Also called: Range Telemetry Engineer, Tracking Engineer
Maintains the radars, cameras, and antennas that track rockets during flight.
Before a launch, you calibrate tracking radars and test telemetry receivers. During flight, you make sure every data stream is recorded.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in electrical engineering.
Ways in: 4-year college, Military. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering Technology.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Automated tracking and space-based systems reduce some radar work; maintaining gear stays human.
Classes: Electronics CTE, Physics, Computer science, Algebra II.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2072.
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