Job Description
The incumbent is responsible for the safe operation, maintenance and repair of all machinery and electrical equipment on board. The role supervises all Engineer Officers and monitors overtime. Furthermore, the role is accountable for setting and maintaining the department's operating budget, adhering to the purchasing procedures, and always protecting the interests of the owners and the company.
Engineering Operations and Asset Management
Lead and manage all Engine Room operations to ensure the safe and efficient functioning of the vessel's machinery, propulsion systems, auxiliary equipment, and technical installations.
Supervise all Engineer Officers, Mechanics, and Engine Room personnel.
Ensure compliance with policies, procedures, and requirements.
Monitor the performance, condition, and reliability of propulsion and auxiliary systems.
Maintain accurate operational records, machinery logs, technical documentation, and engineering reports.
Monitor fuel and lubricant usage, bunker inventories, and fuel quality to optimize operational efficiency.
Develop, implement, and oversee preventive and corrective maintenance programs.
Prepare and manage short-term and long-term maintenance plans, including associated operating and capital budget requirements.
Ensure department expenditures remain within budgets.
Maintain technical records, drawings, specifications, manuals, and filing systems.
Ensure timely reporting of machinery failures, incidents, equipment damage, and reliability concerns.
Coordinate statutory inspections, surveys, and regulatory examinations of machinery spaces and engineering systems.
Assess operational risks and implement mitigation strategies.
Provide technical expertise and representation when dealing with contractors, suppliers, regulatory authorities, and third-party service providers.
Support the Captain in achieving safe, efficient, and compliant vessel operations.
Safety and Regulatory Compliance
Promote and maintain a strong safety culture throughout vessel operations.
Support the Captain in ensuring full compliance with Transport Canada regulations, marine industry standards, classification society requirements, environmental regulations, and policies.
Conduct regular safety inspections, audits, risk assessments, and emergency preparedness exercises.
Lead or participate in emergency response activities involving machinery failures, operational disruptions, environmental incidents, or safety events.
Ensure engineering personnel follow all safe work procedures and regulatory requirements.
Investigate machinery-related incidents and participate in injury investigations and incident reenactments when required.
Ensure readiness for regulatory audits, inspections, and classification surveys.
Monitor environmental performance and ensure compliance with emissions, pollution prevention, and waste management requirements.
Crew Leadership and Supervision
Provide leadership, coaching, and direction to all Engine Room personnel.
Manage scheduling, overtime, training, performance, and development.
Conduct employee evaluations and address disciplinary matters.
Ensure crew members receive required onboard training and competency development opportunities.
Maintain oversight of employee certifications, qualifications, and regulatory compliance requirements.
Foster a collaborative, accountable, and inclusive team environment focused on safety and operational excellence.
Clearly communicate departmental objectives, work priorities, safety expectations, and operational requirements.
Stakeholder Coordination
Collaborate with internal stakeholders including Transportation, Terminal Operations, Mechanical, Engineering, Supply Chain, Human Resources, Labour Relations, Safety, Environmental, and Finance teams.
Coordinate with external stakeholders including port authorities, government agencies, classification societies, inspectors, contractors, vendors, suppliers, and third-party service providers.
Support customer service commitments by ensuring vessel reliability and operational readiness.
Act as the vessel's primary technical representative in meetings, inspections, and operational discussions.
Work is performed aboard marine vessels and at port facilities.Exposure to varying weather conditions, marine environments, machinery spaces, noise, vibration, and confined spaces.Requires irregular schedules including nights, weekends, holidays, extended shifts, and emergency response situations.Frequent climbing, walking, standing, and movement throughout the vessel.Participation in emergency drills and operational incidents is required.
3 to 5 years of progressive marine engineering experience aboard commercial vessels
Strong knowledge of marine propulsion systems, auxiliary machinery, electrical systems, and maintenance practices.Knowledge of Transport Canada regulations, classification society requirements, and marine safety standards.Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and maintenance management systems.Strong financial and budget management skills.Fluently bilingual in English and French, both written and verbal.Strong analytical, troubleshooting, planning, and organizational capabilities.
Chief Mechanic - Maritimes
Req Id:
598
Job Location:
Matane - QC
Business Unit:
Operations
Highest Level Division:
Transportation & Network Ops
Posting Start Date:
9/20/26
Posting End Date:
09/26/26 11:59 EDT
French/English Bilingual Requirement:
Yes
Hiring Salary Range: $ 89900 - 118000
This range represents the hiring range. Salaries are determined individually depending on skills and experience. You will also be eligible to an annual bonus, employee share investment program (ESIP), Pension, Benefits and other perks.
At CN, we are committed to our pursuit of excellence. We take pride in delivering work of the highest standard, continually innovating to shape the railroad of the future. As responsible railroaders, we make the right decisions every time, putting safety first, acting with unwavering integrity, and holding ourselves accountable for our actions. We believe in succeeding together—by fostering inclusivity and collaboration, we sustainably deliver exceptional results for our customers.
Join us today and get your career moving!
Job Summary
The incumbent is responsible for the safe operation, maintenance and repair of all machinery and electrical equipment on board. The role supervises all Engineer Officers and monitors overtime. Furthermore, the role is accountable for setting and maintaining the department's operating budget, adhering to the purchasing procedures, and always protecting the interests of the owners and the company.
