Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians

Architecture and Engineering Occupations

O*NET-SOC code: 17-3021.00

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.

Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
High· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery high
Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
Source dataset (XLSX download)
Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745
Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
Source dataset (CSV download)
Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.26
0.09Range of values carried here0.70
Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
Source dataset (PDF download)

What kind of figure this source publishes

The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.

Task-level exposure

Exposed tasks only

12 rated tasks · 6 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (50.0%)

β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.

Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
1 rated task is not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; its score is kept as published for O*NET 27.2.

Source: OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
Release: gh-main-0471612
License: MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI

Tasks of O*NET-SOC 2010 occupation 17-3021.00 Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians, linked to this occupation by the O*NET-SOC 2010 to 2019 crosswalk

Task (O*NET 20.1)	APIRaw / share %
Operate and calibrate computer systems and devices to comply with test requirements and to perform data acquisition and analysis. 17-3021.00	0.0021100.0
Not observed on any surface — 10 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states.
Inspect, diagnose, maintain, and operate test setups and equipment to detect malfunctions.	—0
Record and interpret test data on parts, assemblies, and mechanisms.	—0
Confer with engineering personnel regarding details and implications of test procedures and results.	—0
Adjust, repair or replace faulty components of test setups and equipment.	—0
Identify required data, data acquisition plans and test parameters, setting up equipment to conform to these specifications.	—0
Construct and maintain test facilities for aircraft parts and systems, according to specifications.	—0
Test aircraft systems under simulated operational conditions, performing systems readiness tests and pre- and post-operational checkouts, to establish design or fabrication parameters.	—0
Fabricate and install parts and systems to be tested in test equipment, using hand tools, power tools, and test instruments.	—0
Finish vehicle instrumentation and deinstrumentation.	—0
Exchange cooling system components in various vehicles.	—0

Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.

Task (O*NET 27.2)	βE1 + 0.5 × E2
Operate and calibrate computer systems and devices to comply with test requirements and to perform data acquisition and analysis. O*NET Task ID 10887	1.0
Inspect, diagnose, maintain, and operate test setups and equipment to detect malfunctions. O*NET Task ID 10881	0.5
Record and interpret test data on parts, assemblies, and mechanisms. O*NET Task ID 10882	0.5
Confer with engineering personnel regarding details and implications of test procedures and results. O*NET Task ID 10883	0.5
Identify required data, data acquisition plans, and test parameters, setting up equipment to conform to these specifications. O*NET Task ID 10885	0.5
Design electrical and mechanical systems for avionic instrumentation applications. O*NET Task ID 21102	0.5
Adjust, repair, or replace faulty components of test setups and equipment. O*NET Task ID 10884	0.0
Construct and maintain test facilities for aircraft parts and systems, according to specifications. O*NET Task ID 10886	0.0
Test aircraft systems under simulated operational conditions, performing systems readiness tests and pre- and post-operational checkouts, to establish design or fabrication parameters. O*NET Task ID 10888	0.0
Fabricate and install parts and systems to be tested in test equipment, using hand tools, power tools, and test instruments. O*NET Task ID 10889	0.0
Finish vehicle instrumentation and deinstrumentation. O*NET Task ID 10890	0.0
Exchange cooling system components in various vehicles. O*NET Task ID 10891	0.0

β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.

Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page

All O*NET 31.0 task statements (11)

All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.

Task (O*NET 31.0)	Type
Inspect, diagnose, maintain, and operate test setups and equipment to detect malfunctions.	Core
Record and interpret test data on parts, assemblies, and mechanisms.	Core
Confer with engineering personnel regarding details and implications of test procedures and results.	Core
Adjust, repair, or replace faulty components of test setups and equipment.	Core
Identify required data, data acquisition plans, and test parameters, setting up equipment to conform to these specifications.	Core
Operate and calibrate computer systems and devices to comply with test requirements and to perform data acquisition and analysis.	Core
Test aircraft systems under simulated operational conditions, performing systems readiness tests and pre- and post-operational checkouts, to establish design or fabrication parameters.	Core
Fabricate and install parts and systems to be tested in test equipment, using hand tools, power tools, and test instruments.	Core
Construct and maintain test facilities for aircraft parts and systems, according to specifications.	Supplemental
Finish vehicle instrumentation and deinstrumentation.	Supplemental
Design electrical and mechanical systems for avionic instrumentation applications.	Supplemental

Anthropic, "What work can robots do?"2026-09

0.36/ 3· Robot exposure index

0 none3 unstructured settings

Scale, basis and source

Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time

Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks

Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.

