Today’s post shine the light on the top 33 platforms to hire marine engineering experts for design and manufacturing. Just this week alone, on your way to the coffee shop in the mornings, you’ve probably met some realtors, salespeople, cops, tailors, maybe a few politicians, and certainly more than enough influencers. And when you actually get there, at least a couple of scriptwriters have been sitting in the corner since the day before. But how many marine engineers have you seen today, or in the last several weeks, or months?
Probably zero. Not many people are looking to hire marine engineers. It’s not a particularly common profession you come across every day on the streets. So you’re forgiven for not knowing what exactly a typical marine engineer does on the job. And in case you get it mistaken with ship engineers, whose main job is to supervise all kinds of machinery on a ship, let’s see what the BLS has to say.
What does a marine engineer do?
Instead of supervising the operation of a ship’s machinery, marine engineers actually design the machinery. They also design a ship’s propulsion system, power supply, and all related equipment. BLS further explains that, as of May 2024, the median wage for marine engineers was approximately $105,000 per year. Some marine engineering designers work for the federal government, designing and testing ships and ocean-based technologies for the military. Boat-building firms employ many people to design smaller, non-military vessels, such as rowboats, ferries, cruise ships, and freighters.
Depending on the project, the duties of a marine engineer include one or more of the following:
- Evaluate design proposals of marine vessels
- Develop and oversee the installation of marine equipment
- Determine the general specification of a ship, for instance, the size, speed, and weight
- Create technical drawings of a ship’s system layout
- Conduct performance tests of marine vessels and related equipment
- Prepare a schedule and cost estimation of a ship construction project
- Produce project documentation and reports
Marine engineers almost always work with naval architects on every big project. They may provide services directly to the public only if they hold a Professional Engineer (PE) license. According to the Department of Energy, marine engineers and naval architects must have at least 4 years of work experience and a Fundamentals of Engineering license to be eligible for the PE exam. Needless to say, you don’t want to hire any marine engineer who has no PE license. They might charge you a little bit cheaper than their fully-licensed counterparts, but you’d be breaking the law.
RELATED: What are Boat Design Costs & Naval Engineering Rates for Marine Services Companies?
And that makes you a criminal. Imagine what your neighbors will say. It’s a good thing that Cad Crowd has what it takes to connect you with some of the most talented marine engineers from all around the world to help you design, build, and test ships and marine equipment of all sorts. The freelancing platform covers just about every sector in the AEC industry to make sure that there are always perfectly qualified specialists to help you with any project, regardless of how plain and simple or intimidatingly complex it is.
Finding the right experts
Freelancers might not be the first word to come to mind when you think about hiring a professional to design a ship, the machinery and utilities on a cruise liner, offshore wind turbines, a tidal power plant, or any other ocean-based technology. Chances are you’ll be looking immediately for established companies with unquestionable histories, or at least mid-sized firms with reputable portfolios attached to their names.
Although you’re not entirely wrong to pivot to that viewpoint, you might be pleasantly surprised to figure out the sheer amount of independent marine engineers offering their services online, often at competitive rates as well. Here are some of the best places on the web to find serious marine engineering talent to handle projects of any size. We’ll divide the platforms into several sections based on how they manage the hiring processes.
Specialized platforms
Nothing is more reassuring than seeing the word “specialized” slapped onto a name, a brand, a product, or a service. These are the recruitment platforms to go to because you can’t be bothered with browsing through too many barely relevant skill categories.
1. Cad Crowd
Just as long as your project has something to do with AEC (architectural, engineering design services, and construction), Cad Crowd can’t be too far away from the top recommendations. Admittedly, the platform doesn’t limit itself to marine engineering; it covers the entire AEC industry. The great thing is that Cad Crowd ensures every engineering specialization is recognized and treated with the utmost respect for expertise and experience. It goes without saying that the platform comes with nothing but the most talented pool of pre-vetted marine engineering professionals, each with their own specializations, from bilge and ballast systems, shafting and propellers, hydrodynamics, and hull designs to ancillary equipment and all else in between.
Website: Cadcrowd.com
RELATED: The Cost to Hire a Naval Architect and Marine Engineering Service Rates for Companies
2. Matchtech
Having been around since 1984 and connecting more than 10,000 clients with engineering and technology experts, Matchtech is what the kids today would call the “OG” of the industry, whatever that means. Backed with decades of experience not only in marine engineering but also naval defense and maritime infrastructure, just to name a fraction of its in-depth expertise, this is the place to get in touch with someone who knows the nitty-gritty of ocean-based technologies like the back of their hand. The platform is also well-known for its extensive network of engineers who cover projects across North America and Europe.