Main Responsibilities
Engineering Operations and Asset Management
Lead and manage all Engine Room operations to ensure the safe and efficient functioning of the vessel's machinery, propulsion systems, auxiliary equipment, and technical installations.
Supervise all Engineer Officers, Mechanics, and Engine Room personnel.
Ensure compliance with policies, procedures, and requirements.
Monitor the performance, condition, and reliability of propulsion and auxiliary systems.
Maintain accurate operational records, machinery logs, technical documentation, and engineering reports.
Monitor fuel and lubricant usage, bunker inventories, and fuel quality to optimize operational efficiency.
Develop, implement, and oversee preventive and corrective maintenance programs.
Prepare and manage short-term and long-term maintenance plans, including associated operating and capital budget requirements.
Ensure department expenditures remain within budgets.
Maintain technical records, drawings, specifications, manuals, and filing systems.
Ensure timely reporting of machinery failures, incidents, equipment damage, and reliability concerns.
Coordinate statutory inspections, surveys, and regulatory examinations of machinery spaces and engineering systems.
Assess operational risks and implement mitigation strategies.
Provide technical expertise and representation when dealing with contractors, suppliers, regulatory authorities, and third-party service providers.
Support the Captain in achieving safe, efficient, and compliant vessel operations.
Safety and Regulatory Compliance
Promote and maintain a strong safety culture throughout vessel operations.
Support the Captain in ensuring full compliance with Transport Canada regulations, marine industry standards, classification society requirements, environmental regulations, and policies.
Conduct regular safety inspections, audits, risk assessments, and emergency preparedness exercises.
Lead or participate in emergency response activities involving machinery failures, operational disruptions, environmental incidents, or safety events.
Ensure engineering personnel follow all safe work procedures and regulatory requirements.
Investigate machinery-related incidents and participate in injury investigations and incident reenactments when required.
Ensure readiness for regulatory audits, inspections, and classification surveys.
Monitor environmental performance and ensure compliance with emissions, pollution prevention, and waste management requirements.
Crew Leadership and Supervision
Provide leadership, coaching, and direction to all Engine Room personnel.
Manage scheduling, overtime, training, performance, and development.
Conduct employee evaluations and address disciplinary matters.
Ensure crew members receive required onboard training and competency development opportunities.
Maintain oversight of employee certifications, qualifications, and regulatory compliance requirements.
Foster a collaborative, accountable, and inclusive team environment focused on safety and operational excellence.
Clearly communicate departmental objectives, work priorities, safety expectations, and operational requirements.
Stakeholder Coordination
Collaborate with internal stakeholders including Transportation, Terminal Operations, Mechanical, Engineering, Supply Chain, Human Resources, Labour Relations, Safety, Environmental, and Finance teams.
Coordinate with external stakeholders including port authorities, government agencies, classification societies, inspectors, contractors, vendors, suppliers, and third-party service providers.
Support customer service commitments by ensuring vessel reliability and operational readiness.
Act as the vessel's primary technical representative in meetings, inspections, and operational discussions.
Working Conditions
Work is performed aboard marine vessels and at port facilities.Exposure to varying weather conditions, marine environments, machinery spaces, noise, vibration, and confined spaces.Requires irregular schedules including nights, weekends, holidays, extended shifts, and emergency response situations.Frequent climbing, walking, standing, and movement throughout the vessel.Participation in emergency drills and operational incidents is required.
Experience
3 to 5 years of progressive marine engineering experience aboard commercial vessels
- Demonstrated experience supervising marine engineering personnel and leading Engine Room operations
- Experience managing maintenance programs, budgets, and regulatory compliance activities
- Candidates with an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered.
Education/Certification/Designation
Valid Transport Canada Marine Medical Certificate- Valid Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) certification
- Marine Engineering certification appropriate for vessel type and regulatory requirements
- Additional marine safety and leadership certifications
- *Candidates with equivalent practical experience, education, or training will be considered.
*Any requirement marked with (*) will be considered an asset (not mandatory).
Competencies
- We Care About Each Other
- We Strive for Excellence
- We Succeed Together
- We Lead Responsibly
- Vision and strategic thinking
- Impactful and inclusive leadership
- Performance and value delivery
- Empowerment and talent development
- Strategic communication and influence
- Managerial courage and decisiveness
- Compliance
- High Impact Execution
- Planning
- Coordination
- Prioritization
Technical Skills/Knowledge
Strong knowledge of marine propulsion systems, auxiliary machinery, electrical systems, and maintenance practices.Knowledge of Transport Canada regulations, classification society requirements, and marine safety standards.Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and maintenance management systems.Strong financial and budget management skills.Fluently bilingual in English and French, both written and verbal.Strong analytical, troubleshooting, planning, and organizational capabilities.
Additional Information (If Any)
About CN
CN is a premium railroad that sustainably generates value for our customers, shareholders, employees, and stakeholders with an unwavering commitment to safety and service. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. CN's network connects Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through an 18,800-mile rail network. CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN powers the North American economy and is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship.
At CN, we are dedicated to building North America's safest, most inclusive and sustainable railroad, which includes reflecting the communities in which we operate. Research shows that candidates often don't apply unless they feel they fit the job posting at 100%. To all potential applicants, even if you don't meet every job requirement listed in a posting, we still encourage you to apply. If you require an accommodation for the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials, accessible meeting rooms or other accommodations), please get in touch with our team at cnrecruitment@cn.ca.
As an equal opportunity employer, qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.
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