Master Mariner Jobs
Master Mariner jobs are open across commercial shipping, offshore energy, cruise lines, and government maritime services, from officer-of-the-watch roles to senior command positions, with specializations in tanker operations, dynamic positioning, and vessel traffic management. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Headquartered in Paducah, Kentucky and founded in 1978, Marquette is a leading provider of inland marine transportation services. Our Company operates over 130 towboats on the Mississippi River System, Gulf-Intracoastal Waterway, and near-shore coastwise market. In addition, the Company controls over 1,000 dry cargo barges. The Company has additional offices in St Rose, LA, Lockport, LA and La Porte, TX. With over 1,800 vessel and shore-based employees, Marquette is the largest provider of independent towing services within the inland waterways. We are the only fully integrated fleet in the industry that can do what we do.
The Mariner Engagement Specialist is responsible for driving initiatives that enhance the recruitment, retention and development of high-quality deck crew and deck leadership. This role acts as an ambassador to both new hires and experienced mariners, providing information and support throughout their tenure with Marquette.
Principal Responsibilities:
- Represents Marquette at job fairs and community events.
- Assists with deck recruiting during peak hiring periods.
- Takes an active role in deck crew orientation.
- Secures orientation attendees hotel accommodations.
- Ensures sufficient trainer coverage based on orientation class size.
- Coordinates meals for orientation attendees.
- Presents on HR topics during orientation.
- Assists employees with career path planning and timelines.
- Monitors evaluation/promotion process to ensure that crew members aren’t getting “lost” and that promotion process is fair and timely.
- Provides welcome letter to new mariners and check-in at the conclusion of their first hitch.
- Follows-up on offboarding surveys and escalates concerns as appropriate.
- Performs stay and exit interviews.
- Engages with mariners regularly through vessel visits, crew changes, training events, phone calls, etc., to build and maintain strong relationships.
- Checks-in with mariners who live in areas affected by natural disasters and coordinate support as needed.
- Supports mariner recognition for special occasions, including sending birthday greetings and developing a call tree for leadership team to contact vessels on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- Prepares employee biography information for training attendees to share with Operations and Leadership.
- Manage referral bonus process.
- Monitors turnover trends and escalates trends/concerns.
- Supports Ambassador program in conjunction with Communications Manager.
- Assists mariners with understanding and accessing Confluence, Dayforce HR and Payroll system, and other questions.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Associate’s Degree or higher preferred.
- Excellent interpersonal/communication skills, both oral and written.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office.
- Maintains confidentiality of sensitive information.
- High level of customer service to all employees.
- Motivated self-starter.
Marquette is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity, or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. By clicking the link below, you authorize Marquette Transportation Company, LLC to contact you by any method at the number provided.
Headquartered in Paducah, Kentucky and founded in 1978, Marquette is a leading provider of inland marine transportation services. Our Company operates over 130 towboats on the Mississippi River System, Gulf-Intracoastal Waterway, and near-shore coastwise market. In addition, the Company controls over 1,000 dry cargo barges. The Company has additional offices in St Rose, LA, Lockport, LA and La Porte, TX. With over 1,800 vessel and shore-based employees, Marquette is the largest provider of independent towing services within the inland waterways. We are the only fully integrated fleet in the industry that can do what we do.
The Mariner Engagement Specialist is responsible for driving initiatives that enhance the recruitment, retention and development of high-quality deck crew and deck leadership. This role acts as an ambassador to both new hires and experienced mariners, providing information and support throughout their tenure with Marquette.
Principal Responsibilities:
- Represents Marquette at job fairs and community events.
- Assists with deck recruiting during peak hiring periods.
- Takes an active role in deck crew orientation.
- Secures orientation attendees hotel accommodations.
- Ensures sufficient trainer coverage based on orientation class size.
- Coordinates meals for orientation attendees.
- Presents on HR topics during orientation.
- Assists employees with career path planning and timelines.
- Monitors evaluation/promotion process to ensure that crew members aren’t getting “lost” and that promotion process is fair and timely.
- Provides welcome letter to new mariners and check-in at the conclusion of their first hitch.
- Follows-up on offboarding surveys and escalates concerns as appropriate.
- Performs stay and exit interviews.
- Engages with mariners regularly through vessel visits, crew changes, training events, phone calls, etc., to build and maintain strong relationships.