Website: Matchtech.com
3. Navis Consulting
An even more specialized recruitment platform, Navis Consulting, offers services in only four sectors: marine engineering, shipping, superyachts, and seagoing. Also, they’re not kidding around with the name “consulting” here. The platform is as consultative as they come. They don’t just send you a big pile of resumes and call it a day. In fact, you’ll probably get more help than you bargained for. They make the effort to figure out exactly what you want, so that they can provide you with the skills you actually need. Whether you need a no-nonsense fishing boat or a floating five-star hotel with its own tennis court and an aquarium for an excessive measure, Navis Consulting is at your service.
Website: Navis-consulting.com
4. Faststream Recruitment
When it comes to outsourced talent for the maritime sectors, there aren’t too many agencies out there to match the scope of services you can get from Faststream Recruitment. Whether you’re a small design engineering firm in search of a temporary brainpower reinforcement or a superyacht builder looking to bring a senior naval architect into the team, Faststream has you covered. In addition to the usual affair of making a perfect match between your demand for a professional and the best qualified talent, they also offer salary data benchmarks to save you from the embarrassment of offering a ridiculously small amount of money to an experienced marine engineer. Faststream operates wherever a ship can sail, from the Americas to Asia-Pacific to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Website: Faststream.com
5. Select Offshore
So long as your project happens somewhere at sea, and you need a marine engineer to tick some boxes on a clipboard, among other much more complex things, Select Offshore knows a thing or two about finding the right professional for the role. Select Offshore has quite a reputation for being an extremely picky recruitment agency. Sometimes you wonder if they simply care too much about the talents they send or if they just like to make things harder for themselves. Either way, you get the best out of the deal.
Website: Selectoffshore.com
6. Holt Engineering
What do you think is the most effective way to make sure that an outsourced engineer is indeed as qualified as the paperwork says? Have them recruited by their peers. Holt Engineering has been doing exactly that for years. Many (if not most) of their recruiters were trained as engineers or have relevant engineering backgrounds to improve accuracy in matching an open position with a candidate. In the “marine engineering” sector, Holt focuses largely on shipbuilding, marine technologies, and offshore energy systems. To put it simply, it helps to have a recruiter who understands that even a small ship needs a proper plumbing system, not just a tank with a hatch to dump sewage into the water.
Website: Holtengineering.co.uk
RELATED: The 10 Highest Paid Jobs in the Engineering Services Industry
7. Worldwide Recruitment Solutions (WRS)
In terms of specialization, the WRS is quite specific, focusing on only three industries: Oil & Gas, Offshore & Maritime, and Renewable Energy. They don’t seem to do anything radically differently from competitors, except in the boring administrative work. It might seem boring to most people, but it is nevertheless very important in offshore recruitment. Uninteresting stuff like visas, international payroll, non-permanent staffing management, and compliance can be real headaches. WRS handles everything in their Managed Services Programme, so you can worry about anything else. Not to mention, they have loads of experienced professionals in FPSO (floating production, storage, and offloading) design and marine engineering in their database.
Website: Worldwide-rs.com
8. Marine Resources
Say you’re running a shipbuilding project in England or somewhere else in the UK, and suddenly you remember the best marine engineer is a local one. It’s not that an American, German, Japanese, Canadian, or Chinese engineer isn’t a capable professional. The problem is that the English sometimes speak an entirely different English from most people. The current engineer has had enough of begging everybody’s pardon in every conversation, so you need a replacement at once. Marine Resources is the recruitment agency to turn to. Run and managed by people with real boat-building backgrounds, they’ve built a good reputation by genuine industry know-how rather than the usual and often pushy sales talk.
Website: Marineresources.co.uk
9. Spinnaker
For when you need to outsource a technical role of all sorts, look no further than Spinnaker. Whether you need a marine engineer, technical design engineering expert, machinery specialist, or even operations manager, the recruitment agency has just the right pool of talent to fill the positions, no matter where the project is. Spinnaker was first established in 1997 and has since specialized in the maritime sector. And despite having an impressive recruitment record in more than 80 countries worldwide, they don’t even bother diversifying into other industries. It has always been the maritime sector, and that’s about it.
