Marine Engineers and Naval Architects

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.

Duties

Marine engineers and naval architects typically do the following:

• Study design proposals and specifications to establish basic characteristics of a marine vessel, such as its size, weight, and speed
• Design ship hulls and superstructures, following standards for safety, efficiency and economy
• Prepare system layouts and detailed drawings and schematics
• Design and oversee the building and testing of prototypes and the installation and repair of marine equipment
• Conduct environmental, operational, or performance tests on marine machinery and equipment
• Prepare cost estimates, contract specifications, and design and construction schedules
• Coordinate activities with regulatory bodies to ensure that repairs and alterations are done safely and at minimal cost
• Prepare technical reports for use by engineers, managers, or sales personnel

Marine engineers and naval architects focus on the design and production processes of water vehicles. They also may work on offshore projects, such as oil rigs and wind turbines, or on coastal structures, such as ports and seawalls.

Responsibilities for marine engineers and naval architects vary by employer. For example, those who work for ship and boat building firms may design large or small vessels, such as passenger ships, cargo ships, and rowboats. In the federal government, they may design or test ships or systems for the Army, Navy, or Coast Guard.

Marine engineers should not be confused with ship engineers, who supervise the operation of a ship’s machinery. For more information about ship engineers, see the profile on water transportation workers.

Marine engineers and naval architects held about 8,500 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of marine engineers and naval architects were as follows:

Marine engineers and naval architects may work in a variety of settings, such as in offices, on manufacturing shop floors, or at sea. Those who work on power generation projects, such as offshore oil rigs or wind turbines, may spend much of their time offshore. Those involved in projects on land, such as ports and seawalls, may work along the coast.

Work Schedules

Most marine engineers and naval architects work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Work schedules may vary. For example, marine engineers and naval architects who work at sea usually keep hours that are tied to the operation of the ship.

Marine engineers and naval architects typically need a bachelor’s degree in marine engineering, naval architecture, or a related field.  

The median annual wage for marine engineers and naval architects was $105,670 in May 2024.

Employment of marine engineers and naval architects is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 600 openings for marine engineers and naval architects are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.