Officer Subspecialty
5602
Total Ship Systems
An officer subspecialty earned alongside a primary designator, marking advanced education or experience in this field.
Description
Total Ship Systems officers coordinate the engineering of a vessel as an integrated platform rather than as isolated equipment systems. They manage interfaces, requirements, testing, safety, maintainability, and lifecycle performance across propulsion, electrical, mechanical, and support systems.
Core Skills
- total ship systems integration
- ship design requirements
- system interface management
- shipboard power and propulsion
- damage control engineering
- configuration management
- ship qualification testing
- maintenance and lifecycle planning
- technical program management
Common Certifications
- Professional Engineer (PE) License
- Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential
- Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE)
- Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
- Certified Energy Manager (CEM)
Civilian Career Paths
- MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
- PROJECT MANAGEMENT
- FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
- FLEET MANAGEMENT
Training & Development
Getting Started
- FE Mechanical Engineering Exam
- INCOSE Systems Engineering Fundamentals course
- U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential
- ASQ Quality 101 course
Career Growth
- Professional Engineer (PE) License
- Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE)
Similar Specialties
U15D
Senior Shipboard Enlisted Engineering Maintenance Manager (Top Snipe) Candidate (Diesel)
Navy
U15E
Senior Shipboard Enlisted Engineering Maintenance Manager (Top Snipe) Candidate (Gas Turbine)
Navy
U16A
Shipboard Engineering Plant Program Manager
Navy
5601
Naval Mechanical Engineering
Navy
U25A
LSD-41 Class Propulsion Technician
Navy
R5
Rough Terrain Container Handler (RTCH) Maintainer
Army
Equivalent Roles in Other Branches
Data sourced from official Navy publications and public military occupational references. Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.