Marine Engineers and Naval Architects
Architecture and Engineering Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 17-2121.00
Design, develop, and evaluate the operation of marine vessels, ship machinery, and related equipment, such as power supply and propulsion systems.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
High· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.036
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.32
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Show 28 hidden tasks30 rated tasks · 22 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (73.3%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 30.2) | Claude.aiRaw / share % | APIRaw / share % |
|---|---|---|
Determine conditions under which tests are to be conducted, as well as sequences and phases of test operations.17-2121.00 | 0.0100100.0 | 0.030075.0 |
Prepare technical reports for use by engineering, management, or sales personnel.17-2121.00 | 0.00000.0 | 0.010025.0 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Maintain records of engineering department activities, including expense records and details of equipment maintenance and repairs.O*NET Task ID 21902 | 1.0 |
Prepare technical reports for use by engineering, management, or sales personnel.O*NET Task ID 21905 | 1.0 |
Confer with research personnel to clarify or resolve problems and to develop or modify designs.O*NET Task ID 21909 | 1.0 |
Design complete hull and superstructure according to specifications and test data, in conformity with standards of safety, efficiency, and economy.O*NET Task ID 21887 | 0.5 |
Study design proposals and specifications to establish basic characteristics of craft, such as size, weight, speed, propulsion, displacement, and draft.O*NET Task ID 21889 | 0.5 |
Perform monitoring activities to ensure that ships comply with international regulations and standards for life-saving equipment and pollution preventatives.O*NET Task ID 21890 | 0.5 |
Oversee construction and testing of prototype in model basin and develop sectional and waterline curves of hull to establish center of gravity, ideal hull form, and buoyancy and stability data.O*NET Task ID 21891 | 0.5 |
Evaluate performance of craft during dock and sea trials to determine design changes and conformance with national and international standards.O*NET Task ID 21892 | 0.5 |
Prepare plans, estimates, design and construction schedules, and contract specifications, including any special provisions.O*NET Task ID 21893 | 0.5 |
Design layout of craft interior, including cargo space, passenger compartments, ladder wells, and elevators.O*NET Task ID 21895 | 0.5 |
Act as liaisons between ships' captains and shore personnel to ensure that schedules and budgets are maintained, and that ships are operated safely and efficiently.O*NET Task ID 21897 | 0.5 |
Inspect marine equipment and machinery to draw up work requests and job specifications.O*NET Task ID 21899 | 0.5 |
Prepare, or direct the preparation of, product or system layouts and detailed drawings and schematics.O*NET Task ID 21900 | 0.5 |
Investigate and observe tests on machinery and equipment for compliance with standards.O*NET Task ID 21901 | 0.5 |
Coordinate activities with regulatory bodies to ensure repairs and alterations are at minimum cost and consistent with safety.O*NET Task ID 21903 | 0.5 |
Maintain contact with, and formulate reports for, contractors and clients to ensure completion of work at minimum cost.O*NET Task ID 21907 | 0.5 |
Conduct analytical, environmental, operational, or performance studies to develop designs for products, such as marine engines, equipment, and structures.O*NET Task ID 21910 | 0.5 |
Determine conditions under which tests are to be conducted, as well as sequences and phases of test operations.O*NET Task ID 21911 | 0.5 |
Review work requests and compare them with previous work completed on ships to ensure that costs are economically sound.O*NET Task ID 21912 | 0.5 |
Analyze data to determine feasibility of product proposals.O*NET Task ID 21913 | 0.5 |
Schedule machine overhauls and the servicing of electrical, heating, ventilation, refrigeration, water, and sewage systems.O*NET Task ID 21914 | 0.5 |
Conduct analyses of ships, such as stability, structural, weight, and vibration analyses.O*NET Task ID 21915 | 0.5 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (30)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Design complete hull and superstructure according to specifications and test data, in conformity with standards of safety, efficiency, and economy. | Core |
| Study design proposals and specifications to establish basic characteristics of craft, such as size, weight, speed, propulsion, displacement, and draft. | Core |
| Perform monitoring activities to ensure that ships comply with international regulations and standards for life-saving equipment and pollution preventatives. | Core |
| Evaluate performance of craft during dock and sea trials to determine design changes and conformance with national and international standards. | Core |
| Prepare plans, estimates, design and construction schedules, and contract specifications, including any special provisions. | Core |
| Check, test, and maintain automatic controls and alarm systems. | Core |
| Design layout of craft interior, including cargo space, passenger compartments, ladder wells, and elevators. | Core |
| Evaluate operation of marine equipment during acceptance testing and shakedown cruises. | Core |
| Conduct environmental, operational, or performance tests on marine machinery and equipment. | Core |
| Inspect marine equipment and machinery to draw up work requests and job specifications. | Core |
| Prepare, or direct the preparation of, product or system layouts and detailed drawings and schematics. | Core |
| Investigate and observe tests on machinery and equipment for compliance with standards. | Core |
| Coordinate activities with regulatory bodies to ensure repairs and alterations are at minimum cost and consistent with safety. | Core |
| Design and oversee testing, installation, and repair of marine apparatus and equipment. | Core |
| Prepare technical reports for use by engineering, management, or sales personnel. | Core |
| Maintain contact with, and formulate reports for, contractors and clients to ensure completion of work at minimum cost. | Core |
| Confer with research personnel to clarify or resolve problems and to develop or modify designs. | Core |
| Conduct analytical, environmental, operational, or performance studies to develop designs for products, such as marine engines, equipment, and structures. | Core |
| Determine conditions under which tests are to be conducted, as well as sequences and phases of test operations. | Core |
| Review work requests and compare them with previous work completed on ships to ensure that costs are economically sound. | Core |
| Analyze data to determine feasibility of product proposals. | Core |
| Conduct analyses of ships, such as stability, structural, weight, and vibration analyses. | Core |
