Marine Engineers and Naval Architects

What the job really is

Design, develop, and evaluate the operation of marine vessels, ship machinery, and related equipment, such as power supply and propulsion systems.

At a glance

• Sector: Architecture & Engineering
• O*NET-SOC code: 17-2121
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• 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.
• Prepare technical reports for use by engineering, management, or sales personnel.
• Design layout of craft interior, including cargo space, passenger compartments, ladder wells, and elevators.
• Prepare, or direct the preparation of, product or system layouts and detailed drawings and schematics.
• Evaluate performance of craft during dock and sea trials to determine design changes and conformance with national and international standards.
• Inspect marine equipment and machinery to draw up work requests and job specifications.

Tools and technology

Adobe Acrobat, Autodesk AutoCAD, Dassault Systemes SolidWorks, McNeel Rhinoceros 3D, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Word, SAP software

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Ship Engineers
• Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
• Aerospace Engineers
• Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
• Mechanical Engineers
• Industrial Engineers
• Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Marine Engineers and Naval Architects — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.