?
About 0% of 2nd mate openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that most roles require physical presence aboard a vessel. The exceptions tend to be shore-based maritime operations roles, vessel traffic service positions, and training or simulator instructor positions that draw on 2nd mate credentials.
How do you become a 2nd mate?
To become a 2nd mate, you first need a USCG-approved Merchant Mariner Credential with an Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch endorsement, which requires documented sea service, completion of approved training courses, and passing USCG licensing exams. Most candidates come through a maritime academy program or accumulate sea time as an unlicensed mariner before sitting for the license.
Can you get hired as a 2nd mate with little experience?
Yes, some employers hire newly licensed 2nd mates directly out of maritime academy, particularly for inland waterways, ferry services, and smaller vessel operations where the tonnage requirements are lower. Building sea time as an able seaman or third mate before upgrading your license makes you a stronger candidate, since many deep-sea and offshore employers prefer officers with prior watch-standing experience on similar vessel types.
What does the 2nd mate interview process look like?
Most 2nd mate interviews begin with a credentials review where the hiring officer confirms your license, endorsements, and sea service documentation. A practical or scenario-based discussion typically follows, covering collision regulations, emergency procedures, and vessel-specific cargo or navigation systems. Some companies add a medical or drug screening step before extending a formal offer, particularly for offshore and deep-sea roles.
Where can I find and apply to 2nd mate jobs?
You can find and apply to 2nd mate jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search for roles that match your license, vessel experience, and preferred trade route, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background.
See All 11 2nd Mate Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find 2nd Mate Jobs