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NAVY · ATCareer Guide · Aviation · VWC.CG.AT.R.04

AT · NAVY · Enlisted

Aviation Electronics
Technician.

Navy AT (Aviation Electronics Technician). 1,120 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $55K–$75K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.

Training hours1,120DoD pipeline

ACE creditACEUp to 15 semester hours recommended in electronics technology

Tech roles4mapped to your code

Civilian pathways5validated

Cert coverage3/6direct + partial

/ 01 · Tech Roles

Roles your code maps to.

SOURCE · BLS + LIGHTCAST ROLES · 4

Industry tech roles your AT background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.

Sort · Match descending

/ 02 · Skill Bridge

The gap, named.

What AT training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.

Already have05

01
Radar Systems Maintenance→ Understanding of signal processing and data interpretation, applicable to data analysis roles.
02
Electronic Troubleshooting Techniques→ Debugging skills applicable to software development and QA.
03
Aviation Maintenance Procedures→ Systematic approach to problem-solving, useful in DevOps and systems administration.
04
Procedural Compliance→ Discipline in following established protocols, crucial for security and compliance roles.
05
Situational Awareness→ Ability to assess the environment and anticipate potential issues, valuable in site reliability engineering and security.

To learn08

The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.

+Python fundamentals+Selenium or Cypress for web testing+C or C++ programming+Real-time operating systems (RTOS) concepts+Help desk ticketing systems (e.g., Jira Service Management, Zendesk)+Fundamentals of computer networking+Data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)+IT project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum)

How VWC fits

Vets Who Code is a free, full-time software engineering accelerator for veterans, active duty, and military spouses. We close the fundamentals — terminal, web platform, AI tooling, portfolio projects — so the rest of this list becomes specialization, not square one.

See VWC Programs →

/ 03 · Civilian Pathways

Where your code lands.

SOURCE · LIGHTCAST + CURATED PATHWAYS · 5

P.01

Avionics Technician

$75K

High match

High demand

Skills to develop

— FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) License

P.02

Electronics Technician

$68K

Good match

Growing demand

Skills to develop

— Specific industry certifications (e.g., CompTIA)
— PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) knowledge

P.03

Aerospace Engineering Technician

$72K

Good match

Stable demand

Skills to develop

— CAD/CAM software proficiency
— Materials science knowledge

P.04

Quality Control Inspector

$55K

Moderate match

Stable demand

Skills to develop

— ASQ Certified Quality Inspector (CQI) certification
— Knowledge of ISO 9000 standards

P.05

Technical Trainer

$62K

Moderate match

Growing demand

Skills to develop

— Instructional design principles
— Excellent communication skills
— Curriculum development experience

/ 04 · Hidden Strengths

What the code built.

Cognitive skills your AT training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.

S.01

System Modeling

As an Aviation Electronics Technician, you're constantly diagnosing and repairing complex electronic systems. This requires creating mental models of how different components interact and how failures in one area can impact others.

Transfers to

The ability to understand and predict the behavior of complex systems translates directly to roles where you need to troubleshoot, optimize, or design systems in various fields.

S.02

Procedural Compliance

Your work involves strict adherence to maintenance manuals, safety protocols, and quality control standards. Deviation can lead to catastrophic failures, so following procedures is paramount.

Transfers to

Your unwavering commitment to following established protocols makes you an ideal candidate for roles requiring meticulous attention to detail and adherence to regulations.

S.03

Degraded-Mode Operations

You're skilled at troubleshooting and repairing systems under pressure, often with limited resources or incomplete information. Your ability to keep critical systems operational in less-than-ideal conditions is invaluable.

Transfers to

Your expertise in maintaining functionality during system failures translates directly to roles requiring resilience, problem-solving under pressure, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

S.04

Situational Awareness

Maintaining aircraft requires constant awareness of the operational environment, including weather conditions, potential hazards, and the status of other aircraft and personnel. This ensures safe and effective maintenance procedures.

Transfers to

Your attentiveness to the surrounding environment and understanding of potential impacts, make you a valuable asset in roles where preventing problems is a high priority.

/ 05 · Non-Obvious Matches

Roles the recruiter won't suggest.

Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.

Building Automation Specialist

SOC 49-9012

You've been maintaining and repairing complex systems on aircraft. Now, imagine applying that expertise to entire buildings! As a building automation specialist, you'll troubleshoot and maintain the electronic systems that control lighting, HVAC, security, and more. Your system modeling skills will be crucial.

Adjacent · Match

Robotics Technician

SOC 49-9062

You've been working with advanced electronic and navigation systems. Robotics is the next frontier! As a robotics technician, you'll use your troubleshooting and repair skills to keep robots running smoothly in manufacturing, healthcare, and other industries. Your ability to follow procedures and adapt to degraded-mode operations will be highly valued.

Adjacent · Match

Wind Turbine Technician

SOC 49-9081

You're comfortable working with complex mechanical and electrical systems, often in challenging environments. Wind turbines need regular maintenance and repair. As a wind turbine technician, your skills in system modeling, procedural compliance, and degraded-mode operations will ensure the turbines generate clean energy efficiently and safely.

Adjacent · Match

/ 06 · Training & Certs

What you trained on.

SOURCE · DOD + ACE\nVALIDATED

Academy