| Establish arrangement of boiler room equipment and propulsion machinery, heating and ventilating systems, refrigeration equipment, piping, and other functional equipment. | Core |
| Supervise other engineers and crew members and train them for routine and emergency duties. | Supplemental |
| Oversee construction and testing of prototype in model basin and develop sectional and waterline curves of hull to establish center of gravity, ideal hull form, and buoyancy and stability data. | Supplemental |
| Act as liaisons between ships' captains and shore personnel to ensure that schedules and budgets are maintained, and that ships are operated safely and efficiently. | Supplemental |
| Maintain records of engineering department activities, including expense records and details of equipment maintenance and repairs. | Supplemental |
| Procure materials needed to repair marine equipment and machinery. | Supplemental |
| Maintain and coordinate repair of marine machinery and equipment for installation on vessels. | Supplemental |
| Schedule machine overhauls and the servicing of electrical, heating, ventilation, refrigeration, water, and sewage systems. | Supplemental |
0.00/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Perform monitoring activities to ensure that ships comply with international regulations and standards for life-saving equipment and pollution preventatives. | E0 none |
| Check, test, and maintain automatic controls and alarm systems. | E0 none |
| Evaluate operation of marine equipment during acceptance testing and shakedown cruises. | E0 none |
| Inspect marine equipment and machinery to draw up work requests and job specifications. | E0 none |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 8K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 9K
- Change (2025–35)
- +6.7%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $112,230
- Typical education needed for entry
- Bachelor's degree
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23517 | 조선공학 기술자 및 연구원 | Same scope | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 2144Mechanical Engineers
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
Mechanical engineers conduct research; advise on, design and direct production of machines, aircraft, ships, machinery and industrial plant, equipment and systems; advise on and direct their functioning, maintenance and repair; or study and advise on mechanical aspects of particular materials, products or processes.
Tasks
- (a) advising on and designing machinery and tools for manufacturing, mining, construction, agricultural, and other industrial purposes;
- (b) advising on and designing steam, internal combustion and other non-electric motors and engines used for propulsion of railway locomotives, road vehicles or aircraft, or for driving industrial or other machinery;
- (c) advising on and designing: hulls, superstructures and propulsion systems of ships; mechanical plant and equipment for the release, control and utilization of energy; heating, ventilation and refrigeration systems, steering gear, pumps and other mechanical equipment;
- (d) advising on and designing airframes, undercarriages and other equipment for aircraft as well as suspension systems, brakes, vehicle bodies and other components of road vehicles;
- (e) advising on and designing non-electrical parts of apparatus or products such as word processors, computers, precision instruments, cameras and projectors;
- (f) establishing control standards and procedures to ensure efficient functioning and safety of machines, machinery, tools, motors, engines, industrial plant, equipment, or systems;
- (g) ensuring that equipment, operation and maintenance comply with design specifications and safety standards.
Example occupations
Aeronautical engineer · Engine designer · Marine architect · Marine engineer · Mechanical engineer
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- marine chief engineerESCO 3151.2This occupation is broader
Marine chief engineers are responsible for the entire technical operations of the vessel including engineering, electrical, and mechanical divisions. They are the head of the entire engine department aboard the ship. They have overall responsibility for all technical operations and equipment on-board the ship. Marine chief engineers collaborate on security, survival and health care on board, observe the national and international standards of application.
- marine engineerESCO 2144.1.10This occupation is broader
Marine engineers design, build, maintain and repair the hull, mechanical, electronic equipment and auxiliary systems such as engines, pumps, heating, ventilation, generator sets. They work on all types of boats from pleasure crafts to naval vessels, including submarines.
- naval architectESCO 2144.1.14This occupation is broader
Naval architects design, build, maintain and repair all types of boats from pleasure crafts to naval vessels, including submarines. They analyse floating structures and take various features into account for their designs such as the form, structure, stability, resistance, access and propulsion of hulls.
- marine engineering drafterESCO 3118.3.10Overlapping, not the same
Marine engineering drafters convert the marine engineers’ designs into technical drawings usually using software. Their drawings detail dimensions, fastening and assembling methods and other specifications used in the manufacture of all types of boats from pleasure crafts to naval vessels, including submarines.
- ship assistant engineerESCO 3151.3Overlapping, not the same
Ship assistant engineers assist the ship chief engineer and the ship duty engineer in the operations of the ship's hull. They support the operation of the main engines, steering mechanism, electrical generation and other major subsystems. They communicate with maritime engineers about the performance of technical operations. They also ensure appropriate safety and regulatory standards compliance and are able to take on higher level positions if needed.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| F1144 | Architecte naval / Architecte navale | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| F1145 | Ingénieur / Ingénieure en génie maritime | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 2433 | Ingenieros mecánicos | Related, not a match |
| 2463 | Ingenieros técnicos mecánicos | Related, not a match |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 25244 | Berufe in der Schiffbautechnik - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | Same scopeprovisional |
| 25243 | Berufe in der Schiffbautechnik - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 51134 | Berufe im technischen Schiffsverkehrsbetrieb - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 075 | 輸送用機器技術者（自動車を除く）（開発） | Overlapping, not the same |
| 073 | 機械技術者（開発） | Related, not a match |
| 085 | 輸送用機器技術者（自動車を除く）（開発を除く） | Related, not a match |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources