All roles/Engineering/AV/IT Engineer
Engineering
AV/IT Engineer
The AV/IT Engineer runs the yacht's networks, satellite links, entertainment and control systems, so guests stream, call and work without a hitch and the bridge and crew stay connected and secure.
- Department
- Engineering
- Reports to
- Chief Engineer or AV/IT Officer
- Yacht size
- 60m to 150m+
- Contract
- Permanent or rotation
- Starting pay
- €5,500 per month
What the job is
You look after everything on board that carries data, sound or pictures. That means the core network and Wi-Fi, VSAT and Starlink terminals, 4G and 5G routers, phone systems, CCTV, the cinema, Crestron or Savant control, and the TVs and speakers in every cabin. On a large yacht that can mean 40 or more access points, several racks of switches and servers, and a guest list that expects home-level connectivity mid-ocean.
Much of the work happens before guests notice a problem. You monitor bandwidth, balance satellite and cellular links as the yacht moves, patch servers and firewalls, and keep the cyber security plan up to date for ISM and ISPS audits. You also set up guest devices, configure streaming accounts and run cinema nights. When something fails, you find the fault quickly, often in a ceiling void or a cramped rack room.
You sit in the engineering department and work closely with the ETO on shared electrical and bridge systems. You manage IT contractors in refit, keep spares and licences in order, and write clear documentation so the next person can follow your setup. Crew support is a constant: laptops, phones, printers, crew Wi-Fi allowances and the odd lost password. Calm, patient communication with guests and owners matters as much as technical skill.
What makes a good one
- Enterprise networking and Wi-Fi
- Satellite and cellular comms
- AV and control system programming
- Cyber security and firewalls
- Calm guest-facing support
A day in the life
- 07:00Check the network monitoring dashboard, satellite and cellular link status, and overnight alerts. Confirm backups completed and CCTV recorders are healthy.
- 08:00Engineering meeting with the Chief Engineer and ETO. Agree the day's jobs and note the itinerary so you can plan coverage as the yacht moves along the coast.
- 09:00Connect a new guest's laptop and two tablets to the guest network and set up their streaming logins on the main saloon TV.
- 10:30Fault find a dead access point in a VIP cabin. Trace it to a failed PoE port, move the cable to a spare port and log the switch for replacement.
- 12:30Lunch, then update firewall rules and push security patches to crew workstations while guests are ashore.
- 14:30Yacht repositions to a remote anchorage. Watch Starlink and VSAT performance, adjust traffic priorities so the principal's video calls stay clear.
- 16:30Help the interior team with a printer jam and a crew phone, then order spare HDMI extenders and a replacement switch through the agent.
- 20:30Set up the sundeck screen and sound system for a movie night, test audio levels and stay on standby until the film ends.
- 23:00Final checks on bandwidth usage and alerts, then hand the on-call phone to the night watch with notes.
Pay by country
Monthly salary for crew, usually paid in EUR or USD whatever the flag, on 60m+ yachts. Charter tips are shared on charter yachts and can add a month's salary or more per season.
- France and Monaco
- €5,500 – 7,500
- Spain
- €5,500 – 7,500
- Italy
- €5,500 – 7,500
- United Kingdom
- £4,700 – 6,400
- USA (Florida)
- US$6,000 – 8,200
- Caribbean
- US$6,000 – 8,200
- UAE
- AED 22,000 – 30,000
- Australia
- A$9,000 – 12,500
- New Zealand
- NZ$10,000 – 13,800
Required
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- PDSD
Recommended
- Cisco CCNA
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Security+
- AVIXA CTS
- Crestron programming certification
- GMDSS GOC
Visas
- Schengen
- US C1/D
- US B1/B2
Where it leads
AV/IT Engineer jobs open now
Questions crew ask
Do I need yachting experience to get hired as an AV/IT Engineer?
Not always. Many captains hire from hotel, residential AV or corporate IT backgrounds, provided you hold STCW and an ENG1 and can show solid networking and AV work. Previous yacht time helps you stand out.
What is the difference between an AV/IT Engineer and an ETO?
The ETO looks after the yacht's electrical and electronic plant, including bridge and engine systems. The AV/IT Engineer focuses on networks, communications, entertainment and cyber security, though the two roles overlap and often share work.
Will I be on call all the time?
With guests on board you are usually the only person who can fix connectivity, so expect to carry a phone in the evenings. On larger yachts with two AV/IT crew, on-call duty is shared.