Occupation

Marine engineer

Marine engineers design, install, or operate the propulsion, power, and auxiliary systems of ships and offshore structures. The role divides between shore-based design and seagoing engineering watches, and the seagoing side involves extended periods away from home.

Also known as: Ship's engineer · Marine systems engineer

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Occupation content

Part of Engineering and technical design

A visual day in the work

What the work involves

  1. Operate, monitor, and maintain propulsion, generation, and auxiliary machinery.

  2. Carry out planned maintenance, inspections, and repairs on shipboard systems.

  3. Diagnose machinery faults and carry out repairs with the resources available on board.

  4. Design or specify marine systems, piping, and machinery arrangements for shore-based projects.

  5. Record machinery hours, fuel and oil use, and maintenance in the engineering log.

  6. Prepare systems for class survey, port inspection, or dry-docking.

Entry-route stepper

How people commonly enter

  1. A maritime academy or nautical college programme leading to an engineering certificate of competency.

  2. An accredited bachelor's degree in marine or mechanical engineering for shore-based design roles.

  3. A cadetship with a shipping company combining college study with supervised sea time.

  4. A transfer from a mechanical or power engineering background into marine systems work.

Typical training: Bachelor's degree

Licensing: Regulated in most jurisdictions. Confirm the current requirement with the regulator in your province, state, or country.

Work-context map

Typical work context

  • Shift work
  • Team based
  • Involves travel
  • Physically active
  • High responsibility
  • Lab or workshop

Shift work · Team based · Involves travel · Physically active · High responsibility · Lab or workshop

Related interests

  • Realistic (hands-on)
  • Investigative (analytical)

Realistic (hands-on) · Investigative (analytical)

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Official sources

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Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)

This is broad family-level context for Engineering and technical design in Canada, not a figure for Marine engineer. It does not affect matching scores and is not an eligibility determination.

This is a broad Engineering and technical design family. Explore the official profile for the chosen occupation; entry education and training can differ within the family.

Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period

Engineering and technical design: education pathways

Some roles in Engineering and technical design may be regulated. Confirm whether the specific role requires registration, certification, or a jurisdiction-specific licence.

Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period

Engineering and technical design: licensing

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