Website: Spinnaker-global.com
10. Intermarine UK
One of the biggest and most reputable global recruitment agencies across the European continent, Intermarine UK specializes in turnkey project management and was heavily involved in the construction of HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. “Being involved” is a bit of an understatement here because they actually handled some of the most challenging engineering tasks in both projects. Emphasis on the word “turnkey” because the agency separates itself from all others by actually providing an all-around comprehensive solution, from the recruitment itself and visas to transport and housing. If you need simpler outsourcing work, Intermarine UK has recently entered into a partnership with the Marine People recruitment agency.
Website: Intermarineuk.com
11. OneOcean
In 2022, One Ocean officially became part of Lloyd’s Register, a name associated with the standards and rules of naval architecture and marine engineering worldwide. OneOcean is primarily known as a marine digital service company. They build software to transform the maritime sector’s old-school practices into something more sophisticated. In addition, OneOcean is a turnkey onboarding company to help you hire the right marine engineers and prepare them for career development via high-tech management and data monitoring.
Webiste: Oneocean.com
RELATED: How Much Does it Cost to Design a Yacht, Engineering Rates, & Pricing for Companies?
12. DNV (Det Norske Veritas)
Let this sink in for a minute: DNV provides services for about 21% of the global market share of vessels and mobile offshore units. Granted, naval architecture and marine engineering aren’t the only types of services they offer, but that’s still an impressive number, no matter how you put it. As a matter of fact, DNV’s range of services covers nearly the entirety of maritime operations, from building new ships to performance optimizations, cyber security, digital solutions, certifications, and compliance. Specifically in marine engineering, DNV focuses on the consulting side of the industry, including structural analysis and SIM (structural integrity management).
Website: Dnv.com
Maritime marketplaces
Nobody thinks that procurement marketplaces, or B2B platforms, would be a good idea to find freelance marine engineers. But it turns out people can be wrong.
13. ShipServ
Think of it as the Amazon of the maritime sector. And no, we’re not talking about the world’s largest river, “Amazon,” but the world’s largest online retailer that just happens to go by the same name. ShipServ is a digital marketplace where you can discover not only pumps and valves but also marine engineering services. Many of the suppliers registered on the site sell spare parts and offer shipbuilding expertise. Make sure you limit your search to “suppliers” rather than “products” to find the engineering services you need.
Website: Shipserv.com
14. Procureship
Things are more clearly laid out in Procureship. In addition to facilitating product procurement for buyers and suppliers, the marketplace has a separate section for service providers. The platform has a worldwide reach and allows you to communicate directly with service providers. ProcureShip makes handling multiple RFQs and POs a simple matter with just a few clicks. Keep in mind that Procureship isn’t a recruitment agency, so while it doesn’t help you screen resumes and interview candidates, the platform gives you the much-needed exposure from qualified marine engineers all over the world.
Website: Procureship.com
15. Bid2board
In some respects, bid2board works in the same way as Procureship, perhaps even more straightforwardly. It’s a global online marketplace for service providers, where you can specify exactly what parts of your project activities need attention and invite qualified 3D engineering professionals to send their proposals. Such a method is identical to many general freelancing platforms, which we’ll cover later, ensuring a competitive environment so you can get the best deal for your dollars.
Website: Bid2board.com
16. EastLink
Another maritime procurement platform, EastLink, appears to specialize in connecting buyers with suppliers instead of service providers. That said, it doesn’t mention anything about limiting the type of shipbuilding project you can post to the site, either. As for how it works, EastLink is pretty much identical to bid2board: you detail the project and receive bids from sellers. EastLink is a premium platform, but there’s a trial period, so it can’t hurt to try to use it to search for your marine engineer.
Website: Eastlink.eu
RELATED: What Are Ship Design Costs, Naval Architect Rates & Company Service Pricing?
17. MariApps
More than just a platform, MariApps is a collection of software solutions (or modules) for ship management, design, and operations. And each module contains an assortment of features that allow you to access everything at your fingertips. For instance, the “cruisePAL” app serves as a communication hub between onshore and offshore teams to ensure effective coordination. It also has streamlined crew deployment management and a “New Applicant” feature to facilitate a digital recruitment process. Since every app is mobile-friendly, you can certainly use all the features while listening to a Moby-Dick audiobook.
Website: Mariapps.com
Industry directories
Online platforms where you can search for marine engineering services and communicate directly with them. Some directories offer a premium membership for access to full features and benefits.
