Also called: T&E Engineer, Range Test Engineer
Plans and runs the tests that prove new military systems actually work before they go to troops.
You write the test plan for a new radar, coordinate aircraft and range crews, and analyze the data to write a report that decides whether the program moves forward. Test days can start before sunrise at remote ranges.
Many jobs at test ranges like China Lake, White Sands and Eglin.
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 engineering.
Ways in: 4-year college. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering.
Growing about average. Steady defense demand.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI analyzes test data and writes reports faster; running live range tests and judging readiness stay human.
Classes: AP Physics, Statistics, Computer science, JROTC.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2199.
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.