General Duties
The duties of a marine engineer officer are performed both in the office and on the marine vessel. They design different parts of a ship, such as the engines and propulsions. They control where the HVAC systems are placed and determine the sizes of the cargo areas. They work on types of vessels that include submarines, oil rigs and cruise ferries.
Marine engineers are known to specialize in one area. Some prefer to work on repairs, maintenance and installations, while others work on design and manufacturing using computer software.
Engineers make extensive use of computer software to design every part of the vessel. They are project managers who lead others to carry out the plan from conception to installation. Engineers are known to travel extensively, especially if they accompany the crew on sea voyages.
Skills
The job description of a marine engineer job includes the skills needed to perform the work. Engineers are in high positions that require the supervision of subordinates. On ships, marine engineers monitor crew members to make sure they finish their work correctly. They also work alongside architects, ship officers and other engineers. As high-ranking professionals, they need good communication skills to give orders and explain detailed tasks.
When they work alone, they work as inspectors, checking the ship’s mechanical systems. They should be consistent and have the careful attention to detail needed to catch manufacturing and maintenance errors.
Review the job description of a marine engineer vacancies. In addition to knowing the career’s duties, know the number of job openings with the geographic locations. Job growth is predicted at 9% from 2014 to 2024 when there will be approximately 9,000 jobs, according to 2016 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.
The job description of a marine engineer do not include the same skills needed to be an architect or chemical engineer. It’s important that you know the full range of duties required to perform this job. Engineering is a broad field that includes math, science, mechanical engineering, computer-aided design, computer science and more. Know the general duties and responsibilities before you commit to this career in the long term.