Occupation · SOC 17-2121
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects
Design, develop, and evaluate the operation of marine vessels, ship machinery, and related equipment, such as power supply and propulsion systems.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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—
Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
14 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningWritingComplex Problem SolvingMonitoringMathematicsJudgment and Decision MakingSystems AnalysisSocial PerceptivenessActive LearningOperations MonitoringCoordinationQuality Control AnalysisLearning StrategiesTime ManagementSystems EvaluationSciencePersuasionManagement of Personnel ResourcesInstructingOperations AnalysisService OrientationNegotiationTroubleshootingTechnology DesignManagement of Material ResourcesProgrammingManagement of Financial ResourcesOperation and ControlEquipment SelectionEquipment MaintenanceRepairingInstallation
Knowledge areas
Engineering and TechnologyMathematicsDesignPhysicsEnglish LanguageMechanicalTransportationComputers and ElectronicsAdministration and ManagementCustomer and Personal ServiceBuilding and ConstructionProduction and ProcessingChemistryPublic Safety and SecurityLaw and GovernmentEconomics and AccountingSales and MarketingEducation and TrainingPersonnel and Human ResourcesAdministrativeGeographyTelecommunicationsCommunications and MediaPsychologyForeign LanguageBiologySociology and AnthropologyHistory and ArcheologyMedicine and DentistryFood ProductionTherapy and CounselingPhilosophy and TheologyFine Arts
Technology & tools
ANSYS AQWAANSYS ASASAdobe AcrobatAeroHydro MultiSurfAnsys FluentAutodesk Algor SimulationAutodesk AutoCADBentley STAADCreative System GHSDassault Systemes SolidWorksHerbert Software Solutions HECSALVHydroComp NavCadIBM Lotus 1-2-3Intergraph SmartMarine 3DMAYA NastranMSC Software NastranMcNeel Rhinoceros 3DMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft WordOracle Primavera SystemsPTC Creo ParametricPTC Pro/PipeProteus Engineering FastShipSAP softwareSeasafe Marine Software SeasafeSeaworthy Systems Shipboard Automated Maintenance Management SAMMShipConstructorSiemens NXSiemens Solid EdgeStrand7Structural Dynamics StruCAD*3DTension Technology International OPTIMOORThe MathWorks MATLABThe Napa Group NAPAZoom
Representative tasks
Getting InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentWorking with ComputersCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationAnalyzing Data or InformationThinking CreativelyProcessing InformationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersDocumenting/Recording InformationMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersScheduling Work and ActivitiesCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesCoaching and Developing OthersTraining and Teaching OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentPerforming Administrative ActivitiesPerforming General Physical ActivitiesControlling Machines and ProcessesStaffing Organizational UnitsOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentAssisting and Caring for OthersSelling or Influencing OthersRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentHandling and Moving Objects
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
International maritime regulations and life-saving equipment standards — identify and apply under direct supervision during ship compliance inspections at a commercial shipyard.Basic hull and superstructure specifications — review and interpret under guidance to support preliminary design activities in a naval architecture office.Stability and structural analysis data — collect and organize under supervision using analytical software tools on assigned vessel projects.Design proposals and vessel characteristic data — gather and summarize with direction to support size, weight, and speed assessments for new craft.Technical reports for engineering and management personnel — draft initial versions under close review using office suite and document management software.CAD software and basic drafting tools — operate under supervision to produce standard hull geometry drawings in a marine design environment.Automatic control and alarm systems on vessels — assist in routine checks and tests following established inspection protocols under senior engineer oversight.Contractor and client correspondence — prepare routine written summaries and progress updates under guidance to support project communication workflows.Spreadsheet and database software — use to enter, retrieve, and organize vessel performance and compliance data under direction in an engineering office.Mathematics and physics principles — apply to introductory ship calculations such as displacement and draft estimation under the direction of a licensed marine engineer.
