Marine & Maritime
Ship Design Engineer
Works on the detailed engineering design of ship systems — structure, piping, layout — turning naval architecture concepts into buildable drawings.
TechnicalOffice BasedCreative
Marine & Maritime
Naval Architect
Designs the hull form, structure, and stability of ships and other marine vessels.
Compare with another careerWhat you do
Develops hull geometry, structural layout, and stability calculations for new vessels, using naval architecture software and model testing. Works with marine engineers and classification societies to ensure designs meet performance, safety, and regulatory requirements.
Typical work environment
Mostly office-based design and calculation work, with visits to shipyards or model-testing tanks during design verification and build phases.
Typical entry point
Graduate naval architect at a ship design consultancy, shipyard, or classification society
Relevant subjects
Core
PhysicsMathematics
Also relevant
Design / Art
Relevant interests
Core
Ships / MarineDesign
Also relevant
ArchitectureResearch
Useful skills
CAD· AdvancedAnalytical thinking· AdvancedMechanical design· AdvancedProblem solving· Advanced
These are useful, relevant skills to build over time — not a checklist you need to already have.
Common education routes
Bachelor's degree—Naval Architecture & Ocean EngineeringPrimary route
Bachelor's degree—Marine EngineeringCommon route
Master's degree—Naval Architecture & Ocean EngineeringCommon route
These are common routes in, not the only path — and not a university or course recommendation.
Career characteristics
Deep technical specialisationGood international mobilityCreativity-driven
General tendencies for this career, not a guarantee — actual roles vary by employer and location.
Industries
MarineShippingManufacturing
Tags
STEMTechnicalCreativeAnalytical
Related careers
Marine & Maritime
Marine Engineer
Designs, operates, and maintains the propulsion, power, and mechanical systems that keep ships running.
TechnicalField BasedInternational
Marine & Maritime
Port Operations Manager
Oversees the day-to-day movement of ships, cargo, and equipment through a port or terminal.
Client FacingField BasedNon Stem
Marine & Maritime
Marine Surveyor
Inspects ships and marine equipment to verify condition, safety, and compliance with regulations and classification standards.
TechnicalField BasedRegulated Profession
Marine & Maritime
Offshore Engineer
Designs and supports the structures, platforms, and systems used to extract oil, gas, or wind energy at sea.
TechnicalField BasedInternational
This page describes the career itself — it isn't a personalised match for you. See how well it matches your own Student Digital Profile at /recommendations, or compare it against another career.