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Marine Engineers and Naval Architects

SOC 17-2121.00Job Zone 4 · Considerable Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers marine engineering and naval architecture practice across commercial shipbuilding, regulatory compliance, vessel analysis, and client-facing project delivery environments calibrated to Job Zone 4 preparation.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. International maritime regulations and life-saving equipment standards — identify and apply under direct supervision during ship compliance inspections at a commercial shipyard.
  2. Basic hull and superstructure specifications — review and interpret under guidance to support preliminary design activities in a naval architecture office.
  3. Stability and structural analysis data — collect and organize under supervision using analytical software tools on assigned vessel projects.
  4. Design proposals and vessel characteristic data — gather and summarize with direction to support size, weight, and speed assessments for new craft.
  5. Technical reports for engineering and management personnel — draft initial versions under close review using office suite and document management software.
  6. CAD software and basic drafting tools — operate under supervision to produce standard hull geometry drawings in a marine design environment.
  7. Automatic control and alarm systems on vessels — assist in routine checks and tests following established inspection protocols under senior engineer oversight.
  8. Contractor and client correspondence — prepare routine written summaries and progress updates under guidance to support project communication workflows.
  9. Spreadsheet and database software — use to enter, retrieve, and organize vessel performance and compliance data under direction in an engineering office.
  10. Mathematics and physics principles — apply to introductory ship calculations such as displacement and draft estimation under the direction of a licensed marine engineer.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Ship compliance monitoring activities — conduct independently against international regulations for pollution prevention and life-saving equipment across routine vessel inspections.
  2. 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.
  3. Stability, structural, weight, and vibration analyses — perform using analytical and scientific software for standard vessel types and document findings in formal engineering reports.
  4. Basic craft characteristics such as displacement, speed, and propulsion — evaluate from design proposals and specifications to inform project decisions on mid-complexity vessel programs.
  5. Technical reports for engineering and management audiences — prepare independently, translating complex analytical results into clear written summaries using document management and presentation software.
  6. Regulatory body coordination for ship repairs and alterations — facilitate communications and submissions to meet safety requirements while managing cost constraints on routine projects.
  7. Automatic control and alarm systems — test, troubleshoot, and maintain on assigned vessels following manufacturer and classification society protocols with routine self-direction.
  8. Project schedules and contractor deliverables — monitor and track using project management software to support on-time, on-budget completion of vessel engineering scopes.
  9. Cross-functional information — synthesize from engineering, operations, and client sources to identify design conflicts and recommend practical solutions in familiar project contexts.
  10. Quality control reviews of design drawings and calculations — conduct systematically against applicable codes and standards within a naval architecture or marine engineering firm.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. 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.
  2. Comprehensive ship analyses including stability, structural, weight, and vibration — execute across non-routine vessel configurations using advanced analytical software and resolve discrepancies without escalation.
  3. Multivariable craft characteristic trade-offs involving size, speed, propulsion, displacement, and draft — evaluate and optimize independently to meet competing client performance and regulatory requirements.
  4. 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.
  5. High-stakes technical reports and proposals — author for engineering leadership, clients, and classification societies, synthesizing complex data into actionable recommendations with professional written precision.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. Cross-disciplinary design reviews incorporating mechanical, structural, and electrical engineering inputs — coordinate and arbitrate to produce integrated, code-compliant vessel designs within schedule constraints.
  10. 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
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. 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.
  2. Strategic compliance frameworks aligned with evolving IMO, SOLAS, and MARPOL regulations — develop and champion at the organizational level, shaping internal policy and industry engagement.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Architect Specialist · Automation Engineer · Boat Designer · Consulting Marine Engineer · Engineer · Engineering Specialist · Marine Architect · Marine Civil Engineer · Marine Consultant · Marine Design Engineer · Marine Engineer · Marine Engineering Consultant
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
Complex Problem SolvingCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingWritingSpeakingActive ListeningMathematicsOperations MonitoringScienceActive LearningTime ManagementMonitoringCoordinationQuality Control AnalysisSystems AnalysisSystems EvaluationSocial PerceptivenessOperations AnalysisOperation and ControlManagement of Personnel Resources
Knowledge domains
Engineering and TechnologyMechanicalDesignEnglish LanguageTransportationMathematicsPhysicsBuilding and ConstructionComputers and ElectronicsEducation and TrainingCustomer and Personal ServiceAdministration and Management
Abilities
Deductive ReasoningWritten ExpressionOral ExpressionWritten ComprehensionOral ComprehensionProblem SensitivityInductive ReasoningInformation OrderingCategory FlexibilityMathematical Reasoning
Work styles
Attention to DetailDependabilityCautiousnessInnovationIntellectual CuriosityAchievement Orientation
Technology
Document management softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareSpreadsheet softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareData base user interface and query softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail softwarePresentation softwareProject management software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Perform monitoring activities to ensure that ships comply with international regulations and standards for life-saving equipment and pollution preventatives.
  2. Design complete hull and superstructure according to specifications and test data, in conformity with standards of safety, efficiency, and economy.
  3. Conduct analyses of ships, such as stability, structural, weight, and vibration analyses.
  4. Study design proposals and specifications to establish basic characteristics of craft, such as size, weight, speed, propulsion, displacement, and draft.
  5. Maintain contact with, and formulate reports for, contractors and clients to ensure completion of work at minimum cost.
  6. Coordinate activities with regulatory bodies to ensure repairs and alterations are at minimum cost and consistent with safety.
  7. Check, test, and maintain automatic controls and alarm systems.
  8. Prepare technical reports for use by engineering, management, or sales personnel.
CIP education codes
14.2201

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.