# Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians

> 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.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 17-3021.00
- **Summary:** 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.

## Aliases

- Engineering Technician
- Instrumentation Technician
- Systems Test Technician
- Test Technician
- Avionics Installation Technician
- Avionics Test Technician
- Engineering Test Technician
- Flight Test Instrument Technician
- Aerographer
- Aerospace Assembler
- Aerospace Engineering Technologist
- Aerospace Mechanic

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Test aircraft systems under simulated operational conditions, performing systems readiness tests and pre- and post-operational checkouts, to establish design or fabrication parameters. | Core | 4.A.1.b.2.l |
| Identify required data, data acquisition plans, and test parameters, setting up equipment to conform to these specifications. | Core | 4.A.2.b.1.h |
| Inspect, diagnose, maintain, and operate test setups and equipment to detect malfunctions. | Core | 4.A.1.b.2.g |
| Confer with engineering personnel regarding details and implications of test procedures and results. | Core | 4.A.4.a.2.h |
| Record and interpret test data on parts, assemblies, and mechanisms. | Core | 4.A.2.a.4.l |
| Operate and calibrate computer systems and devices to comply with test requirements and to perform data acquisition and analysis. | Core | 4.A.3.b.1.e |
| Finish vehicle instrumentation and deinstrumentation. | Supplemental | 4.A.1.b.2.c |
| Adjust, repair, or replace faulty components of test setups and equipment. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Fabricate and install parts and systems to be tested in test equipment, using hand tools, power tools, and test instruments. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.t |
| Construct and maintain test facilities for aircraft parts and systems, according to specifications. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.2.d |
| Design electrical and mechanical systems for avionic instrumentation applications. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.b.2.e |

## Emerging Tasks

| Text |
| --- |
| Operate, test, and troubleshoot uncrewed aerial systems, commonly known as drones, to ensure optimal performance. |

## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Inspect equipment or systems. | 4.A.1.b.2.g |
| Interpret design or operational test results. | 4.A.2.a.4.l |
| Document design or operational test results. | 4.A.3.b.6.i |
| Confer with technical personnel to prepare designs or operational plans. | 4.A.4.a.2.h |
| Calibrate scientific or technical equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Maintain test equipment. | 4.A.3.b.5.c |
| Estimate technical or resource requirements for development or production projects. | 4.A.2.b.1.h |
| Assemble equipment or components. | 4.A.3.a.2.d |
| Operate computer systems. | 4.A.3.b.1.e |
| Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment. | 4.A.1.b.2.l |
| Install production equipment or systems. | 4.A.3.a.2.t |
| Fabricate devices or components. | 4.A.3.a.2.aa |
| Test quality of materials or finished products. | 4.A.1.b.2.c |
| Design electrical equipment or systems. | 4.A.3.b.2.e |
| Document technical design details. | 4.A.3.b.6.i |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mechanical | knowledge | 4.49 |
| Engineering and Technology | knowledge | 4.28 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 4 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 4 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 4 |
| Mathematics | knowledge | 3.93 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3.88 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.88 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3.88 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 3.88 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3.88 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.88 |
| Production and Processing | knowledge | 3.79 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 3.75 |
| Operations Monitoring | transferable_skill | 3.75 |
| Quality Control Analysis | transferable_skill | 3.75 |
| Written Expression | ability | 3.75 |
| Customer and Personal Service | knowledge | 3.7 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 3.62 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3.62 |
| Complex Problem Solving | transferable_skill | 3.5 |
| English Language | knowledge | 3.39 |
| Flexibility of Closure | ability | 3.38 |
| Administrative | knowledge | 3.36 |
| Physics | knowledge | 3.34 |
| Computers and Electronics | knowledge | 3.33 |
| Troubleshooting | transferable_skill | 3.25 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 3.25 |
| Perceptual Speed | ability | 3.25 |
| Visualization | ability | 3.25 |
| Writing | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Science | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Category Flexibility | ability | 3.12 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3.12 |
| Control Precision | ability | 3.12 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3.12 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3.12 |
| Education and Training | knowledge | 3.03 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Unix | Specialized Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Visio | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft SharePoint | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft Project | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Outlook | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Access | Specialized Skill |
| Linux | Specialized Skill |
| Junit | Specialized Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Apache Hadoop | Specialized Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Apache Hadoop | Data base management system software | yes | no |
| Atlassian JIRA | Project management software | yes | no |
| Autodesk AutoCAD | Computer aided design CAD software | yes | no |
| C++ | Object or component oriented development software | yes | no |
| Dassault Systemes SolidWorks | Computer aided design CAD software | yes | no |
| Extensible markup language XML | Enterprise application integration software | yes | no |
| JavaScript | Web platform development software | yes | no |
| JUnit | Program testing software | yes | no |
| Linux | Operating system software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Access | Data base user interface and query software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | yes | no |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Project | Project management software | yes | no |
| Microsoft SharePoint | Document management software | yes | no |
| Microsoft SQL Server | Data base user interface and query software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Visio | Process mapping and design software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| Oracle Database | Data base user interface and query software | yes | no |
| Oracle Java | Object or component oriented development software | yes | no |
| Python | Object or component oriented development software | yes | no |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux | Operating system software | yes | no |
| SAP software | Enterprise resource planning ERP software | yes | no |
| Selenium | Program testing software | yes | no |
| Structured query language SQL | Data base user interface and query software | yes | no |
| UNIX | Operating system software | yes | no |
| Apache JMeter | Object or component oriented development software | no | no |
| Bugzilla | Program testing software | no | no |
| Computerized numerical control CNC software | Industrial control software | no | no |
| Customer information control system CICS | Transaction server software | no | no |
| Dassault Systemes CATIA | Computer aided design CAD software | no | no |
| Data acquisition software | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| Debugging software | Program testing software | no | no |
| Graphical user interface GUI design software | Graphical user interface development software | no | no |
| Hewlett Packard LoadRunner | Program testing software | no | no |
| Inventory software | Inventory management software | no | no |
| Job control language JCL | Operating system software | no | no |
| National Instruments LabVIEW | Development environment software | no | no |
| Vibration analysis software | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.96 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 4.91 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.69 |
| E-Mail | 4.67 |
| Telephone Conversations | 4.51 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4.48 |
| Time Pressure | 4.47 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 4.41 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 4.35 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 4.29 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 4.11 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 4.06 |
| Contact With Others | 4.02 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3.88 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 3.84 |
| Consequence of Error | 3.78 |
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | 3.69 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 3.69 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 3.64 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 3.53 |
| Level of Competition | 3.42 |
| Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions | 3.35 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 3.35 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 3.2 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 3.13 |
| Spend Time Sitting | 3.12 |
| Physical Proximity | 3.09 |
| Spend Time Standing | 2.94 |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body | 2.9 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 2.89 |
| Conflict Situations | 2.8 |
| Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions | 2.63 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 2.61 |
| Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings | 2.57 |
| Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling | 2.41 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 2.35 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 2.34 |
| Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection | 2.17 |
| Exposed to High Places | 2.05 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 2.05 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 3
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- **Experience:** Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- **Svp Range:** (6.0 to < 7.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 39.23 |
| High School Diploma | 19.69 |
| Bachelor's Degree | 7.92 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 6.47 |
| Engineering | specific_interest_area | 6.38 |
| Mechanics/Electronics | specific_interest_area | 6.19 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 5.31 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 5.11 |
| Information Technology | specific_interest_area | 4.23 |
| Dependability | work_style | 4 |
| Physical Science | specific_interest_area | 3.85 |
| Mathematics/Statistics | specific_interest_area | 3.67 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 3 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 2.58 |
| Physical/Manual Labor | specific_interest_area | 2.57 |
| Transportation/Machine Operation | specific_interest_area | 2.18 |
| Integrity | work_style | 2.1 |
| Intellectual Curiosity | work_style | 1.86 |
| Perseverance | work_style | 1.8 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 17-3028.00 | role-17-3028-00 | Calibration Technologists and Technicians | Primary-Short |
| 49-2091.00 | role-49-2091-00 | Avionics Technicians | Primary-Short |
| 17-3024.00 | role-17-3024-00 | Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | Primary-Short |
| 17-3027.00 | role-17-3027-00 | Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | Primary-Short |
| 17-3027.01 | role-17-3027-01 | Automotive Engineering Technicians | Primary-Short |
| 17-3024.01 | role-17-3024-01 | Robotics Technicians | Primary-Long |
| 49-2094.00 | role-49-2094-00 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | Primary-Long |
| 17-3023.00 | role-17-3023-00 | Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | Primary-Long |
| 49-3011.00 | role-49-3011-00 | Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | Primary-Long |
| 17-3026.00 | role-17-3026-00 | Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | Primary-Long |
| 17-2011.00 | role-17-2011-00 | Aerospace Engineers | Supplemental |
| 51-2011.00 | role-51-2011-00 | Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Advanced Manufacturing | advanced-manufacturing |
| Supply Chain & Transportation | supply-chain-transportation |

