Electro-Technical Officer (ETO)
The Electro-Technical Officer looks after everything on board that runs on current or data. That means generators and switchboards, alarm and monitoring systems, bridge electronics, satellite communications and, on many yachts, the guest AV and IT network. It suits a qualified electrician or electronics technician who likes fault-finding and can stay calm when a system fails with guests aboard.
The jobWhat fills the day
The core of the job is the yacht's electrical plant. You maintain switchboards, shore power converters, UPS units, battery banks and the power management system. You also look after the integrated alarm and monitoring system, fire detection, CCTV and access control. On the bridge you support the officers with radar, ECDIS, autopilot, GMDSS and the VSAT dome. Planned maintenance, insulation testing, thermal imaging and keeping the electrical drawings up to date fill the quiet weeks.
With guests aboard, priorities change. The guest network, Wi-Fi, satellite TV, lighting scenes and the cinema system become the things everyone notices. A dropped connection in the owner's suite is treated as urgently as a generator alarm. On yachts between 60m and 80m you will often be the only ETO and also the AV/IT person. On 100m+ yachts there is usually a separate AV/IT officer, leaving you to concentrate on power, automation and bridge systems.
Most ETOs come from shoreside electrical work, the merchant navy or the military. A recognised electrical qualification and real hands-on experience count for more than yacht time at first. Captains and chief engineers want someone who can read a single-line diagram, fix a fault on a 690V board safely, and explain it plainly afterwards. Experience with Crestron, Kaleidescape, Cisco networking or specific automation platforms such as Praxis or Kongsberg will set your CV apart.
Progression is towards the larger yachts, rotational contracts and senior ETO roles on 120m+ builds, where the systems are close to those on a small cruise ship. Gaining the MCA ETO Certificate of Competency opens those doors. Some ETOs move across to the engineering ladder through Y-tickets. Others go ashore into build supervision, refit project work or technical management, where an ETO's grasp of yacht systems is valued highly.
Skills captains look for
- LV and HV switchboard work
- Power management systems
- Alarm and monitoring systems
- Bridge electronics and GMDSS
- VSAT and network support
- Fault-finding from schematics
- Guest AV and lighting control
A day aboardCharter day, 85m motor yacht, anchored off Bonifacio, Corsica
Walk the engine room and switchboard room with the duty engineer. Check generator loads, battery charge and overnight alarms on the monitoring system.
Morning meeting with the chief engineer and captain. Guests want the beach club cinema set up for the afternoon.
Trace an intermittent fault on a deck lighting circuit, reported by the bosun. Replace a corroded junction box on the sun deck before guests are up.
Guest Wi-Fi slows as the VSAT loses signal near the cliffs. Switch traffic to the 4G router and let the chief stew know it is handled.
Lunch in the crew mess, radio on.
Test the beach club projector, sound system and lighting scene. Brief the interior team on how to run it.
Update planned maintenance records and order spare breakers and a replacement LNB for the satellite dome.
Off duty but on call. A cabin control panel freezes at dinner, so a quick reset via the Crestron processor before dessert.
Final check of alarms and shore tender charging, then off watch.
Pay by yacht sizeMonthly, before tips. Estimates. Bars share one scale.
Charter tips are shared with the whole crew and can add several thousand dollars a season. Rotational posts on 100m+ yachts often pay slightly less per month but give equal time off. See the ETO & AV/IT salary guide for figures from live adverts.
Tickets and visas
Must have
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- PDSD
- Recognised electrical or electronics trade qualification
Gets you hired
- MCA ETO Certificate of Competency (STCW III/6)
- High voltage safety training
- GMDSS GOC
- Cisco CCNA or similar networking
- Manufacturer courses such as Crestron or Kongsberg
Visas
- Schengen visa where needed
- US C1/D visa
- Seaman's book
Where it leadsA typical career path
Electro-Technical Officer (ETO) jobsOpen now on SuperyachtRoles.com
Questions crew ask
Do I need yacht experience to get an ETO job?
Not always. Many first-time ETOs join from shoreside electrical work, the merchant navy or the forces. You will still need STCW, an ENG1 and a solid trade qualification, and a junior ETO or electrical engineer post on a 60m yacht is a common way in.
Is the MCA ETO CoC compulsory?
On many large commercial-coded yachts it is expected, and it is becoming the standard for senior roles. Smaller yachts often hire on trade qualifications and experience alone. Getting the CoC widens your options and strengthens your hand in pay talks.
What is the difference between an ETO and an AV/IT officer?
The ETO is responsible for power, automation and bridge systems. The AV/IT officer focuses on networks, entertainment and guest technology. On mid-size yachts one person often covers both, while 100m+ yachts usually split the work.
Can an ETO become a chief engineer?
Yes, but it means gaining sea time and the engineering Y-tickets, which takes several years. Many ETOs prefer to stay in the electrical specialism and move into senior ETO roles or shoreside technical management instead.