Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians

Overview

Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians has a national median salary of $82,890 per year, with +11.9% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists an associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

Operate, install, adjust, and maintain integrated computer/communications systems, consoles, simulators, and other data acquisition, test, and measurement instruments and equipment, which are used to launch, track, position, and evaluate air and space vehicles. May record and interpret test data.

Work Values

• Support
• Working Conditions
• Achievement

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• Test aircraft systems under simulated operational conditions, performing systems readiness tests and pre- and post-operational checkouts, to establish design or fabrication parameters.
• Identify required data, data acquisition plans, and test parameters, setting up equipment to conform to these specifications.
• Inspect, diagnose, maintain, and operate test setups and equipment to detect malfunctions.
• Confer with engineering personnel regarding details and implications of test procedures and results.
• Operate and calibrate computer systems and devices to comply with test requirements and to perform data acquisition and analysis.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Working with Computers
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships

Detailed Work Activities

• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists an associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished a bachelor's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Bachelor's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for an associate's degree.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians:

Video Resources