Career Overview
Design, develop, and evaluate the operation of marine vessels, ship machinery, and related equipment, such as power supply and propulsion systems.
Also Known As
- Marine Engineer
- Marine Surveyor
- Naval Architect
- Naval Architect Specialist
Alternate Job Titles
- Architect Specialist
- Automation Engineer
- Boat Designer
- Consulting Marine Engineer
- Engineer
- Engineering Specialist
- Marine Architect
- Marine Civil Engineer
- Marine Consultant
- Marine Design Engineer
- Marine Engineer
- Marine Engineering Consultant
- Marine Equipment Design Engineer
- Marine Equipment Engineer
- Marine Equipment Research Engineer
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Perform monitoring activities to ensure that ships comply with international regulations and standards for life-saving equipment and pollution preventatives.
- Design complete hull and superstructure according to specifications and test data, in conformity with standards of safety, efficiency, and economy.
- Conduct analyses of ships, such as stability, structural, weight, and vibration analyses.
- Study design proposals and specifications to establish basic characteristics of craft, such as size, weight, speed, propulsion, displacement, and draft.
- Maintain contact with, and formulate reports for, contractors and clients to ensure completion of work at minimum cost.
- Coordinate activities with regulatory bodies to ensure repairs and alterations are at minimum cost and consistent with safety.
- Check, test, and maintain automatic controls and alarm systems.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Develop plans for safely drydocking vessels, including structural integrity, block loading, and stability.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Engineering and Technology
- Mechanical
- Design
- English Language
- Transportation
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Building and Construction
- Computers and Electronics
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Mathematics
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Deductive Reasoning
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Inductive Reasoning
- Information Ordering
- Visualization
- Category Flexibility
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Innovation
- Intellectual Curiosity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Independence
- Achievement
- Recognition
- Working Conditions
- Support
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Desktop computers
- Hard hats
- Laptop computers
- Personal computers
- Plotters
- Programmable logic controllers PLC
- Safety glasses
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $79,700 |
| Median | $105,670 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $167,660 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 8,440
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Ship Engineers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $101,320
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Median Salary: $79,830
Aerospace Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $134,830
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $68,730
Mechanical Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $102,320
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.