Find Trade Colleges

All About Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians

Career Description Operate, install, calibrate, 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.

Life As an Aerospace Engineering or Operations Technician

Inspect, diagnose, maintain, and operate test setups and equipment to detect malfunctions.
Finish vehicle instrumentation and deinstrumentation.
Confer with engineering personnel regarding details and implications of test procedures and results.
Exchange cooling system components in various vehicles.
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.

Featured schools near , edit

Qualities of an Aerospace Engineering or Operations Technician

These are the skills Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians say are the most useful in their careers:

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Test Specialist
Flight Readiness Technician
Spacecraft Systems Engineer
Radar Technician
Project Engineer

What Kind of Aerospace Engineering or Operations Technician Job Opportunities Are There?

There were about 12,100 jobs for Aerospace Engineering or Operations Technician in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 800 new jobs for Aerospace Engineering or Operations Technician by 2026. There will be an estimated 1,100 positions for Aerospace Engineering or Operations Technician per year.

The states with the most job growth for Aerospace Engineering or Operations Technician are Utah, Georgia, and Alabama. Watch out if you plan on working in Washington, Kansas, or North Dakota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What is the Average Salary of an Aerospace Engineering or Operations Technician

The typical yearly salary for Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians is somewhere between $42,610 and $100,310.

Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians who work in Washington, Colorado, or Missouri, make the highest salaries.

How much do Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians make in different U.S. states?

State	Annual Mean Salary
Alabama	$60,630
Arizona	$71,500
California	$68,410
Colorado	$84,190
Connecticut	$65,330
Florida	$62,050
Georgia	$50,930
Illinois	$58,500
Iowa	$57,170
Kansas	$66,870
Maryland	$71,760
Missouri	$76,630
New Jersey	$67,780
New Mexico	$73,570
New York	$75,070
Ohio	$67,210
Oklahoma	$66,120
Oregon	$65,440
Tennessee	$68,440
Texas	$66,960
Utah	$62,060
Virginia	$75,060
Washington	$93,740

What Tools & Technology do Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians may use on a daily basis:

Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Office
JavaScript
Microsoft PowerPoint
Python
Microsoft Access
Word processing software
Microsoft Project
Autodesk AutoCAD
Microsoft SharePoint
Microsoft Visio
Structured query language SQL
Linux
Extensible markup language XML
Microsoft SQL Server
UNIX
Computer aided design CAD software
National Instruments LabVIEW
Oracle software

Becoming an Aerospace Engineering or Operations Technician

Individuals working as an Aerospace Engineering or Operations Technician have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians Are Employed

The table below shows the approximate number of Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians employed by various industries.

References:

Image Credit: via Creative Commons CC0

More about our data sources and methodologies.

TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.