18. IMarEST
The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science, and Technology is, without a doubt, a reassuring place to find qualified marine engineers for small and big projects alike. It’s often regarded as the gold standard because the service providers listed in the directory have been peer-reviewed for competence and compliance. IMarEST is a serious platform among dozens of other professionally-managed alternatives. For a no-nonsense option to get in touch with some of the world’s most talented engineering designers, you really can’t do much better than starting your search here.
Website: Imarest.org
19. Seaplant
Sometimes you just want to go straight to the point and browse a collection of marine engineering services you can hire. Seaplant, as it happens, gives you exactly that. Not only is it a directory of maritime sector services, but it also lists everything in plain, simple alphabetical order. Just go for “Marine Engineering” and enjoy your time browsing. Seaplant is one of those websites that makes you wonder why don’t all the others look and behave like this one.
Website: Seaplant.com
20. TRUSTEDDOCKS
A maritime sector directory has only one job to do: provide a list of reputable suppliers and service providers to anyone in need, including shipbuilding firms, shipping companies, or just about anybody with enough money to own a yacht. TRUSTEDDOCKS does the job very well. It’s basically a search engine (and a properly outlined one indeed), where you can browse dozens of categories from shipbuilding to maintenance, repairs, classification, terminal operations, and radio equipment. It has everything in one tidy place.
Website: Trusteddocks.com
21. Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA)
Unlike a typical maritime industry directory, RINA acts as a networking platform. Most members are naval architects, marine engineers, and associate professionals. Although the institution is based in the UK, it’s frequented by maritime professionals and organizations from all over the world. There’s no direct recruitment option here, but you’ll be able to establish communications with marine engineers based in more than 140 countries. Who knows, perhaps you can find an opportunity there for pitching an engineering project to some industry leaders. Working with RINA-accredited engineering firms and experts is in itself an assurance of quality.
Website: Rina.org.uk
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22. Maritime Technology Society (MTS)
Another networking platform for maritime professionals, MTS focuses heavily on the sector’s tech side. It promotes the implementation of marine technology and education programs related to the trade. Furthermore, the platform has its own job board. Professionals seeking work can upload their resumes, while companies and organizations can post jobs and projects. In case you need a design engineering firm instead of individual freelancers, MTS has a “Corporate Members” section to help you find what you’re looking for. And as with any networking platform, being a registered member gives you access to more features.
Website: Mtsociety.org
23. Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME)
The name says it all. SNAME is an online community created specifically for naval architects and marine engineers to mingle with like-minded people and expand their networks. The platform currently has more than 5,000 members from all around the world. Because it holds multiple events and meetings from time to time, you’ll get the chance to meet face-to-face with some CAD engineers and do an informal job interview on-site. In case you’re not fond of the idea of socializing onshore, the “Members Only Directory” comes with a direct contact option.
Website: Sname.org
24. Asia Marine & Offshore Industries Directory
About 85% of the world’s shipbuilding activities are concentrated in South Korea, Japan, and China. The remaining 15% occur in countries such as Italy, Germany, the United States, France, the Philippines, the Netherlands, and Vietnam. In case you’re currently in a shipyard somewhere in Asia and wondering where to get a marine engineer as quickly as possible, the Asia Marine & Offshore Industries Directory has all the answers. It’s based in Singapore, arguably one of the busiest shipping ports in the world.
Website: Mgmarineindustries.com
25. Maritime Directory
Looking for a marine engineering firm doesn’t get any simpler than with the aptly named Maritime Directory. The website has a straightforward, perhaps borderline outdated interface that makes the very act of searching nothing but a breeze. In the search bar, just type in “marine engineering” and you’ll immediately get a list of potential partners with their contact information as well. Apart from contact information, however, there’s barely any detail about any of the firms.
Website: Marinelink.com
26. Maritime Journal Industry Database
The main site of “Maritime Journal” is filled with industry news and reports (some are even called special reports). Their publications cover everything from marine constructions and equipment to exhibition and insurance. The good thing is that under a category simply called “More,” there is a “Industry Database” section that functions like a massive directory of maritime service providers. This directory is neatly grouped into a number of categories to make it easier to search for whatever you’re looking for. And if that’s still not good enough, there’s always the search bar.
Website: Maritimejournal.com
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27. Thomasnet
You can’t talk about an industry directory without at least mentioning Thomasnet, presumably the most popular platform of its kind in North America. Thomasnet isn’t maritime-specific; it’s more like a broad directory of suppliers and service providers across nearly every known industrial sector, from architectural design services to mechanical engineering firms. An easy workaround for filtering the search is to use the search bar with relevant queries such as marine engineering, shipbuilding, naval architects, and so forth.
