Explore the rankings
Engineering & Architecture · Updated Aug 2026

Marine Engineers and Naval Architects

Design, develop, and evaluate the operation of marine vessels, ship machinery, and related equipment, such as power supply and propulsion systems.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
AI Exposure
59/100
Moderate

How much of this occupation’s work can be materially affected by current AI systems.

Replacement Risk
50/100
Moderate

How likely exposure is to translate into reduced human demand.

Includes provisional estimates for AI adoption pressure and labour-market resilience. How this is measured

Evidence quality
Confidence83/100
Task coverage87%

Confidence reflects task coverage, mapping and capability-evidence quality, and how much of the score rests on provisional inputs.

Task-level evidence

What is driving the score?

Occupation scores are built from the task mix—not a single prediction about a job title.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
TaskImportanceAI impactExposure
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.Medium
70
Supervise other engineers and crew members and train them for routine and emergency duties.Medium
71
Conduct analyses of ships, such as stability, structural, weight, and vibration analyses.Medium
73
Maintain contact with, and formulate reports for, contractors and clients to ensure completion of work at minimum cost.Medium
73
Prepare technical reports for use by engineering, management, or sales personnel.Medium
72
Study design proposals and specifications to establish basic characteristics of craft, such as size, weight, speed, propulsion, displacement, and draft.Medium
72
Check, test, and maintain automatic controls and alarm systems.Medium
71
Prepare, or direct the preparation of, product or system layouts and detailed drawings and schematics.Medium
70
Design complete hull and superstructure according to specifications and test data, in conformity with standards of safety, efficiency, and economy.High
72
Design layout of craft interior, including cargo space, passenger compartments, ladder wells, and elevators.Medium
72
Inspect marine equipment and machinery to draw up work requests and job specifications.Medium
59
Schedule machine overhauls and the servicing of electrical, heating, ventilation, refrigeration, water, and sewage systems.Medium
69
Prepare plans, estimates, design and construction schedules, and contract specifications, including any special provisions.Medium
74
Conduct analytical, environmental, operational, or performance studies to develop designs for products, such as marine engines, equipment, and structures.Medium
71
Review work requests and compare them with previous work completed on ships to ensure that costs are economically sound.Medium
72
Evaluate operation of marine equipment during acceptance testing and shakedown cruises.Medium
72
Maintain records of engineering department activities, including expense records and details of equipment maintenance and repairs.Medium
37
Establish arrangement of boiler room equipment and propulsion machinery, heating and ventilating systems, refrigeration equipment, piping, and other functional equipment.Medium
63
Perform monitoring activities to ensure that ships comply with international regulations and standards for life-saving equipment and pollution preventatives.High
38
Coordinate activities with regulatory bodies to ensure repairs and alterations are at minimum cost and consistent with safety.Medium
38
Investigate and observe tests on machinery and equipment for compliance with standards.Medium
39
Procure materials needed to repair marine equipment and machinery.Medium
23
Maintain and coordinate repair of marine machinery and equipment for installation on vessels.Medium
21
Design and oversee testing, installation, and repair of marine apparatus and equipment.Medium
21
Most exposed

Where AI can do more

Routine, digitized, and highly repeatable tasks face the greatest pressure.

  1. Prepare plans, estimates, design and construction schedules, and contract specifications, including any special provisions.74
  2. Conduct analyses of ships, such as stability, structural, weight, and vibration analyses.73
  3. Maintain contact with, and formulate reports for, contractors and clients to ensure completion of work at minimum cost.73
  4. Prepare technical reports for use by engineering, management, or sales personnel.72
Hardest to automate

Where people still matter

These tasks score lowest on automation feasibility—physical presence, judgement, accountability and real-world variability all resist end-to-end automation.

  1. Maintain and coordinate repair of marine machinery and equipment for installation on vessels.01
  2. Design and oversee testing, installation, and repair of marine apparatus and equipment.02
  3. Procure materials needed to repair marine equipment and machinery.03
  4. Maintain records of engineering department activities, including expense records and details of equipment maintenance and repairs.04
  5. Coordinate activities with regulatory bodies to ensure repairs and alterations are at minimum cost and consistent with safety.05
Where else this work leads

Related occupations

Occupations O*NET links to this one. Relatedness reflects shared work, not a claim that these roles are safer.

See all rankings →
Beyond AI capability

Adoption and labour-market outlook

Structural factors are kept separate from raw capability so you can see what actually resists automation. Adoption pressure and labour-market resilience are still provisional models—25% of this occupation’s replacement-risk weight rests on them.

Human dependency68
Physical dependency49
Adoption pressure53
Labour-market resilience65
Methodology & sources

O*NET 30.3 occupational data interpreted through the JobsVsAI capability, automation and structural-constraint models.

Confidence83/100
CalculatedAug 21, 2026
Read methodology →