Hire an AV/IT Officer

An AV/IT officer manages a yacht’s audiovisual, network and computing systems — guest entertainment, wifi and satellite connectivity, servers, control systems and cyber security. The role appears on larger yachts where the technology has outgrown what an ETO can reasonably cover.

What a av/it officer does on board

• Guest AV and entertainment systems
• Onboard networks, Wi-Fi and satellite connectivity
• Cyber security and data handling
• Supporting bridge and engineering electronics

What separates a good av/it officer from a qualified one

Ask how they handle a guest complaint about connectivity that is genuinely a satellite limitation. Managing expectation is half the role. Also ask about cyber security practice, which is under-considered on yachts carrying high-profile owners and is increasingly a real exposure.

Certification and experience

Every av/it officer we put forward has current certification checked before you see them, and references taken directly with previous captains or owners rather than read off a page.

• STCW
• ENG1
• Crestron / Savant certification (desirable)

Typical experience sought: 2+ years · Reports to Chief Engineer

The mistake we see most often

Hiring only when the systems have already failed publicly. This role is preventative, and its value is easiest to see in the season where nothing goes wrong, which makes it perennially hard to justify until it is too late.

How we find the right av/it officer for your boat

1. Understand the yacht. Programme, crew structure and owner style, and how the av/it officer will work with your chief engineer.
2. Search and screen. A small number of genuine candidates, each spoken to individually, with STCW and ENG1 confirmed before you see them.
3. Reference in person. Direct conversations with previous chief engineers and captains, not a form sent by email.
4. Introduce and follow through. Introductions, then contact once they are aboard — the first eight weeks are when a placement either settles or does not.