Engineer Officer ( Royal Navy ) An Engineer Officer is one type of officer in the UK Royal Navy . There are also Warfare Officer s and Logistics Officer s ( formerly called Supply Officer s ) supported by additional branches such as Medical or Dental Officers , or the Chaplaincy Service . Engineer Officers are responsible for the material condition of the various aspects of maritime platforms : Ships , Submarines and Naval Aircraft and as such lead teams of naval rating s to conduct preventive and corrective maintenance . Engineer Officers are responsible to the Captain for the operational capability of the platform and as such form part of the Command Team . Engineers are also widely employed in the Defence Logistics Organisation , the Defence Procurement Agency and in the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence , supporting the Fleet or other elements of the British Armed Forces . Specialisations . Four sub - branches of Engineer exist : Marine Engineer . Marine Engineer Officers are responsible for the fabric of the ship or submarine , including its propulsion and steering systems , hotel and domestic services and damage control / fire fighting equipment . Weapon Engineer . Weapon Engineer Officers are responsible for the performance of onboard weapons , sensors , combat systems and communications systems . you must have a technical mind and an interest in electronics for this position . Air Engineer . Air Engineers are responsible for the performance of fixed and rotary wing aircraft afloat and ashore . Training Management . Training Management Officers are responsible for the management of training activities across the Royal Navy . Formed from the Instructor Officer branch , the role is predominantly a Human Capital function . However the position within the Engineer Branch reflects the high volume of engineering training carried out by the Royal Navy , with many Training Management Officers employed at HMS " Collingwood " and HMS " Sultan " . Training . Engineer Officers entering the Royal Navy are required to be graduates with a suitably numerate degree , however some may have been sponsored with the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme at Aston University , University of Birmingham , Loughborough University , Northumbria University , University of Newcastle upon Tyne or University of Southampton . Senior Ratings of the appropriate sub - specialisation may also be commissioned as Engineer Officers on the Senior Upper Yardman Scheme . New Entry training is undertaken at Britannia Royal Naval College where the courses vary slightly for new entry and SUY cadets . New Entry officers then undergo Common Fleet Time ( 4 months ) where they learn the ropes in an operational warship using a syllabus common to all Officer specialisations ; completing the Fleet Board to be permitted to continue to further training of Specialist Fleet Time attached to the department appropriate to their sub - specialisation . SUY Officers proceed directly to their specialist training waiving Fleet Time on the basis of their proven experience . Engineer Officers then undergo further training appropriate to their sub - specialisation . Weapon Engineers and Information Systems Engineers at HMS " Collingwood " , Marine Engineers and Aircraft Engineers at HMS " Sultan " and Training Managers at HMS Nelson . Training is structured and accredited by a number of professional bodies leading to the potential award of Chartered Engineer status .