Website: Thomasnet.com
28. IndustryNet
In some respects, IndustryNet works the same way as Thomasnet. Both are general industry directories with a large enough database to always give you an answer, regardless of the business sector. IndustryNet is free to use, not only for searching but also for requesting bids from service providers. They claim the database is refreshed multiple times every year to ensure accuracy. Like in Thomasnet, the search bar is your best friend here. So long as you know what to look for, the platform should generate relevant results.
Website: Industrynet.com
29. Kompass
A global, data-rich directory of suppliers and service providers from more than 70 countries, Kompass is, thankfully, as straightforward as it comes. Once you enter a search query, the page generates all relevant results in seconds. You can then filter the results by country, company type (suppliers, service providers, or producers), classification, and even number of employees. The interface might not be the easiest on the eyes, but the site works just fine for the purpose.
Website: Kompass.com
Freelance marketplaces
Perhaps the easiest way to find a freelancer is, well, through freelancing platforms. Keep in mind that these platforms often function like recruitment agencies, acting as intermediaries between clients and freelancers. However, things are a little bit more laid-back for the most part because you’re likely dealing with individual freelancers rather than big engineering firms.
30. Kolabtree
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Kolabtree is a hidden gem in the freelancing world. The marketplace makes clear that most (if not all) 3D design freelancers registered to the platform are verified scientists with PhD-level expertise in their respective fields. Kolabtree is the site to use when your project needs an experienced professional for in-depth engineering analysis and a solution.
Website: Kolabtree.com
31. Toptal
What separates Toptal from the vast majority of freelancing platforms is its high barrier to entry. Toptal claims to accept no more than 3% of the thousands of applicants each month, ensuring that every client gets to work with only the most qualified professional. Here is a potential issue: “marine engineering” isn’t explicitly listed as a category on the site. That said, Toptal says it’s ready to provide bespoke service and deliver the talents you need, no matter the skills and specialization required.
Website: Toptal.com
RELATED: Top 30 sites for crowdsourcing design and engineering product innovation
32. Fiverr
A freelancing platform at its simplest, Fiverr gives you access to thousands of freelancers who sell “packaged” services. There are plenty of categories and specializations listed on the site, so be sure to look for the most relevant skills. Fiverr has no project-bidding mechanism. The only way to purchase services is to contact the freelancers directly (via the platform’s messaging feature) and ask them to make an offer. Since most freelancers on Fiverr work online, you might only want to consider the option if you need a 3D design service rather than on-site engineering.
Website: Fiverr.com
33. Upwork
One of the top freelancing platforms on the entire web, Upwork has millions of professionals ready to provide services at affordable rates. Upwork uses a simple bidding system that requires freelancers to submit their best offers for projects or jobs posted by buyers. It’s a time-tested system to ensure you get the best bang for your buck every time. Similar to Fiverr, it’s probably best to use Upwork for naval architecture design services rather than applied marine engineering activities, given the nature of remote hiring.
Website: Upwork.com
Wrapping it up
Marine engineering is a highly specialized field. You might think that it’s almost like the typical architectural engineering, but there’s a tiny bit of a difference between the professions: the ocean. A marine engineer has to worry about whether the ship/boat structure, the machinery, the equipment, the electrical installation, and the toilet and plumbing will work and actually stay afloat when they’re many miles away from the nearest shore. The more specialized the trade, the more difficult it is to find the right person to do it.
How Cad Crowd can help
Any of those platforms can guarantee that you’ll discover the ideal professional, but at the very least, they can make it a little bit easier for you to narrow down the search. Every directory, marketplace, and freelancing platform has its own strengths and weaknesses. Yet, Cad Crowd still stands out thanks to its balanced mix of flexible hiring options, talent pre-screening process, and guarantee of accuracy. Another point of the platform is how it handles IP rights and NDAs, so you have one less thing to worry about.
MacKenzie Brown is the founder and CEO of Cad Crowd. With over 18 years of experience in launching and scaling platforms specializing in CAD services, product design, manufacturing, hardware, and software development, MacKenzie is a recognized authority in the engineering industry. Under his leadership, Cad Crowd serves esteemed clients like NASA, JPL, the U.S. Navy, and Fortune 500 companies, empowering innovators with access to high-quality design and engineering talent.
Connect with me: LinkedIn ✦ X ✦ Cad Crowd
