The Senior Combustion Engineer leads the design, development, and regulatory compliance of fuel and combustion systems for marine boiler applications, including propulsion and auxiliary boilers across commercial and naval vessels. This role provides technical leadership for fuel flexibility (HFO, MGO, LNG, dual-fuel), emissions compliance (IMO Tier III), and integration with burner management and control systems. The engineer oversees performance optimization, testing, and cross-functional coordination with internal teams, shipyards, and regulatory bodies to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant combustion solutions.
Lead the design and engineering of combustion systems for marine boilers, including burner hardware, fuel delivery systems, air/fuel control components, and flame safety systems.
Define system specifications for dual-fuel, LNG, and low-sulfur fuel configurations in accordance with IMO, USCG, and ABS standards.
Oversee advanced combustion modeling and CFD simulations to optimize burner geometry, flame stability, and heat flux distributions.
Direct full-scale burner testing, including emissions measurement, combustion tuning, safety validation, and diagnostics (FAT, dock trials, sea trials).
Collaborate with automation engineers to specify and validate burner management systems (BMS) and safety interlocks.
Serve as primary technical liaison with classification societies (ABS, DNV, Lloyd’s) and regulatory bodies (USCG, IMO) for system certification and approval.
Analyze root causes of combustion-related issues and implement engineering corrections or redesigns as needed.
Mentor and guide mid-level and junior engineers in combustion engineering methods, fuel system design, and regulatory documentation.
Review and approve technical documents including P&IDs, test reports, emissions certification packages, and failure mode analyses.
Fuel System Leadership: Drive system-level integration of marine fuel systems with burners, controls, and boiler internals.
Emissions & Compliance Strategy: Ensure all designs meet MARPOL Annex VI, Tier III, and ASME/ABS/USCG regulatory requirements.
Advanced Modeling & Testing: Utilize CFD, FEA, and field data analytics to support combustion performance and reliability.
Project Oversight: Lead fuel system development across newbuilds and retrofit programs for vessels ranging from commercial tankers to naval ships.
Technology Integration: Guide implementation of emerging marine fuels (e.g., ammonia-ready systems, hydrogen co-firing, LNG).
Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Marine Engineering, or a related thermal sciences field.
10+ years of experience in combustion engineering, with at least 5 years in marine or industrial boiler environments.
Expertise in burner design, fuel systems, thermal-fluid analysis, and emissions control technologies.
Deep knowledge of IMO Tier III, MARPOL Annex VI, USCG 46 CFR, ABS rules, and ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code.
Strong background in combustion diagnostics, emissions measurement, and burner safety systems.
Proficiency in engineering software including CFD tools (e.g., ANSYS Fluent), AutoCAD/SolidWorks, and simulation platforms.
Proven leadership in cross-functional technical teams and external regulatory coordination.
PE License or advanced certifications in combustion systems or thermal engineering.
Experience with LNG, ammonia, or hydrogen combustion in marine or land-based boilers.
Prior work on hybrid or alternative-fuel boiler systems.
Publications or patents in combustion technology or marine fuel systems.