- Checks-in with mariners who live in areas affected by natural disasters and coordinate support as needed.
- Supports mariner recognition for special occasions, including sending birthday greetings and developing a call tree for leadership team to contact vessels on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- Prepares employee biography information for training attendees to share with Operations and Leadership.
- Manage referral bonus process.
- Monitors turnover trends and escalates trends/concerns.
- Supports Ambassador program in conjunction with Communications Manager.
- Assists mariners with understanding and accessing Confluence, Dayforce HR and Payroll system, and other questions.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Associate’s Degree or higher preferred.
- Excellent interpersonal/communication skills, both oral and written.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office.
- Maintains confidentiality of sensitive information.
- High level of customer service to all employees.
- Motivated self-starter.
Marquette is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity, or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. By clicking the link below, you authorize Marquette Transportation Company, LLC to contact you by any method at the number provided.
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Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in master mariner jobs.
- USCG-issued Master Unlimited or appropriate tonnage license for the vessel type
- STCW II/2 certification with valid medical fitness certificate
- Minimum years of sea service as chief mate or master on comparable vessel types
- Experience with ISM Code compliance, safety management systems, and port state control
- Dynamic positioning operator certification for offshore or subsea vessel roles
- Proficiency with ECDIS, voyage data recorders, and bridge integrated navigation systems
Tips for Your Master Mariner Job Search
List every STCW endorsement you hold
Hiring managers and maritime crewing departments screen by certificate code before they read anything else. Put your STCW II/2 Master unlimited certificate, any tanker endorsements, and your GMDSS license in a dedicated credentials block at the top of your resume.
Tailor your tonnage and trade route history
Employers in offshore energy weight dynamic positioning time differently than deep-sea container operators. Match the vessel types and gross tonnage you commanded directly to the fleet listed in each job posting so your experience reads as an exact fit, not a general one.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists master mariner openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare for a simulator or oral board
Many employers, particularly in government maritime and cruise sectors, run scenario-based assessments before or alongside a standard interview. Refresh your collision regulations knowledge, emergency muster procedures, and bridge resource management principles so you can answer under realistic time pressure.
Document your safety management system experience
ISM Code audits and port state control inspections are front-of-mind for every hiring superintendent. If you've held DPA responsibilities, led internal audits, or closed major non-conformities, write those outcomes in concrete terms on your resume rather than listing SMS familiarity generically.
Follow up with the crewing department directly
Maritime hiring moves through crewing managers, not HR generalists. After you apply, a brief, professional follow-up addressed to the crewing or fleet personnel team signals operational seriousness and can move your file from the pending pile to an active review.
Master Mariner Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most master mariners?
The most active employers for master mariners right now are Starbucks, Akima, and Bath & Body Works, and the most openings are in Florida, West Virginia, and Kentucky, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Fleet size, contract rotation schedules, and vessel type vary significantly across these employers, so read each posting carefully before you apply.
How many master mariner jobs are remote?
About 67% of master mariner openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that most command roles require physical presence aboard the vessel. Shore-based positions such as marine superintendent, port captain, or maritime operations manager account for most of the remote-eligible roles in this field.
How do you become a master mariner?
You progress through officer-of-the-watch and chief mate licenses, accumulating required sea service on vessels of qualifying tonnage, then pass the USCG examination for the Master Unlimited or appropriate endorsement. Alongside sea time, you complete STCW courses in advanced firefighting, medical care, and survival craft, and maintain a valid medical certificate throughout your career.
Can you get hired as a master mariner with limited command experience?
Some employers, particularly in coastal or inland towing, offshore supply, and government vessel operations, hire chief mates or limited-tonnage masters and promote them into command roles after a qualifying rotation. Highlighting tanker endorsements, dynamic positioning certification, or prior service as relief master on a specific vessel class can offset a shorter command record when applying to these operators.
What does the master mariner interview process look like?
Most maritime employers start with a crewing department screening focused on license validity, sea service records, and flag state endorsements, followed by a technical interview covering collision regulations, emergency procedures, and cargo or dynamic positioning operations. Some operators add a simulator assessment or oral board before extending a contract, and reference checks with previous shipping companies are standard.
Where can I find and apply to master mariner jobs?
You can find and apply to master mariner jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the roles available, find the ones that match your license class, vessel experience, and preferred trade route, and apply directly to each listing that fits.
See All 10 Master Mariner Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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