Job Introduction
SHORE-BASED ENGINEER-MECHANIC
Location: Vounaki Beachclub Sailing Centre, Paleros, Greece
Season: April – November
Qualifications / Experience Required: Relevant engineering/mechanical qualification or demonstrable professional experience (see details below)
Eligibility: UK & EU passport holders
Salary: £1,680 PCM gross, plus shared accommodation, meals, flights, and an excellent overall package.
As a UK-based business operating overseas, we’re able to arrange the required visas and work permits for UK and EU passport holders to work legally in our resorts.
In a Nutshell
- Keep the Neilson yacht fleet safe, reliable and ready for action throughout the season.
- Bring your existing mechanical or engineering skills into a completely different working environment.
- Work with diesel engines, electrical systems, plumbing and yacht equipment from our sailing centre in Greece.
- Join an experienced Yacht Team while developing valuable marine engineering knowledge and practical experience.
About Us
For almost 50 years, Neilson has been creating unforgettable active holidays in some incredible Beach Club destinations.
From sailing and watersports to tennis, fitness, biking and much more, our guests are at the centre of everything we do.
We’re looking for great personalities as well as great CVs – people who are practical, adaptable, considerate, hard-working, willing to learn and ready to play their part in a close-knit team.
Some of our roles require very specific professional qualifications. For others, including this one, relevant experience and transferable technical skills can be just as important.
You may already work in marine engineering, or your experience might come from automotive, agricultural, plant, mechanical or another technical environment. If you’ve got strong practical ability and the right attitude, many of those skills can transfer brilliantly into our Yacht operation.
About You
You’re practical, methodical and genuinely enjoy figuring out why something isn’t working – and then getting it working again.
You take pride in doing a job properly, have strong fault-finding skills and are comfortable working independently when required.
You’ll have experience with mechanical systems and be confident tackling a varied workload. Knowledge of diesel engines, 12-volt electrical systems and basic plumbing will be particularly useful, but we’re equally interested in people with strong transferable engineering backgrounds who are willing to learn.
You’re organised, reliable and safety-conscious, with the flexibility to respond when an unexpected fault needs attention.
And although much of your role is technical, you’ll still be part of a busy guest-facing resort operation. You’ll communicate clearly, support your teammates and understand that keeping the fleet running reliably has a direct impact on our guests’ holidays.
Role Overview
As Shore-Based Engineer-Mechanic, you’ll play a vital role in keeping the Neilson yacht fleet safe, reliable and operational throughout the season.
You’ll diagnose faults, carry out repairs, support preventative maintenance and help ensure yachts are ready to deliver consistently high-quality sailing experiences.
The work is varied. One day you might be diagnosing an engine issue, the next repairing a 12-volt electrical fault, dealing with plumbing or supporting general yacht maintenance.
You’ll work closely with the Yacht Manager and wider Yacht Team, prioritising repairs and maintenance according to operational needs while maintaining high standards of workmanship and safety.
You don’t need to arrive as a fully qualified yacht engineer. If you’ve built solid mechanical experience elsewhere, this is an opportunity to transfer those skills into a marine environment and develop a whole new area of expertise.
For EU passport holders, there may also be opportunities to continue working with the Neilson yacht fleet in an engineering capacity over the winter/down season following your summer contract.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Diagnose, troubleshoot and repair mechanical and electrical faults across the Neilson yacht fleet.
- Carry out preventative maintenance to keep yachts safe, reliable and operational.
- Support the inspection, servicing and general upkeep of yacht engines and associated systems.
- Work with diesel engines, 12-volt electrical systems, plumbing and other onboard equipment within your level of competence.
- Prioritise repairs and maintenance according to operational requirements.
- Manage your workload, tools and time effectively.
- Maintain consistently high standards of workmanship and attention to detail.
- Identify faults early and communicate repair or replacement requirements promptly.
- Keep maintenance areas, tools and equipment safe, organised and secure.
- Maintain effective communication with the Yacht Manager and wider Yacht Team.
- Build positive working relationships with local suppliers and service providers.
- Help maintain high standards across marina, yacht and operational areas.
- Support colleagues with technical equipment and practical issues where required.
- Maintain the highest standards of health and safety.
- Take responsibility for the appropriate maintenance, security and care of Neilson equipment and tools.
- Support resort and Yacht Team operations when required.
