Also called: Navy Shock Test Engineer, Shock & Vibration Engineer
Proves that a warship's computers, pumps and radars can survive the jolt of an underwater explosion nearby.
You bolt a new navy display console onto a test machine where a 3,000-pound hammer swings into it. On bigger tests, equipment rides on a floating barge while explosives go off in the water nearby. Afterward you check what broke, then help designers add better mounts.
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 mechanical engineering; security clearance often required.
Ways in: 4-year college. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Naval Architecture.
Growing faster than average. Navy shipbuilding is growing.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Simulation and AI predict shock damage better, but the Navy still requires real tests and human sign-off.
Classes: Physics, AP Calculus, Engineering CTE, Shop class.
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.