Ships and submarines must be designed for speed, strength, stability, and safety. Improvements in ship equipment, hull design, and deck layout can improve operations. Marine engineers design ships, submarines, and other watercraft for military use. They also oversee the construction and repair of ships and marine equipment.
What They Do
Marine engineers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
- Study new ways of designing and building ship hulls
- Develop and test shipboard combat and salvage equipment
- Oversee the construction, maintenance, and repair of ship hulls and equipment
- Manage research programs to solve naval engineering problems
- Oversee the installation, operation, and repair of marine equipment and systems
- Evaluate marine research data and prepare technical reports
Helpful Attributes
Helpful attributes include:
- Ability to plan and organize research projects
- Interest in ships and shipbuilding
- Interest in technical work
Training Provided
No initial job training is provided to officers in this occupation.
Work Environment
Marine engineers do much of their work outdoors at shipyards while overseeing shipbuilding and repair activities. They work in offices while directing vessel design and development activities.
Civilian Counterparts
Civilian marine engineers work in the shipbuilding industry. They also work for government agencies and ship machinery manufacturers. Civilian marine engineers perform duties similar to those performed in the military. They may also be called marine equipment research engineers, marine architects, marine equipment design engineers, marine surveyors, and port engineers.
