New Cohort Starts:

Donate

7135 Career Guide

Navy

7135: Ship Engineering Officer

Career transition guide for Navy Ship Engineering Officer (7135)

Translate Your 7135 Experience Now

Get a personalized AI-powered translation of your military experience into civilian resume language.

Start Free Translation

Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 7135 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Stationary Engineer

$85K
High matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

EPA 608 Certification

Electrical Engineer

$105K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Professional Engineer (PE) licenseAdvanced electrical design software (e.g., AutoCAD Electrical, ETAP)

Facilities Manager

$95K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP) certificationBuilding automation systems (BAS) knowledge

Power Plant Operator

$78K
High matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Specific power plant certifications (e.g., NERC)Familiarity with specific power plant technologies (e.g., coal, nuclear, natural gas)

Marine Engineer

$92K
High matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

USCG Merchant Mariner CredentialSpecialized knowledge of commercial vessel systems

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 7135 training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

As a 7135, you develop a deep understanding of how shipboard systems (electrical, mechanical, communication) interact. You troubleshoot complex problems by mentally mapping cause and effect across interconnected components.

This ability to understand complex interconnectedness translates directly to designing, optimizing, and troubleshooting large-scale systems in civilian industries.

Rapid Prioritization

In emergency situations or during critical operations, you quickly assess the status of multiple systems and prioritize repairs or adjustments to maintain operational effectiveness.

The skill to rapidly assess situations and effectively prioritize courses of action will allow you to excel in civilian environments that demand calm decision making under pressure.

Degraded-Mode Operations

You are trained to maintain essential functions even when systems are damaged or operating sub-optimally, finding creative solutions to work around limitations.

Your ability to adapt to imperfect conditions and maintain operations with limited resources is highly valuable in civilian roles requiring resilience and problem-solving.

Team Synchronization

As an officer, you coordinate teams of technicians to perform complex maintenance and repair tasks, ensuring everyone is working efficiently and safely towards a common goal.

You’re adept at guiding teams to achieve optimal productivity in high-pressure environments. Your leadership skills ensure seamless teamwork and achievement of goals.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Building Automation Systems Engineer

SOC 17-2141.02

You've been managing complex electrical, mechanical, and communication systems on ships, making you exceptionally well-prepared to design and maintain integrated control systems for large buildings. Your experience in troubleshooting and maintaining critical infrastructure will be invaluable.

Power Grid Operations Specialist

SOC 51-8013.00

You've mastered the intricacies of power distribution, load management, and emergency power systems on vessels. You will be leveraging your experience and transition seamlessly into ensuring the reliable operation of electrical grids, preventing outages, and responding to emergencies.

Robotics Technician

SOC 49-9062.00

You've spent years maintaining and repairing sophisticated electrical and mechanical equipment. Your skills in diagnostics, repair, and system integration make you a strong candidate to work on robots, especially in industrial or manufacturing settings. Plus, your aptitude for complex systems will allow you to quickly understand robot functionality and repair processes.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Surface Warfare Officer School (SWOS) Engineering Common Core, Newport, RI

480 training hours12 weeksUp to 6 semester hours in engineering fundamentals

Topics Covered

  • Naval Engineering Fundamentals
  • Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
  • Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics
  • Electrical Power Generation and Distribution
  • Control Systems and Instrumentation
  • Damage Control and Casualty Response
  • Shipboard Safety and Environmental Regulations

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional (CMRP)60% covered

Focus on reliability program management, preventative maintenance optimization, and financial analysis related to maintenance activities. Study asset management principles and lifecycle costing.

Certified Plant Engineer (CPE)50% covered

Requires understanding of facility systems beyond shipboard environments, including building automation, HVAC, and broader civil/structural aspects. Study environmental regulations and land-based facility codes.

Electrical Engineer (PE)40% covered

Requires a formal engineering degree and passing the PE exam. Focus on power systems analysis, protection, and design beyond shipboard applications. Study relevant electrical codes (NEC) and safety standards.

Recommended Next Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Energy Manager (CEM)Six Sigma Green Belt

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Naval Vessel Distributed Control System (NVDCS)Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems
Shipboard Electrical Power Distribution System (SEPDS)Smart Grid Technologies and Power Management Systems
Integrated Condition Assessment System (ICAS)Predictive Maintenance Software and Equipment Health Monitoring Platforms
Navy Enterprise Maintenance Automated Information System (NEMAIS)Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software like IBM Maximo or SAP EAM
Steering Control System (SCS)Automated industrial control systems
Gyrocompass System ( Sperry Marine)Marine Navigation Systems or Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs)

Ready to Translate Your Experience?

Our AI-powered translator converts your 7135 experience into ATS-optimized civilian resume language.

Translate My Resume — Free