Marine Engineer / Naval Architect
Designs, builds and maintains ships, boats and marine structures. Works on vessel design, propulsion systems, offshore structures and port infrastructure. Critical for Kenya's maritime sector on the Indian Ocean.
- AI exposure
- 49 of 100, moderate exposure
- Hiring trend
- Stable
- Hiring rate
- 30%
The role
What the work is, what it pays, and what it costs you.
At a glance
- Remote friendly
- No
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Time to senior
- 8 years
A day in the role
Inspects a vessel in dry dock at Mombasa, reviews hull repair plans, designs a modification for a fishing vessel, and ensures compliance with maritime safety standards.
What it pays
Kenyan market, per month- Entry
- KES 80,000-150,000
- Mid
- KES 200,000-450,000
- Senior
- KES 500,000-1,200,000
Exposure
How much of this a machine can already do, and how that was worked out.
Where this rating sits
1,516 rated careersRated above 65% of the 1,516 careers in the catalogue, which averages 43. Inside engineering the mean is 42, across 113 careers.
Named task by task
Already automated
- AI-powered hull form optimisation
- Automated propulsion system diagnostics
- Generating ship design variations
- AI-assisted stability analysis
Still human
- Designing ship and boat hulls
- Managing vessel construction and repair
- Designing propulsion and marine systems
- Ensuring stability and safety compliance
- Managing dry-dock operations
- Coordinating with classification societies
Task counts
- Displacing
- Minimal — marine engineering requires hands-on work
- Augmenting
- AI hull optimisation improves vessel efficiency
- Creating
- Autonomous vessels create new marine-tech roles
Sources
Behind the rating- KPA
- KMA
- WEF Future of Jobs 2023
Getting in
The routes into the role and what each one asks for.
What to study
8 courses- Certificate in Sugar ManufacturingKsh 40,000a year
- Trade Test Grade III in Motor Vehicle MechanicsKsh 41,500a year
- Certificate in Metal Processing TechnologyKsh 42,600a year
- Electrical Wireman Grade I, II and IIIKsh 54,000a year
- Artisan in Automotive EngineeringKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in Building TechnologyKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in Carpentry and JoineryKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in Electrical EngineeringKsh 67,189a year
How people get in
BSc Marine/Naval Engineering + KMA certification
5-6 yearsVery high cost
BSc from JKUAT, TUK or international plus Kenya Maritime Authority certification
Who hires
- Kenya Ports Authority
- Kenya Maritime Authority
- Shipyard Mombasa
- Offshore Oil & Gas
- Fishing Industry
Common misconceptions
Marine engineering is just ship repair
It involves hydrodynamics, structural design, propulsion systems, stability analysis and maritime regulations — marine engineers design and build entire vessels.
What happens next
How the role changes from here, and where it leads.
Growth outlook
- Net demand change
- +5%
- Over
- 2026-2028
- Drivers
- Blue economy strategy,Port expansion,Fishing industry growth
- Headwinds
- Limited local training,Small maritime sector
What to learn
- Autonomous vessel technology
- Green ship design
- Offshore renewable energy
Kenyan market notes
Kenya has a significant maritime sector — Mombasa Port (KPA), Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), Shipyard Mombasa. Growing blue economy focus — fishing, shipping, offshore exploration. Limited marine engineering training in Kenya. Diani and Watamu boat building. Salary: entry KES 80,000-150,000, mid KES 200,000-450,000, senior KES 500,000-1,200,000+ (international maritime companies pay more).
Further reading
This role is rated 49 out of 100 today. Save it and the app keeps that number, then tells you by how much it has moved when the record is next reviewed.