Marine Engineers & Naval Architects

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Planning precisely how to keep an enormous ocean-going vessel stable and safe in high seas while carrying giant loads of cargo… is just one of the many tasks of marine engineers and naval architects. They usually specialize in designing and building a particular type of ship… from giant aircraft carriers to submarines… and from 15-foot sailboats to ocean tankers. Marine engineers are responsible for the internal systems of a ship, such as propulsion, electrical, refrigeration, and steering… While naval architects design the ship itself… including the form, structure, and stability of hulls. These architects also lead the teams that create new ship designs. Marine engineers and naval architects typically work in offices where they have access to computer software and other tools to analyze projects and design solutions. Sometimes they go to sea on ships to test their designs or to maintain ships they’ve built. Marine engineers and naval architects work full time, though overtime hours are not uncommon, especially when working at sea. Those who work on shore usually have more regular work schedules. Because naval architects are primarily designers, they are much more likely to work a regular schedule in an office or at a shipyard. Marine engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in marine engineering, marine systems engineering, or marine engineering technology. Naval architects typically need a bachelor’s degree in naval architecture, or a related field like mechanical or electrical engineering.