Project Chief Engineer Major Yacht Refit Redesign South Florida

A private ownership group is seeking a seasoned project or chief engineer to lead a from-the-keel-up redesign and refit of a 42-meter classed motor yacht in South Florida — a $6–8M program running 12+ months. The right person will serve as the owner's trusted technical lead, working hand-in-hand with the shipyard, naval architects, and trades as a strong collaborator and communicator. This is a career-defining project for someone who has led work at this scale before, not a stepping-stone assignment. The ownership family is new to yachting but well established in the sport fishing world, where they run a fleet of three large, world-class vessels based in different locations. That fleet is run by a genuinely excellent team, and vendors who work with the family consistently describe them as among the best-regarded owners in the industry — the kind of program worth building a career around. The 42M will serve as both a mothership to that sport fishing program and a full-capability yacht for extended family cruising, without geographic limitation — from the Northeast U.S. and the Mediterranean to the Atlantic and South Pacific. The engineering leadership hired here is expected to match the caliber of the team already running the fleet. Scope of the Project A comprehensive redesign rather than a standard refit, centered on a complete overhaul and redesign of the engine room — including a full repower and refit of all mechanical and electrical systems — alongside structural, exterior, and interior work throughout the vessel. The vessel is classed, and the entire scope — design, fabrication, and systems work — must satisfy class society requirements throughout. Working knowledge of class survey and approval processes is essential to this role.

Project Budget: Approximately $6,000,000–$8,000,000 Engagement: 1099 contractor engagement available for the right candidate Long-Term Opportunity Beyond the refit, this role offers real longevity within a well-regarded, growing private program — the opportunity to lead engineering aboard a yacht built, under this candidate's own oversight, to support world-class sport fishing and unrestricted global cruising. A Rare Opportunity This is a rare opportunity to lead a major yacht transformation for an ownership family whose reputation has been independently reinforced to us by multiple respected professionals across the industry. They are known for investing in their vessels, treating their people exceptionally well, and building outstanding, long-term teams. For the right engineer, this is more than a refit — it is the opportunity to shape a 42M yacht from the keel up and potentially become part of an exceptional private program for years to come. Opportunities of this caliber, with owners this well regarded, do not come along often.