Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technician  What They Do

Operates, installs, calibrates, and maintains 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.

This career is part of the Manufacturing cluster Manufacturing Production Process Development pathway.


A person in this career:

  • Inspects, diagnoses, maintains, and operates test setups and equipment to detect malfunctions.
  • Records and interprets test data on parts, assemblies, and mechanisms.
  • Confers with engineering personnel regarding details and implications of test procedures and results.
  • Adjusts, repairs or replaces faulty components of test setups and equipment.
  • Identifies required data, data acquisition plans and test parameters, setting up equipment to conform to these specifications.
  • Constructs and maintains test facilities for aircraft parts and systems, according to specifications.
  • Operates and calibrates computer systems and devices to comply with test requirements and to perform data acquisition and analysis.
  • Tests aircraft systems under simulated operational conditions, performing systems readiness tests and pre- and post-operational checkouts, to establish design or fabrication parameters.
  • Fabricates and installs parts and systems to be tested in test equipment, using hand tools, power tools, and test instruments.
  • Finishes vehicle instrumentation and deinstrumentation.

Multimedia

Watch a one-minute video showing what it's like to work in this career or related careers


Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians

watch video

Note: This movie requires QuickTime.


QuickTime Free Download
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would often handle loads up to 20 lbs., sometimes up to 50 lbs. You might do a lot of lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling.
  • Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
  • Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
  • Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
  • Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Seeing clearly at a distance
  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

  • Regular working hours and limited travel

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Aerographer -- Uses instruments that monitor weather characteristics such as air pressure, temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction.
  • Aerospace Physiological Technician -- Operates physiological training devices, such as pressure suits, pressure chamber, parasail equipment, and ejection seats, that simulate flying conditions, to indoctrinate flying personnel to physical and physiological stresses encountered in flight: Inte
  • Avionics Technician -- Lays out, installs, tests, repairs, and maintains electrical systems in aircraft.
  • Spacecraft Systems Engineer -- Provides space mission systems engineering technical oversight and management of a specific discipline or vehicle payload.