Marine engineer

As a marine engineer, you'lldesign, build and repair ships, boats and offshore oil and gas platforms. You’ll make sure their systems and machinery work effectively and safely.

You would design, build, test and repair:

• boats

• ships

• underwater craft

• remotely operated vehicles (ROVs)

• offshore platforms

• drilling equipment

You’ll use your technical knowledge of naval construction and mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering systems to work on systems and equipment in different marine industries.

If you worked in shipbuilding, boat-building and repair, you’ll work to design, develop, construct and maintain ships, boats and machinery.

The UK has a strong leisure boat industry. In the leisure boat field, you’ll help manufacture, maintain or repair a range of craft from canal barges to super yachts.

In an offshore energy industry, you'll design, build and operate offshore platforms, rigs, pipelines and equipment. For marine surveying, you’ll examine ships and offshore installations and look at their seaworthiness, safety and maintenance needs.

You could also join either the Merchant Navy or the Royal Navy. You’ll make sure engines, instruments and systems work safely and efficiently. In the Royal Navy, you could specialise in surface shipping, submarines or weapons systems.

You'll normally be responsible for a team of marine technicians and craftspeople. You’ll need to follow health and safely procedures. You need computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) skills and have to keep up to date with new developments in your field.

• WISE – inspires girls and women to study and build careers using science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)

• Tomorrow's Engineers – Careers resources for young people from Engineering UK and Royal Academy of Engineering

• Careers at Sea – resources from the Merchant Navy Training Board, part of the UK Chamber of Shipping