Also called: Iron Bird Technician
Runs a ground rig of an aircraft's real hydraulics, wiring and controls, nicknamed the "iron bird."
You hook up the rig, run a simulated flight where the controls move just as they would in the air, and track down leaks or software glitches before the real plane flies. Pilots sometimes sit in the rig's cockpit to fly simulated missions.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Associate's degree (2-year), about 2 years after high school. Associate in aerospace or electronics technology.
Ways in: 2-year college, Military, On-the-job training. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Aerospace Technology, Electronics Technology.
Growing much faster than average (about 8% over 10 years). Aerospace engineering technicians overall.
Low risk for 10 years. AI analyzes test runs faster; wiring, running and fixing the full-size ground rig stays hands-on.
Classes: Electronics CTE, Physics, Shop class, Algebra.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-3021.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.