Jobs / Architecture and engineering / 17-2121.00

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.

US jobs
8,250
Median wage
$112,230 a year
Job family
Architecture and engineering

Can agents do the work of marine engineers and naval architects?

We read the evidence at the level of the job family, Architecture and engineering:

  • Task levelUnexploredNo task-level benchmark in our collection tests architecture or engineering design work, such as CAD modeling or engineering calculations.
  • Project levelNot yetWhole projects are mostly out of reach. The Remote Labor Index includes 3D, CAD, and architecture projects; across all its projects, the best agent completed 15.8% to a standard a client would accept. GDPval includes mechanical engineers, and its deliverables score higher, but those tasks are one-shot and fully specified.

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in architecture and engineering, not always this occupation's tasks.

  • GDPvalby OpenAIProject level · Wins plus ties against experts
    84.9%GPT-5.5 · Apr 2026
    Strong
  • GDPval-AAby Artificial AnalysisProject level · GDPval-AA Elo
    1846 EloClaude Opus 5.5 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort, Default Fallback) · 23 Sep 2026
    Unrated
  • Remote Labor Indexby CAIS and Scale AIProject level · Automation rate
    15.8%Claude Fable 5 · 1 Jul 2026
    Open

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Perform monitoring activities to ensure that ships comply with international regulations and standards for life-saving equipment and pollution preventatives.
  • Design complete hull and superstructure according to specifications and test data, in conformity with standards of safety, efficiency, and economy.
  • Conduct analyses of ships, such as stability, structural, weight, and vibration analyses.
  • Study design proposals and specifications to establish basic characteristics of craft, such as size, weight, speed, propulsion, displacement, and draft.
  • Maintain contact with, and formulate reports for, contractors and clients to ensure completion of work at minimum cost.
  • Coordinate activities with regulatory bodies to ensure repairs and alterations are at minimum cost and consistent with safety.
  • Check, test, and maintain automatic controls and alarm systems.
  • Prepare technical reports for use by engineering, management, or sales personnel.
  • Design layout of craft interior, including cargo space, passenger compartments, ladder wells, and elevators.
  • Prepare, or direct the preparation of, product or system layouts and detailed drawings and schematics.
  • Evaluate performance of craft during dock and sea trials to determine design changes and conformance with national and international standards.
  • Inspect marine equipment and machinery to draw up work requests and job specifications.
Other job titles for this occupation (31)

Marine Architect · Marine Design Engineer · Marine Engineer · Marine Engineering Consultant · Marine Structural Designer · Marine Surveyor · Naval Architect · Naval Architect Specialist · Ship Equipment Engineer · Structural Engineer · Architect Specialist · Automation Engineer · Boat Designer · Consulting Marine Engineer · Engineer · Engineering Specialist · Marine Civil Engineer · Marine Consultant · Marine Equipment Design Engineer · Marine Equipment Engineer · Marine Equipment Research Engineer · Marine Equipment Test Engineer · Marine Service Engineer · Naval Engineer · Naval Marine Engineer · Navigation Engineer · Piping Designer · Project Engineer · Propulsion Machinery Service Engineer · Ship Surveyor · Structural Designer