Engineering?

R

RTHB

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Dec 10, 2017
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Does anyone know about post graduation engineering in the AF? I spoke to a Academy grad who is a mech engineer, which is what I'm interested in for my major if I get accepted. He was telling me that there wasn't very much hands on work for any of the engineer disciplines with the exception of civil engineering. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of that day to day work might look like?
 
Perhaps leading a group of mechanics who work on the jets and equipment?
 
The AF Officer AFSC for engineering is 62XX there are many jobs from hands on at Air Force labs to management of weapon system development at acquisition centers and the intelligence agencies. You’ll love it!
 
My DD wants to study aeronautical engineering. She wants to fly. If she is not flying, what kind of jobs she may get after graduate?
 
The son of a colleague of mine graduated USAFA about 20 yrs ago in civil. Air Force immediately sent him to Texas A&M for a masters. He came back to Colorado Springs several times to teach. He retired a Lt. Col. after being public works director for Ramstein AFB in his last assignment. He is now a high up director of a state DNR. He got his PE while in the Air Force. I have limited experience with grads from other SA’s but at least for USAFA, their is good use of an Engineering degree. I have a fellow engineer also from USAFA with a civil degree who now designs dams (he also played D1 hockey there).
 
I'd say 70+% of cadets coming in want to study aeronautical engineering (with a significantly smaller number feeling that way after their first semester at USAFA, it can be a doozy)...but the answer is what 16lpontzer and Oscar Whiskey said. 62XX is a developmental engineer. Duties include both working on actual in-house (government run) research projects as well as managing contractors working on such projects. I am a 61D (scientist/physicist) but I filled a 62 role when I first started at AFRL sensors directorate as a 2dLt. My job was basically to help out with first a lab test, then a small field test of a new LADAR system. I did a lot of programming, calibrating, finding, and setting up equipment (also a lot of sitting in a trailer pressing buttons, but that's a little less interesting). As a captain, the job is more about managing research programs, but if you do it right, you can work in some time to still do some research yourself.
 
Also for those with an engineering degree and finish flight school you have the chance to be a test pilot- flying and developing our newest aircraft. Even if you are not a pilot you can be a flight test engineer and fly in aircraft tests.
 
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