National
| Median wages (2008) |
$26.46 hourly, $55,040 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
9,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Average (7% to 13%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
3,000 additional employees |
17-3021.00 - Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians
Operate, install, calibrate, and maintain integrated computer/communications systems consoles, simulators, and other data acquisition, test, and measurement instruments and equipment to launch, track, position, and evaluate air and space vehicles. May record and interpret test data.
Sample of reported job titles:
Electronics Technician, Spacecraft Systems Engineer, Instrumentation Technician, Avionics Technician, Engineering Technician, Systems Test Technician, Test Technician, Avionics Test Technician, Calibration Technician, Communication Technician
Tasks
- Inspect, diagnose, maintain, and operate test setups and equipment to detect malfunctions.
- Record and interpret test data on parts, assemblies, and mechanisms.
- Confer with engineering personnel regarding details and implications of test procedures and results.
- Adjust, repair or replace faulty components of test setups and equipment.
- Identify required data, data acquisition plans and test parameters, setting up equipment to conform to these specifications.
- Construct and maintain test facilities for aircraft parts and systems, according to specifications.
- Operate and calibrate computer systems and devices to comply with test requirements and to perform data acquisition and analysis.
- Test aircraft systems under simulated operational conditions, performing systems readiness tests and pre- and post-operational checkouts, to establish design or fabrication parameters.
- Fabricate and install parts and systems to be tested in test equipment, using hand tools, power tools, and test instruments.
- Finish vehicle instrumentation and deinstrumentation.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Files — Flat files; Hand files; Knife files; Vixen files |
| Gauges or inspection fixtures — Bore gauges; Master gauges; Small hole gauges; Telescoping gauges |
| Milling cutters — Computer numerical controlled CNC milling machines; Gantry mills; Multi-axis mills; Skin mills |
| Punches or nail sets or drifts — Aligning punches; Center punches; Drive punches; Pin punches |
| Taps or dies — Bottoming taps; Plug taps; Split dies; Taper taps |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Analytical or scientific software — Data acquisition software; Vibration analysis software |
| Computer aided design CAD software |
| Inventory management software — Inventory software |
| Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel |
| Word processing software — Microsoft Word |