Source dataset

The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.

Tier of each physical task

Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)

E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site

Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.

Task (O*NET 29.3)	Robot environment tier
Inspect, diagnose, maintain, and operate test setups and equipment to detect malfunctions.	E0 none
Adjust, repair, or replace faulty components of test setups and equipment.	E0 none
Identify required data, data acquisition plans, and test parameters, setting up equipment to conform to these specifications.	E0 none
Operate and calibrate computer systems and devices to comply with test requirements and to perform data acquisition and analysis.	E1 purpose-built robot settings
Test aircraft systems under simulated operational conditions, performing systems readiness tests and pre- and post-operational checkouts, to establish design or fabrication parameters.	E1 purpose-built robot settings
Fabricate and install parts and systems to be tested in test equipment, using hand tools, power tools, and test instruments.	E1 purpose-built robot settings
Construct and maintain test facilities for aircraft parts and systems, according to specifications.	E0 none
Finish vehicle instrumentation and deinstrumentation.	E0 none

Employment outlook (BLS)

Employment, 2025: 12K
Projected employment, 2035: 13K
Change (2025–35): +11.9%
Median annual wage, 2025: $82,890
Typical education needed for entry: Associate's degree

lowest $30,890median wage across 825 detailed occupations, BLS EP 2025–35highest $559,030

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — Employment by detailed occupation, 2025 and projected 2035

Korea classification links (KSCO)

Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.

KSCO code	KSCO title	Relation	Status
23531	기계공학 시험원	Related, not a match	confirmed

Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)

ILO occupational description

AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.

ISCO-08 3115Mechanical Engineering Technicians

Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits

ESCO occupational vocabulary

Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.

aerospace engineering technicianESCO 3115.1.1Same scope
Aerospace engineering technicians work with aerospace engineers to operate, maintain and test equipment used on aircraft and spacecraft. They review blueprints and instructions to determine test specifications and procedures. They use software to make sure that parts of a spacecraft or aircraft are functioning properly. They record test procedures and results, and make recommendations for changes.
aerospace engineerESCO 2144.1.1Overlapping, not the same
Aerospace engineers develop, test and oversee the manufacture of flight vehicles such as aircrafts, missiles, and spacecrafts. The field of engineering they are active in, can be divided into two branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering.
aerospace engineering drafterESCO 3118.3.1Overlapping, not the same
Aerospace engineering drafters convert the aerospace engineers' designs into technical drawings usually using computer-aided design programs. Their drawings detail dimensions, fastening and assembling methods and other specifications used in the manufacture of aircrafts and spacecrafts.

Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)

License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)

View original

ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.

France classification links (ROME)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.

ROME code	ROME title (French)	Relation
K1740	Expert / Experte en opérations spatiales militaires	Related, not a match
H1210	Technicien / Technicienne R&D	Related, not a matchprovisional
H1246	Technicien / Technicienne en bureau d'études aéronautiques	Related, not a matchprovisional
I1334	Electronicien / Electronicienne de maintenance aéronautique	Related, not a matchprovisional

Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.

ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)

Spain classification links (CNO-11)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

CNO-11 code	CNO-11 title (Spanish)	Relation
3124	Técnicos en electrónica (excepto electromedicina)	Related, not a match
3126	Técnicos en mecánica	Related, not a match
3155	Técnicos en seguridad aeronáutica	Related, not a match

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)

Germany classification links (KldB)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

KldB code	KldB title (German)	Relation
25233	Berufe in der Luft- und Raumfahrttechnik - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten	Overlapping, not the same
26332	Berufe in der Luftverkehrs-, Schiffs- und Fahrzeugelektronik - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten	Related, not a match

Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)

Japan classification links (JSCO)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

JSCO code	JSCO title (Japanese)	Relation
584	輸送機械検査従事者（自動車を除く）	This occupation is narrower
085	輸送用機器技術者（自動車を除く）（開発を除く）	Related, not a match

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)

Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources