What it really takes to be a superyacht ETO/AVIT engineer. And why I founded MIMO Connect
From the outside, the superyacht world looks incredible ; the travel, the scale of the vessels, and the chance to work with some of the most advanced systems you’ll ever get your hands on.
I was drawn to it for exactly those reasons. The idea of installing and maintaining cutting‑edge tech while travelling the world felt like a dream. But anyone who’s worked below deck knows the reality is very different. Being an ETO or AV/IT engineer isn’t glamorous. It’s pressure, responsibility, long hours, and the expectation that you’ll quietly keep everything running while the rest of the yacht operates flawlessly above you.
You become the person everyone relies on , often without them ever seeing the work you’re doing.
I know that life well. My years onboard didn’t just build my technical skills; they shaped who I am. They taught me resilience, how to stay calm when everything is going wrong, and what it really takes to thrive in one of the most demanding environments at sea.
Those experiences are the reason I eventually founded MIMO Connect because I wanted to build something that genuinely supports the engineers living that reality today.
The realities of life below deck
People often imagine the prestige and the travel. The truth is far more intense.
I’ve had nights where the entire Wi‑Fi network on a brand‑new yacht collapsed because a failover didn’t trigger. I still remember the owner quietly sitting beside me, asking if everything would be alright while I was deep in troubleshooting mode.
Before Starlink, I watched a simple heading change knock out the VSAT entirely, no warning, no backup, just instant crisis.
These are the moments that define the job. You’re expected to diagnose, fix, and restore service quickly and calmly, even when the whole vessel feels the impact.
Do you have what it takes?
Not everyone is built for this role.
The engineers who thrive tend to share a few traits:
• a genuine curiosity for how systems work
• the ability to stay calm when the pressure spikes
• thinking ahead and preparing for the “what ifs”
• communicating clearly with captains, chiefs, owners, and guests
• professionalism and discretion
• a good sense of humour and the ability to get along with everyone
• self‑motivation and discipline, especially when working alone
To many onboard, your world looks like “black magic.” You’re the one who brings order to the chaos quietly, consistently, and with a level of responsibility most people never see.
How these experiences shaped MIMO Connect
Every late‑night fix, every bandwidth crisis, every conversation with a vendor who didn’t understand the realities of yachting pushed me toward one conclusion: the industry needed better connectivity solutions. Not more boxes, better thinking.
That’s why I built MIMO Connect.
We focus on:
• systems designed around real onboard behaviour
• support that feels like an extension of your team
• a relentless focus on uptime
• clear communication that reduces stress, not adds to it
When an engineer calls us at 2 a.m., we understand the pressure behind the call. When a chief needs a workaround fast, we know why speed matters. Everything we do is shaped by lived experience.
A growing Industry with rising expectations
The superyacht sector is expanding quickly, and the demands on onboard engineers are rising with it. Reliability, seamless connectivity, and guest experience are no longer “nice to have”, they’re expected.
There’s a real need for skilled ETOs and AVIT engineers, and for anyone considering the career, specialist recruiters like Robertson ETOs can help you get started.
Looking back and ahead
I wouldn’t trade my years below deck for anything. They taught me how to stay calm when the Owner’s movie freezes at the worst possible moment, and how much of this job is really about people, expectations, and trust.
MIMO Connect is my way of giving back building solutions that make life easier for the next generation of engineers. A bridge between the chaos of the tech room and the effortless experience guests expect.
Every time an engineer tells me, “You’ve made my life easier,” it reminds me why I started this journey.
If you’re living this demanding but rewarding life, you’re not alone. And if you’re thinking about becoming an ETO or AVIT engineer, ask yourself;
do you love diving deep into systems? Can you stay calm when the pressure hits? Are you self‑driven enough to work independently and still deliver excellence?
If the answer is yes, this industry might be exactly where you belong, and it needs more people like you.