Opportunity
Are you looking for a rewarding leadership role that puts your engineering expertise to the test? A career as a Marine Systems Engineering Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) lets you lead a team to help keep our ships in top form.
Overview
Marine Systems Engineering Officers are responsible for the readiness, operation and maintenance of the following:
Propulsion and Ancillary Systems
Power Generation and Distribution
Auxiliary Systems
Ship Service Systems
Ship and Machinery Control Systems
Hull Structure
Ship Stability
Damage Control
All System Integration
Marine Systems Engineering Officers analyze the state of their systems, equipment and personnel, predict their requirements for naval operations and advise Command accordingly. They support the continued maintenance and renewal of the Fleet with expert engineering advice, project management, equipment acquisition input and training. Their primary role is to provide technical expertise, advice and leadership in support of:
Day-to-day naval operations and maintenance of marine systems in ships and submarines
The continuous renewal of the Fleet through modernization and replacement of naval marine systems and equipment, including:
Design
Development
Acquisition
Construction
Disposal
Maintenance of infrastructure needed to support naval operations and missions in times of emergency, mobilization and war
To be eligible to apply to the CAF, you must:
Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada;
Be at least 18 years old (17 years old with parental consent), except:
For the Paid Education programs—you may be 16 years old (with parental consent);
For the Primary Reserves—you may be 16 years old (with parental consent) and must be enrolled as a full-time student;
Have completed at least Grade 12 or Secondaire V in Québec (some jobs need higher levels of education);
Have a Bachelor’s Degree or be working towards one;
Ideal candidates will already have a diploma or Red Seal for a related civilian trade.
Paid Education
Regular Officer Training Plan
Due to the requirement for Regular Force CAF officers to obtain a university degree, the CAF will pay successful recruits to complete a bachelor’s program in the Royal Military College System. Recruits will receive full-time salaries, including medical, dental and vacation time, with full pay in exchange for working in the CAF for a period of time. Typically, candidates enter the Canadian Military College System as Officer Cadets, where they study subjects relevant to both their military and academic careers. In rare instances, based on the needs of the CAF, candidates may be approved to attend another Canadian university, determined on a case-by-case basis. If you want to apply for this program, you must apply to the CAF. It is highly recommended to apply to other Canadian universities of your choice should you not be accepted for a Regular Officer Training Plan option.
Work Environment
Marine Systems Engineering Officers are employed on ships and submarines as the Head of the Marine Systems Engineering Department, where they’re responsible for the leadership and well-being of a large team of technical professionals. Marine Systems Engineering Officers may work in a range of roles in support of the continuous maintenance and renewal of the Fleet.
Basic Military Officer Qualification
After enrolment, you will start basic officer training at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, for 12 weeks. Topics covered include:
General Military Knowledge
The Principles of Leadership
Regulations and Customs of the Forces
Basic Weapons Handling
First Aid
Opportunities will also be provided to apply such newly acquired military skills in training exercises involving force protection, field training, navigation and leadership. A rigorous physical fitness program is a vital part of basic training to ensure all recruits maintain the CAF physical fitness standard; as a result, the training is physically demanding but achievable.
Following basic officer training, official second language training may be offered to you. Training could take from two to nine months to complete depending on your ability in your second language.
Naval Officer Training
All officer candidates in the Navy attend a nine-week Naval Environmental Training Program held at the Naval Officer Training Centre in Victoria, British Columbia. This course introduces the naval environment and includes four weeks on board a minor war vessel for officers to experience life at sea.
Marine Systems Engineering Training
Marine Systems Engineers attend the Canadian Forces Naval Engineering School in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The first course, Naval Engineering Indoctrination, lasts 11 weeks and introduces the systems, equipment and personnel present in the two engineering departments of the Naval Fleet. This includes seven weeks on board a major warship.
The next course, Marine Systems Engineering Applications, lasts 22 weeks and provides detailed instruction in the theory, application, operation, maintenance, personnel and management of Marine Systems Engineering in the Navy. On completion, officers join the ships of the Fleet for one year to consolidate their skills and knowledge.
Available Specialty Training
Marine Systems Engineers who demonstrate the required ability and potential may be offered specialized training in the following fields:
Marine Propulsion Control System Analysis
Cargo Management
Vibration Analysis
Gas Turbine Engineering
Reliability-centered Maintenance
Advanced Ship Production
Available Advanced Training
Marine Systems Engineers may be offered the opportunity to further enhance their credentials through fully funded post-graduate education in Canada or abroad in the following fields:
Naval Architecture
Marine Engineering
Heavy Electrical Engineering
Control and Instrumentation Engineering
Direct Entry Plan
If you already have a university or college diploma, the CAF will decide if your academic program matches the criteria for this job and may place you directly into the necessary on-the-job training program following basic training. Basic training is required before being assigned.
Please note that, if successful in the application process, you will be entering service in the Regular Force of the Canadian Armed Forces as a military member (full-time employment). Upon completion of all required training, you will be assigned to your first base. While there is some flexibility with regards to postings (relocations), accommodations can’t always be made, and therefore, you can likely expect to move at some point in your career. To learn more about the various ways to join the Canadian Armed Forces, visit: the CAF
To learn more about becoming a Marine Systems Engineering Officer, visit talk to a recruiter at a centre near you or call 1-800-856-8488.
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