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9620 Career Guide

Marine Corps

9620: Aeronautical Engineer

Career transition guide for Marine Corps Aeronautical Engineer (9620)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 9620 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Aerospace Engineer

$125K
High matchHigh demand

Aircraft Maintenance Manager

$110K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) licenseProject Management Professional (PMP) certification

Quality Control Engineer

$95K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Six Sigma certificationKnowledge of ISO 9000 standards

Avionics Technician

$75K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

FAA Repairman CertificateSpecific avionics system certifications (e.g., Garmin, Honeywell)

Technical Sales Engineer

$105K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Sales and marketing trainingStrong communication and presentation skills

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 9620 training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

As an aeronautical engineer, you built and maintained detailed mental and physical models of complex aircraft subsystems to predict performance, troubleshoot issues, and implement effective modifications.

This ability to understand and simulate complex systems translates directly to designing, analyzing, and optimizing business processes, software architectures, or financial models.

Rapid Prioritization

You constantly faced situations requiring you to quickly assess the urgency and impact of various maintenance, repair, and modification needs to ensure aircraft safety and operational readiness.

This skill is invaluable in any fast-paced environment where you must triage competing demands and allocate resources effectively to meet critical deadlines and objectives.

Resource Optimization

You were responsible for managing budgets, personnel, and equipment to maximize efficiency and minimize downtime in the maintenance and repair of aircraft subsystems.

Your expertise in resource optimization makes you well-suited for roles where you can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and streamline operations by strategically allocating resources.

After-Action Analysis

You rigorously analyzed maintenance and repair processes to identify areas for improvement, prevent future failures, and enhance the overall performance and reliability of aircraft subsystems.

This analytical mindset and focus on continuous improvement can be applied to any field where you need to evaluate performance, identify root causes of problems, and implement corrective actions.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Management Consultant

SOC 13-1111

You've been rigorously trained in system modeling, resource optimization, and after-action analysis. This positions you perfectly to analyze business processes, identify inefficiencies, and recommend data-driven solutions to improve performance for client organizations.

Healthcare Administrator

SOC 11-9111

You've honed your rapid prioritization and resource optimization skills to ensure the smooth operation of aircraft maintenance. You can apply these same skills to optimize hospital operations, manage budgets, and ensure patient safety in a healthcare setting.

Energy Project Manager

SOC 11-9041

You've developed expertise in system modeling and resource optimization. You can leverage your skills to manage complex energy projects, ensuring efficient resource allocation and on-time completion while adhering to strict regulatory standards.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA (Follow-on training after commissioning and initial MOS school)

600 training hours30 weeksVaries based on specific courses completed. Up to 30 semester hours recommended at the graduate level.

Topics Covered

  • Aerodynamics and Propulsion
  • Aircraft Structures and Materials
  • Avionics Systems Integration
  • Flight Control Systems
  • Aircraft Design and Modification
  • Reliability and Maintainability Engineering
  • Systems Engineering Management
  • USMC Aviation Maintenance Procedures

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Professional Engineer (PE) - Aeronautical/Aerospace40% covered

Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program, passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, relevant work experience under a licensed PE, and passing the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. Military experience provides a foundation, but the FE/PE exams cover broad engineering principles beyond specific aircraft systems.

Project Management Professional (PMP)60% covered

While experience coordinating projects is valuable, formal PMP training covers specific project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall), tools, and techniques detailed in the PMBOK guide. Need to study these methodologies and practice applying them.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Professional Engineer (PE) - Aeronautical/AerospaceProject Management Professional (PMP)Lean Six Sigma Black BeltCertified Reliability Engineer (CRE)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Naval Aviation Logistics Command Management Information System (NALCOMIS)Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems for aviation maintenance
Joint Technical Data Integration System (JTDIC)SAE International standards and aerospace engineering databases
Advanced Composite Repair (ACR) equipmentComposite material repair systems and training programs
Automated Maintenance Environment (AME)Digital twin and predictive maintenance software
Common Aviation Support Equipment (CASE)Ground support equipment and maintenance tools for aircraft
Engine Diagnostic Systems (various)Engine health monitoring systems (e.g., GE Aviation, Pratt & Whitney)

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