Marine engineer
Marine engineers build and repair boats, ships, submarines, offshore platforms and drilling equipment.
Typical Salary
£27,000 – £55,000
per year
Working Hours
39–42
hours per week
Day-to-day tasks
As a marine engineer, you could:
- work with naval architects to design and build ships, boats and submarines
- service and repair vessels in shipyards and docks
- install engines, navigation equipement and safety systems
- inspect and test electrical and electronic instruments
- refurbish and maintain offshore energy platforms and wind turbines
- assist with marine surveys for buying and insurance purposes
- keep technical documents for jobs up to date
- manage a team of technicians
Skills needed
- knowledge of engineering science and technology
- maths knowledge
- the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
- knowledge of physics
- design skills and knowledge
- thinking and reasoning skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- complex problem-solving skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to get into this role
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
Career progression
With experience, you could:
- specialise in project management, research and development or consultancy
- advise on maritime engineering safety
- work on marine salvage operations
- move into vessel design or shipping fleet management