Skills & Experience
You’ll be great at this if you…
- Have relevant professional engineering or mechanical experience.
- Have strong practical fault-finding and repair skills.
- Understand mechanical systems and safe working practices.
- Are comfortable working independently and taking responsibility for the quality of your work.
- Enjoy solving practical and technical problems.
- Are organised, methodical and attentive to detail.
- Can prioritise competing maintenance requirements effectively.
- Stay calm and solutions-focused when unexpected problems arise.
- Have a strong work ethic and take pride in doing things properly.
- Are adaptable and willing to learn unfamiliar systems.
- Communicate clearly with colleagues and suppliers.
- Work well independently and as part of a close-knit team.
- Can confidently communicate in English.
It’d be a bonus if you also have…
- AEC1 and/or AEC2 Approved Engine Course qualifications.
- NVQ Level 3 Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair or recognised equivalent.
- Previous yacht, flotilla or marine engineering experience.
- Knowledge of diesel marine engines.
- Strong experience with 12V electrical systems.
- Plumbing experience.
- Experience within automotive, agricultural, plant or mechanical engineering.
- VHF Licence*.
- ICC Sail qualification*.
- Previous overseas or seasonal experience.
- Customer-facing experience.
* If you don’t already hold a VHF Licence or ICC, don’t let that stop you applying. For the right candidate, we can provide the necessary training and qualification opportunities in resort.
Qualifications & Experience
There are several potential routes into this role.
We’re interested in candidates who can demonstrate strong relevant engineering and mechanical experience, whether that comes from the marine industry or another transferable technical background.
Relevant qualifications may include:
- AEC1 and/or AEC2 Approved Engine Course qualifications.
- NVQ Level 3 Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair or recognised equivalent.
- Other recognised marine, automotive, agricultural, plant or mechanical engineering qualifications.
Professional experience may also be considered where you can demonstrate the technical knowledge and practical competence required for the role.
For further guidance, please click here: Yacht Qualification Guidance
You do not need to have completed every relevant qualification before submitting your application.
If you’re currently working towards, booked onto or planning to complete a relevant qualification before your start date, please go ahead and apply and provide details of the qualification and your expected completion date within your application.
If you’re unsure whether your qualifications or experience are suitable, please apply and tell us about your technical background – we’d rather review your experience than have a potentially brilliant candidate rule themselves out.
First Aid Requirements
A First Aid certificate is mandatory for the Shore-Based Engineer-Mechanic role.
At a minimum, this must be a one-day, in-person Emergency First Aid at Work course.
Your certificate must be in place by your start date and remain valid for the duration of your contract.
If you haven’t yet completed your First Aid qualification but are booked onto or planning to complete the required course before your start date, you can still apply – just provide the details and expected completion date within your application.
ONLINE-ONLY FIRST AID COURSES ARE NOT ACCEPTED
For further information about Neilson’s First Aid requirements, please click here: First Aid Guidance
What’s in it for you?
Joining Neilson is more than just a summer job. It’s an opportunity to challenge yourself, develop new skills, build confidence, experience incredible destinations, and become part of a close-knit team creating unforgettable holidays every day.
The experience, resilience, and people skills you’ll develop along the way will stay with you long after the season ends – wherever life takes you next.
Alongside the experience, you’ll get:
- A paid seasonal role in an incredible overseas destination.
- Shared staff accommodation, so you’re right at the heart of resort life and part of the team from day one.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner while on duty, so your meals are taken care of.
- Travel to and from resort, subject to staff travel policy.
- Use of selected resort facilities in your spare time, so you can enjoy the destination too.
- Friends and family holiday discounts, giving the people at home the chance to experience Neilson for themselves.
- Comprehensive training and ongoing support to help you settle in, develop your skills and make the most of your season.
- Opportunities to gain additional qualifications through the Neilson Academy.
- Career development opportunities through our Jump Up and Jump Higher programmes.
- Visa and work permit support where applicable.
- Role-specific uniform provided.
- One day off each week, plus accrued holiday.
- Emergency medical and dental insurance.
- 24/7 independent mental health support.
It’s a season that gives you more than a payslip – you’ll come home with new skills, new friends, incredible memories and an experience that stays with you long after you’ve left resort.
Please note: All Neilson Active employees are required to complete a DBS check as part of our safer recruitment process.
