AV/IT Engineer
The AV/IT engineer looks after everything on board that carries data, sound or pictures. That covers the VSAT and 4G/5G links, the network racks, the guest Wi-Fi, the cinema, the Crestron or Savant controls and the cyber security that ties it all together. When the owner's film won't play at midnight, you are the person they call.
The jobWhat fills the day
The work splits into three parts. Connectivity: satellite domes, cellular routers, firewalls, switches and the bandwidth plan that keeps guests streaming while the bridge still gets its weather and charts. Entertainment and control: cinema rooms, multi-room audio, IPTV, lighting and blind control, tablets in every cabin. Then the everyday IT: crew laptops, printers, user accounts, backups and the cyber security records that flag states and the ISM system now expect. Much of the year is maintenance, firmware updates and documenting a network that a previous contractor may have left in a mess.
With guests aboard the job becomes service work. You check every cabin before embarkation, pair the owner's devices, load the right content and stay close to the radio. Problems must be fixed fast and quietly, often in a guest area while people are watching. On a 55m yacht you may be the only technical person outside the engine room and will also stand engineering watches or help on deck. On a 120m yacht you are one of a team, working shifts, with a defined patch such as networks or AV.
Captains and chief engineers hire people who can prove hands-on experience with marine or high-end residential systems. Backgrounds that work well include custom installation for luxury homes, hotel IT, broadcast and live events, or a shoreside yacht systems integrator. Certifications from Crestron, Cisco, Ubiquiti or Kaleidescape carry real weight, as does a calm manner with demanding guests. You need STCW Basic Safety and an ENG1 before you join, and experience with Starlink alongside traditional VSAT is now asked for in most adverts.
Most people move up to AV/IT Officer after two or three seasons, taking charge of the department and the budget on a larger yacht. Some study for an ETO Certificate of Competency and cross into electrical engineering, which widens the range of yachts open to them. Others go ashore to integrators, refit yards or management companies, where onboard experience is valued in technical and project roles. Good records, clean network documentation and a reference from a respected chief engineer will do more for your career than any single course.
Skills captains look for
- Network and firewall configuration
- VSAT and Starlink management
- Crestron or Savant programming
- Cinema and multi-room audio
- Maritime cyber security
- Guest device support
- Fault-finding under pressure
A day aboardCharter day, 85m motor yacht, anchored off Porto Cervo, Sardinia
Check the overnight logs on the firewall and satellite modem. Confirm Starlink and VSAT are both up and the load balancing has not dropped the bridge network.
Breakfast in the crew mess and a quick word with the chief stew about the guests' plans for the day.
Pair two new phones and a tablet for the charter guests, then test the TV and audio in each guest cabin before the interior team starts turndown.
Set up a portable speaker system and Wi-Fi extender on the beach club for a lunch on the swim platform. Run a soundcheck with the deck crew.
Lunch and an hour off in the cabin, radio on.
Update firmware on two access points in the crew area and record the changes in the cyber security log for the next ISM audit.
Prepare the cinema for a guest film night. Download the requested films in advance, check the projector and test the lighting scene from the control tablet.
Stay on standby during the film. Reset a frozen streaming box in the main saloon, then hand over to the night watch and stand down.
Pay by yacht sizeMonthly, before tips. Estimates. Bars share one scale.
Charter tips can add several thousand dollars a season on busy charter yachts, shared with the rest of the crew. Rotational posts on larger yachts usually pay the same monthly rate with 2:2 or 3:1 leave. See the ETO & AV/IT salary guide for figures from live adverts.
Tickets and visas
Must have
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical certificate
Gets you hired
- Cisco CCNA or CompTIA Network+
- Crestron or Savant programming certification
- Kaleidescape or cinema calibration training
- Ship Security Awareness / PDSD
- Maritime cyber security course
Visas
- Schengen visa where needed
- US B1/B2 visa for Caribbean and Florida seasons
Where it leadsA typical career path
ETO & AV/IT jobsOpen now on SuperyachtRoles.com
Questions crew ask
Do I need yachting experience to get hired as an AV/IT engineer?
Not always. Many people join straight from luxury residential installation, hotel IT or a yacht integrator, as long as they hold STCW and an ENG1. What captains want is proof you can run a network and an AV system on your own.
What is the difference between an AV/IT engineer and an AV/IT officer?
The officer runs the department, holds the budget and deals with the captain and management company. The engineer does more of the hands-on work, often reporting to the officer or ETO on larger yachts. On smaller yachts one person may do both under either title.
Will I have to do other jobs on board?
On yachts under about 70m, yes. You may help the engineers, stand watches or handle lines on deck. On 100m+ yachts the role is usually dedicated to AV/IT.
Is an ETO certificate worth getting?
If you want to stay at sea long term, it is. An ETO Certificate of Competency lets you apply for electrical posts as well as AV/IT, and it tends to raise your pay ceiling.