Also called: Acoustic Systems Engineer
Designs sonar systems that let ships, subs, and robots 'see' underwater with sound.
Sonar engineers design transducers and signal-processing software, test systems in tanks and at sea, and work for defense contractors or survey-equipment makers.
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; security clearance for defense work.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Electrical Engineering, Physics, Computer Engineering.
Growing faster than average (about 6% over 10 years).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI is becoming core to sonar signal processing; engineers who combine hardware and AI stay in demand.
Classes: AP Physics, AP Calculus, Electronics CTE class.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2072.
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