developing
Ship compliance monitoring activities — conduct independently against international regulations for pollution prevention and life-saving equipment across routine vessel inspections.Hull and superstructure design elements — develop and refine using CAD software to meet safety and efficiency specifications with reduced oversight in a shipbuilding project environment.Stability, structural, weight, and vibration analyses — perform using analytical and scientific software for standard vessel types and document findings in formal engineering reports.Basic craft characteristics such as displacement, speed, and propulsion — evaluate from design proposals and specifications to inform project decisions on mid-complexity vessel programs.Technical reports for engineering and management audiences — prepare independently, translating complex analytical results into clear written summaries using document management and presentation software.Regulatory body coordination for ship repairs and alterations — facilitate communications and submissions to meet safety requirements while managing cost constraints on routine projects.Automatic control and alarm systems — test, troubleshoot, and maintain on assigned vessels following manufacturer and classification society protocols with routine self-direction.Project schedules and contractor deliverables — monitor and track using project management software to support on-time, on-budget completion of vessel engineering scopes.Cross-functional information — synthesize from engineering, operations, and client sources to identify design conflicts and recommend practical solutions in familiar project contexts.Quality control reviews of design drawings and calculations — conduct systematically against applicable codes and standards within a naval architecture or marine engineering firm.
proficient
Full hull and superstructure design programs — lead autonomously from concept through production drawings, ensuring conformity with international safety, efficiency, and economy standards on complex vessels.Comprehensive ship analyses including stability, structural, weight, and vibration — execute across non-routine vessel configurations using advanced analytical software and resolve discrepancies without escalation.Multivariable craft characteristic trade-offs involving size, speed, propulsion, displacement, and draft — evaluate and optimize independently to meet competing client performance and regulatory requirements.Regulatory compliance strategy for life-saving equipment and pollution prevention systems — develop and implement across a fleet or project portfolio, adapting to evolving international maritime standards.High-stakes technical reports and proposals — author for engineering leadership, clients, and classification societies, synthesizing complex data into actionable recommendations with professional written precision.Contractor and client relationships — manage proactively across the full project lifecycle, resolving disputes and ensuring technical scope, cost, and schedule alignment on large-scale marine projects.Systems-level analyses of vessel control architecture, propulsion integration, and automation — conduct and validate, identifying latent failure modes and recommending design improvements across complex ship systems.Novel engineering problems in marine design such as unconventional hull forms or emerging propulsion technologies — diagnose and resolve by applying inductive and deductive reasoning across discipline boundaries.Cross-disciplinary design reviews incorporating mechanical, structural, and electrical engineering inputs — coordinate and arbitrate to produce integrated, code-compliant vessel designs within schedule constraints.Mentorship and technical guidance — provide to developing engineers on analysis methods, regulatory interpretation, and professional report writing within a naval architecture or marine engineering organization.
advanced
Organizational engineering standards and design methodologies for hull, superstructure, and systems development — establish and continuously improve to advance safety, innovation, and competitive performance across a marine enterprise.Strategic compliance frameworks aligned with evolving IMO, SOLAS, and MARPOL regulations — develop and champion at the organizational level, shaping internal policy and industry engagement.Enterprise-wide ship analysis capability including stability, structural, and vibration competencies — build by directing investment in tools, talent, and processes that raise technical performance across project portfolios.Senior client and regulatory authority relationships — cultivate and sustain at the executive level, representing the organization's technical credibility in contract negotiations and classification society proceedings.Complex, multi-vessel or fleet engineering programs — direct from initiation through delivery, integrating cost, schedule, safety, and innovation objectives across multidisciplinary teams in high-stakes commercial environments.Technical talent pipeline for marine engineering and naval architecture — design and lead through structured mentorship programs, competency frameworks, and professional development pathways across the organization.Emerging maritime technologies such as alternative propulsion, autonomous systems, and advanced materials — evaluate strategic relevance, sponsor research initiatives, and guide adoption decisions at the organizational level.High-value technical proposals, executive briefings, and industry publications — produce and present to shape organizational direction, win major contracts, and influence professional standards in the marine sector.Cross-organizational and interdisciplinary engineering governance — lead by establishing review boards, decision frameworks, and quality assurance systems that ensure design integrity across all vessel programs.Industry-wide knowledge advancement in marine engineering — drive through participation in standards committees, academic collaboration, and thought leadership that positions the organization at the forefront of naval architecture practice.
Also known as
31 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Architect SpecialistAutomation EngineerBoat DesignerConsulting Marine EngineerEngineerEngineering SpecialistMarine ArchitectMarine Civil EngineerMarine ConsultantMarine Design EngineerMarine EngineerMarine Engineering ConsultantMarine Equipment Design EngineerMarine Equipment EngineerMarine Equipment Research EngineerMarine Equipment Test EngineerMarine Service EngineerMarine Structural DesignerMarine SurveyorNaval ArchitectNaval Architect SpecialistNaval EngineerNaval Marine EngineerNavigation EngineerPiping DesignerProject EngineerPropulsion Machinery Service EngineerShip Equipment EngineerShip SurveyorStructural DesignerStructural Engineer