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.
U.S. Workers
9,060
Median Salary
$79,830
10-Year Growth
+8.1%
Annual Openings
900
Typical entry: Associate's degree
11 of 11 tasks have some AI capability
Exposure Trend
This score reflects estimated AI technical capability for tasks in this occupation. It does not predict employment changes, and it does not account for company-specific constraints, regulation, or adoption barriers.
Record and interpret test data on parts, assemblies, and mechanisms.
AI: Fully automatable - Recording sensor data and interpreting test results using analytics and ML models is highly automatable and already widely implemented.
Construct and maintain test facilities for aircraft parts and systems, according to specifications.
AI: Partial - AI can assist in design, planning and predictive maintenance of test facilities, yet actual construction and many maintenance tasks remain primarily manual and site‑specific.
Inspect, diagnose, maintain, and operate test setups and equipment to detect malfunctions.
AI: Partial - AI can assist in inspection and diagnosis via sensors and analytics, but operating and maintaining physical test setups—especially for complex or safety-critical systems—still requires human technicians.
Operate and calibrate computer systems and devices to comply with test requirements and to perform data acquisition and analysis.
AI: Partial - AI and automation can perform many calibration routines, operate data systems and run analyses, but hands‑on instrument adjustments, hardware troubleshooting and certification often need human oversight.
Test aircraft systems under simulated operational conditions, performing systems readiness tests and pre- and post-operational checkouts, to establish design or fabrication parameters.
AI: Partial - AI can run simulated test sequences, control test rigs and analyze results, but complex readiness assessments and some physical checkouts still require human judgment and intervention.
Confer with engineering personnel regarding details and implications of test procedures and results.
AI: Partial - AI can summarize procedures and results and suggest implications, but substantive engineering discussion, trade-off evaluation, and final decisions remain human-led.
Fabricate and install parts and systems to be tested in test equipment, using hand tools, power tools, and test instruments.
AI: Partial - AI can generate fabrication plans, CNC/robotic instructions and assist with QA, yet most hand tool and ad‑hoc installation tasks remain dependent on human technicians.
Adjust, repair or replace faulty components of test setups and equipment.
AI: Partial - AI can diagnose faults, provide repair procedures and remote guidance or control limited robotics, but cannot reliably perform the wide range of hands‑on repairs across varied test setups autonomously as of 2025.
Identify required data, data acquisition plans and test parameters, setting up equipment to conform to these specifications.
AI: Partial - AI can fully design required data sets, acquisition plans and test parameters and generate setup instructions, but physical equipment setup and final verification typically require human technicians.
Finish vehicle instrumentation and deinstrumentation.
AI: Partial - AI can guide and partially automate instrumentation tasks and log/configure sensors, but finishing instrumentation and deinstrumentation typically require manual dexterity and in‑field decisions by humans.
Exchange cooling system components in various vehicles.
AI: Partial - AI can provide diagnostic steps, replacement procedures and parts lists and support guided repairs, but swapping cooling components across diverse vehicles is still largely a manual task.