Engineering and Scientific Research Careers

The Military employs numerous types of air, land, sea and space technology and equipment. Engineering and Scientific Research officers work on the advancement of such technology, as well as the maintenance and management of existing equipment. These officers work with emerging technology to create the equipment of the future and have been responsible for many modern conveniences we take for granted.

Possible Responsibilities

• Conduct research on aircraft guidance, propulsion and weapons systems
• Test new or modified equipment to check its performance and reliability
• Study how people work with machines and computers
• Study the effects of drugs, chemicals and gases on living organisms
• Oversee the installation, operation and repair of ship hulls
• Develop safety procedures for handling nuclear weapons
• Command and pilot space shuttles

Helpful Attributes

Useful fields of study include chemistry, biology and mathematics. Helpful attributes include:

• Interest in scientific and technical work
• Work well with others
• Well organized
• Strong analytical skills
• Enjoy analyzing data

Training Provided

While most Engineering and Scientific Research officers are expected to have been previously educated, job training is provided for some specialties. Sample courses include:

• Weapon System Electronics
• Combat and Tactical Systems and Networks
• Problem Analysis and Decision Making
• Development of Space Flight Simulation