Senior Manager, Underwater Systems

Journey with us! Combine your career goals and sense of adventure by joining our incredible team of employees at Royal Caribbean Group
. We are proud to offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, and excellent career development opportunities, each offering unique ways to explore the world.

We are proud to be the vacation‑industry leader with global brands — including Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises — the most innovative fleet and private destinations, and the best people. Together, we are dedicated to turning the vacation of a lifetime into a lifetime of vacations for our guests.

Royal Caribbean Group’s Global Marine Operations Team has an exciting career opportunity for a full‑time Director, Underwater Systems reporting to the AVP, Marine Technical Services
.

This is a land‑based position that will work onsite in Weybridge, England or Miami, Florida USA.

The Director Underwater Systems leads the Underwater Systems team and serves as the organization’s subject‑matter expert in podded propulsion, thrusters, fin stabilizers, and related underwater systems. This role oversees system performance, maintenance, and optimization across the fleet, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant operations. The position requires close collaboration with vessel leadership, shipyards, vendors, classification societies, and internal Marine Technical Operations and Marine Technology teams.

Occasional travel and vessel visits are required.

• Serve as the primary technical authority for underwater mechanical systems fleetwide.
• Provide expert guidance and high‑level troubleshooting support to shoreside and onboard technical teams.
• Monitor propulsion system performance using diagnostics and condition‑monitoring tools in collaboration with vendors and Marine Asset Management.
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee repairs, maintenance, overhauls, and dry‑dock activities for podded propulsion and underwater systems.
• Manage major underwater system repairs, obsolescence programs, and complex technical projects.
• Lead root‑cause investigations, corrective actions, and fleetwide lessons‑learned processes.

• Deliver first‑ and second‑level support to ensure safe, reliable, and compliant vessel operations.
• Maintain strong communication with Marine Technical Operations, Marine Operations, Brands and onboard engineering leadership.
• Coordinate underwater system projects with Ship Managers and shipboard management.
• Provide technical training and operational best practices to shipboard engineering teams.

• Ensure adherence to international regulations (IMO, SOLAS, MARPOL), classification society requirements (e.g., DNV, Lloyd’s), and company safety and environmental policies.
• Conduct ship visits, inspections, and condition assessments to verify compliance and operational readiness.
• Lead investigations of underwater system incidents, implementing corrective and preventive measures.
• Follow up on conditions of class, non‑conformities, and audit findings.

• Manage vendor relationships, including ABB and other OEM partners, for warranty claims, upgrades, and technical support.
• Lead underwater systems work streams within dry‑dock, revitalization, and special projects.
• Stay current with technical bulletins and safety communications, ensuring timely fleet implementation.
• Prepare technical reports, performance analyses, and recommendations, including modernization and efficiency‑improvement opportunities.
• Support the Newbuilding Department with specifications, trials, and guarantee‑phase activities.

• Lead, develop, and performance‑manage the Underwater Mechanical Systems team, fostering a high‑performance, collaborative culture.
• Provide day‑to‑day directions, coaching, and feedback to specialist engineers and riding team members.
• Drive team capability development through mentoring, structured training, and knowledge‑sharing initiatives.
• Support succession planning, talent development, and onboarding of new team members.
• Ensure consistent ways of…