Ferryboat Engineer III - (2502321)
Position Information
Tired of being away from home? TxDOT Galveston-Bolivar Ferry Operations is looking to hire safety orientated Ferryboat Engineers who value their personal time while still able to work as a merchant mariner. TxDOT Galveston-Bolivar Ferry is a 24/7, 365 days inland maritime operation based out of Galveston, Texas. We safely transport vehicles and passengers on a 3-mile route between Galveston and Port Bolivar, Texas. TxDOT provides a variety of resources to help our employees succeed. If you want to build an exciting career, let's talk!
Effective 9/1/25 the salary range for this position will be updated to reflect new salary limits. Texas State Auditor's Office - Salary Schedules
Minimum Salary: 61,184.00
Maximum Salary: 99,658.00
Pay Basis: Yearly
FLSA Status: Nonexempt
Work Locations: Galveston/Bolivar Ferry Office 1000 NORTH FERRY ROAD Galveston 77550
Travel: Yes, 5 % of the Time
Shift: Day Job
Shift Details: 40 Hrs./Week; Overtime, On-Call Duty, and Rotating Shifts
Location Flexibility: Onsite
Benefits and Perks
At TxDOT, we value work-life balance and are committed to providing our employees with a comprehensive range of benefits and programs, including:
- Retirement Plans
- Alternative and/or Flexible Work Schedules
- Paid Leave and Holidays
- Health Premiums paid at 100% for Full-Time Employees
- On-the-Job Training
- Tuition Assistance Program
- Holistic Wellness Program with Leave Incentives
- Career Development and Advancement Opportunities
- Family-Friendly Policies and Programs
In 2024, TxDOT was recognized as a Best Place for Working Parents, and many of our offices statewide are also designated as Texas Mother-Friendly Worksites. These recognitions reflect our dedication to supporting families and promoting a healthy work-life balance.
For a complete list of our total compensation package please visit our website at: Total Compensation Package
To view benefits available to all State of Texas employees visit: Benefits at a Glance | ERS (texas.gov)
Position Description
Performs as watch engineer responsible for monitoring and maintaining the machinery, equipment and related shore facility systems necessary for ferryboat operations under normal and/or emergency conditions. Monitors and leads a group of employees performing preventive maintenance, major repair and overhaul of motor ferry vessels, landings, work docks and miscellaneous motorized equipment. Work requires frequent contact with private entities. Employees at this level are virtually self-supervising and assume direct accountability for the work product.
Essential Duties:
- Analyzes reports of malfunctions or abnormal conditions which may affect the stability or operational capability of the vessel and determines corrective action.
- Directs vessel refueling operations and discharging of raw sewage and bilge wastewater in accordance with safety regulations and in compliance with the Federal Waters Pollution Control Act.
- Inspects and conducts operational tests of emergency generators, firefighting and dewatering pumps and other associated equipment, piping and systems; operates and secures equipment under emergency conditions.
- Monitors, leads and trains personnel involved in the performance of the vessel and repair, cleaning and preventative maintenance duties, basic systems operation and casualty control.
- Participates in periodic all-hands emergency drills and exercises.
- Reads and interprets blueprints, sketches, electrical diagrams, piping and mechanical drawings.
- Records daily log of watch activities, operating machinery and equipment statistics; maintains machinery history and repair records.
- Responsible for the proper line-up, start, operation and securing of all main propulsion, steering, auxiliary, standby machinery and equipment and related systems for operation of the vessel under normal and/or emergency conditions.
- Serves as liaison during American Bureau of Shipping and U.S. Coast Guard inspections and boat drills.
- Performs other job responsibilities as assigned
Minimum Qualifications:
Education: High School Grad or Equivalent in general high school studies.
Experience: 8 years in repair, maintenance and operation of marine equipment. (Experience can be satisfied by full time or prorated part time equivalent). Graduation from a maritime academy will substitute for 5 years experience. Substitutions for Minimum Qualifications
Licenses and Certifications:
- Valid driver’s license. This position requires driving a state vehicle.
- USCG MMC of Lic-Chf Eng-Mtr Fe-5000Hp
- Transp Worker ID Cred - TWIC at time of application
Competencies:
- Extensive knowledge of:
- Pollution prevention and abatement programs
- Applicable laws, rules, and regulations
- Considerable knowledge of:
- Emergency response procedures
- Expert skill in:
- Correcting abnormal operation of equipment, machinery and systems
- First aid and lifesaving techniques
- Fire fighting
- Proficient skill in:
- Public relations for maintaining effective working relationships with individuals and groups, both internal and external
- Leading, assigning, reviewing, and monitoring the work of others
- Maintaining a safe and effective working relationship with others
- Ability to:
- Work in cramped spaces (bend, stoop, crawl) and at varied heights
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
- Subject to inside and outside environmental conditions
- Subject to extreme cold and heat; below 32 and/or above 100 degrees for more than one hour
- Subject to noise
- Subject to vibration
- Subject to hazards - moving vehicles/mechanical parts, high places/heat, or chemicals
- Subject to atmospheric conditions - fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, poor ventilation
- Subject to air and/or skin exposure to oils and other cutting fluids
- Required to wear protective gear - respirator, hard hat, or other devices
- Works in narrow aisles or passageways
- Medium work: Lift up to 50 lbs. at a time and frequently lift or carry objects up to 25 lbs.
- Climbing - ascending/descending ladders, stairs, scaffoldings, ramps, etc
- Balancing - walking, standing, crouching on various surfaces without falling
- Kneeling - bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee(s)
- Crawling - moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet
- Standing - prolonged periods of time
- Walking - moving on foot to accomplish tasks: long distance/from one work site to another
- Pushing - using upper extremities to press against object with force to move in a direction
- Pulling - using upper extremities to exert force moving objects in a sustained motion
- Grasping - applying pressure to an object with fingers and palm
- Talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by spoken words
- Hearing - perceive sound at normal speaking levels; receive information by oral communication
- Close Visual Acuity - work includes data/figures; view a computer screen; extensive reading
- Close Visual Acuity - work includes visual inspection of small defects/parts
- Close Visual Acuity - using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts
- Visual Acuity - operate motor vehicles and/or heavy equipment
- Visual Acuity - determine work quality/make general observations of facilities/structures
Conditions of Employment:
Please click this link to read the standard conditions of employment for all positions: Standard Conditions of Employment (TxDOT)
- This job has been identified as physically demanding and will require a pre-employment physical.
- Must pass a drug test prior to employment for safety impact positions. This is a Safety Impact position and will be subject to random drug testing.
- Please note that the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulation – 49 CFR Part 40, at 40.151(e) – does not authorize “medical marijuana” under a state law to be a valid medical explanation for a positive drug test result for an employee in this position.
Job: Maint/Skilled Craft/Ferry Ops
Job Level: Non-Management
Job Posting: Aug 19, 2025, 10:30:02 AM
Unposting Date: Ongoing
State Job Title/s: Ferryboat Specialist III
State Job Code/s: 9836
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)
TxDOT is committed to hiring veterans. To assist in determining whether your military experience may pertain to the minimum requirements for this position, Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces have been assigned to each state classification code/title where applicable. The MOS codes are grouped by occupational category.
To view the MOS codes please click on link below and click on the appropriate occupational category.
https://hr.sao.texas.gov/CompensationSystem/JobDescriptions
Applicant Information
The Texas Department of Transportation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
If requested, reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities for any part of the employment process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Action of 1990.
Please click this link to read the information for applicants: Additional Applicant Information
