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7185 Career Guide

Navy

7185: Surface Warfare Electronics Officer

Career transition guide for Navy Surface Warfare Electronics Officer (7185)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 7185 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Electronics Engineer

$110K
High matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Specific industry software (e.g., Altium, Cadence)Civilian project management methodologies (e.g., Agile)Staying updated on the latest electronics standards and regulations

Field Service Engineer

$85K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Specific product training from civilian manufacturersCustomer service and communication skillsKnowledge of relevant safety standards (OSHA)

Technical Trainer

$75K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Instructional design principlesAdult learning methodologiesCertification in specific technologies (e.g., CompTIA)Excellent presentation skills

Network Engineer

$95K
Good matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)Knowledge of network security protocolsExperience with cloud networking platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure)

Technical Sales Engineer

$120K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Sales techniques and strategiesStrong understanding of the sales cycleExcellent communication and interpersonal skillsIndustry-specific product knowledge

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 7185 training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

As a 7185, you analyze complex electronics systems to understand their interconnectedness and predict their behavior under different conditions, crucial for maintenance and troubleshooting.

This ability to create mental models of complex systems translates to understanding and optimizing processes in various industries, allowing you to anticipate problems and devise effective solutions.

Degraded-Mode Operations

You maintain electronics systems even when parts fail or when the system doesn't work as intended, demonstrating your ability to work creatively to fix issues.

Your experience in maintaining functionality under duress translates directly to resilience and problem-solving skills valued in fast-paced, high-pressure civilian environments. You are adept at finding solutions when resources are limited.

Situational Awareness

You're adept at understanding how all the electronics on a ship or base work together and what is going on around you in order to plan projects effectively.

This skill translates directly to project management or consulting roles, where understanding the big picture and anticipating potential challenges is key to success.

After-Action Analysis

You evaluate the performance of electronics systems and maintenance procedures to identify areas for improvement and prevent future failures.

This translates into strong analytical abilities, critical for quality assurance, process improvement, or risk management roles in any sector. You're skilled at learning from past experiences to drive better outcomes.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Management Consultant

SOC 11-9199.00

You've been trained to understand the big picture of how electronics systems work together. Your ability to model systems, see how they interconnect, and understand the 'why' of failures translates directly into helping businesses optimize their operations. Your experience with naval electronics gives you a unique perspective that many consultants lack.

Technical Trainer (for non-electronics companies)

SOC 25-9044.00

You've been preparing and distributing operator and maintenance training courses for complex electronic systems. You already know how to break down complex information into easy to understand steps for others. Now, consider applying that expertise to different industries, like manufacturing or healthcare. You can use your skills to create training programs on complex medical machinery or for robots on a manufacturing line.

Business Process Analyst

SOC 13-1111.00

You've honed your skills in ensuring that electronics systems on naval vessels operate optimally. Your experience translates perfectly to analyzing and optimizing business processes. Your deep understanding of system modeling, performance evaluation, and troubleshooting will allow you to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies, recommend improvements, and streamline operations.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Surface Warfare Officer School (SWOS), Newport, RI; Various Electronics Specialty Schools

480 training hours12 weeksUp to 6 semester hours in electronics technology

Topics Covered

  • Electronic Systems Maintenance
  • Radar Systems Operation and Maintenance
  • Navigation Systems
  • Communications Systems
  • Troubleshooting Techniques
  • Operational Risk Management
  • Leadership and Team Management

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Electronics Technician (CET)70% covered

Focus on specific troubleshooting techniques for consumer electronics and some advanced microelectronics repair procedures.

CompTIA Network+60% covered

Review specific networking protocols (especially those used in modern data centers), cloud networking concepts, and the latest network security best practices.

Project Management Professional (PMP)50% covered

Study the five process groups and ten knowledge areas as defined by PMI, focusing on documentation and standardized project management methodologies.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)AWS Certified Solutions Architect – AssociateSix Sigma Green Belt

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
AN/SPS-48 RadarLong-range air surveillance radar systems
AN/SPY-1 Radar (Aegis)Advanced phased array radar systems for tracking and detection
AN/SQQ-89 Sonar SystemIntegrated sonar systems for underwater surveillance and detection
Global Command and Control System – Maritime (GCCS-M)Maritime domain awareness and command & control software platforms
Navy Tactical Command Support System (NTCSS)Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems for naval operations
Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC)Networked sensor fusion systems for integrated air defense
Shipboard Gridlock System (SGS)Real-time data processing and distribution systems

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