Salary: £28,000 – £34,000 (dependent on experience)
Full-time: 37.5 hours per week
Site-Based: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
About Us:
Portsmouth Historic Quarter is the charity responsible for the conservation, development and interpretation of a remarkable collection of historic buildings, boats, and spaces within Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, as well as at Priddy’s Hard in Gosport.
Working within one of the UK’s most significant maritime heritage sites, we conserve the historic environment and bring the sites to life through regeneration, events and exhibitions, operational historic vessels, cultural programming, and partnerships that connect our heritage with the life of Portsmouth and Gosport today.
The Role:
This is an opportunity to work with an exceptional collection of historic vessels while helping preserve maritime history and heritage skills for future generations. You’ll join an experienced, supportive team where your skills will make a real difference every day.
We are looking for a practical, enthusiastic Marine Engineer to join our team. You will help restore, maintain, repair and operate one of the UK’s most significant collections of historic boats and support and develop a dedicated volunteer team to do the same.
This is a varied hands-on role where no two days are the same. You could be servicing engines, carrying out repairs to traditional wooden craft, preparing vessels for events, supporting commercial charters, training volunteers or helping move boats safely around the boatshed with the overhead cranes.
About You:
We’re looking for someone who:
- Has practical marine engineering experience and in particular a broad-based practical understanding of small motor vessel (<24 metres) systems, repairs and operation.
- Enjoys problem solving and working with their hands.
- Can communicate confidently with colleagues and volunteers with experience of supervising or training other adults.
- Is comfortable working with the public and able to gain knowledge of our vessels to positively represent PHQ.
- Takes pride in high standards of workmanship and safety.
Our volunteers are at the heart of what we do, so it is vital that you enjoy sharing your knowledge, developing others and ensuring everyone works safely and confidently within the workshop.
Training will be provided for specialist activities including vessel operations, crane and forklift use where required. There will also be the opportunity to develop shipwright skills as the role supports the conservation and restoration of the PHQ collection.
If you’re looking for a varied engineering role that combines technical work, heritage conservation and working with people, we’d love to hear from you.
Please note, this role is not suited to remote working and therefore the post holder must be available to work at the dockyard.
As an organisation we are committed to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion, and to implementing these through our work. We expect our colleagues to have a commitment to this too.
How to apply: Please read the full job description and person specification for the role before applying. A CV and a brief covering note can be sent to recruitment@portsmouthhq.org with the title “Marine Engineer” in the subject box. Please include where you saw the role advertised.
Closing date: Midday 1 September 2026
