Ship Engineers

Most exposed tasks

Highest structured exposure values in this role’s task mix — the work AI systems can already do most of.

• Record orders for changes in ship speed or direction, and note gauge readings or test data, such as revolutions per minute or voltage output, in engineering logs or bellbooks.73
• Act as a liaison between a ship's captain and shore personnel to ensure that schedules and budgets are maintained and that the ship is operated safely and efficiently.69
• Maintain complete records of engineering department activities, including machine operations.62

Augmentable tasks

Work where AI assists rather than replaces — the productivity frontier of this role.

• Perform or participate in emergency drills, as required.59
• Monitor and test operations of engines or other equipment so that malfunctions and their causes can be identified.55
• Fabricate engine replacement parts, such as valves, stay rods, or bolts, using metalworking machinery.55

Most durable tasks

Lowest exposure — typically judgment, relationships, physical presence, or accountability. This is the human moat.

• Supervise marine engine technicians engaged in the maintenance or repair of mechanical or electrical marine vessels, and inspect their work to ensure that it is performed properly.31

Task exposure values and classifications come from the versioned data release — they are structured data, not model output. Bars show exposure contribution relative to this role’s task mix.

What this means

A score of 53 puts Ship Engineers in the third quartile of analyzed occupations. In practice, exposure this high is about the mix: 4 of 17 analyzed tasks lean automatable, 12 augmentable, and 1 durable. The useful question isn’t “will AI take this job” — it’s which tasks go first, which get faster, and where to reposition time. That’s what the personalized report maps against your actual week.

One next move: audit how much of your week sits in the exposed tasks above — then shift time toward the durable set or investigate the adjacent roles below.

Lower-exposure adjacent roles

Shown only when the target is at least 10 points lower under the same score version and skill overlap is at least 50%. These are adjacent roles with lower task exposure — not guaranteed “safe careers”.

Labor-market context

• $109,530median wage
• 8,400employed
• 1,100annual openings
• +2.3%projected growth

Context only — labor statistics are not inputs to the exposure score. See methodology.

Related roles

Adjacent by skills or family — no exposure claim implied.

• Marine Engineers and Naval Architects 45
• Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators 62
• Hydroelectric Plant Technicians 54
• Sailors and Marine Oilers 44
• Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians 36
• Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 45

FAQ — Ship Engineers

What does a score of 53 mean for a Ship Engineers?

It means that, weighted across the 17 tasks we analyzed for this role, the task mix sits at 53 on a 0–100 exposure scale — in the third quartile of analyzed occupations. It measures task exposure to current and near-term AI capabilities, not the probability of losing a job.

Which tasks in this role are most exposed to AI?

The highest-exposure tasks are: Record orders for changes in ship speed or direction, and note gauge readings or test data, such as revolutions per minute or voltage output, in engineering logs or bellbooks; Act as a liaison between a ship's captain and shore personnel to ensure that schedules and budgets are maintained and that the ship is operated safely and efficiently; Maintain complete records of engineering department activities, including machine operations. Exposure is scored per task from structured data, not generated by a language model.

Which parts of this job are most durable?

The most durable responsibilities are: Supervise marine engine technicians engaged in the maintenance or repair of mechanical or electrical marine vessels, and inspect their work to ensure that it is performed properly. Durable tasks typically depend on judgment, relationships, physical presence, or accountability.

Is this score personalized to me?

No — this page shows the occupation-level baseline. Two people with the same title often do different work. The $9 personalized report recalculates the score from the tasks you actually do and builds a concrete 7/30/90-day plan around them.