## Education Level

- **Category:** Associate's degree

## Study Programs

| Title | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Engineering | engineering |
| Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians | engineering-engineering-related-technologies-technicians |
| Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians | mechanic-and-repair-technologies-technicians |
| Military Technologies and Applied Sciences | military-technologies-and-applied-sciences |

## Market

- **Median Wage:** 79830
- **Mean Wage:** 86330
- **Pct10Wage:** 53730
- **Pct25Wage:** 64570
- **Pct75Wage:** 102220
- **Pct90Wage:** 120440
- **Employment:** 9060
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 4730 | 80390 | 6.31 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 3330 | 75390 | 5.26 |
| 541330 | 541330 | Engineering Services | National industry | 1930 | 73460 | 28.41 |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 520 | 87360 | 0.65 |
| 48-49 | 48-49 | Transportation and Warehousing | Sector | 200 | 131540 | 0.46 |
| 55 | 55 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | Sector | 110 | 123270 | 0.67 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 90 | 111350 |  |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry |  | 60460 |  |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 541330 | 541330 | Engineering Services | National industry | 1930 | 28.41 |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 4730 | 6.31 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 3330 | 5.26 |
| 55 | 55 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | Sector | 110 | 0.67 |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 520 | 0.65 |
| 48-49 | 48-49 | Transportation and Warehousing | Sector | 200 | 0.46 |
- **Count:** 8

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.48 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | 0.3909402 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | 0.6987672 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | 0.2007942 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 60
- **Percentile:** 59
- **Band:** Moderate
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 58 | felten_aioe |
| 46 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 75 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | 0.3909402 | 58 | Moderate | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.55 | 46 | Moderate | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.22780438821508914 | 75 | High | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.48
- **Percentile:** 46
- **Band:** Moderate
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.1
- **Beta:** 0.325
- **Gamma:** 0.55

### Usage Tasks


### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** 8.1
- **Growth Percentile:** 87
- **Direction:** Growing fast
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 0.9
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 14
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 9.3
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 10.1

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 11
- **Skills:** 49
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 40
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** 6b1adba3d5b9dd85