Starting from blueprints and technical orders, technicians install electrical and electronic parts into housings using soldering equipment and hand tools, then verify dimensions with precision instruments before aligning and assembling the final unit. Testing equipment like oscilloscopes and voltmeters checks that the finished assembly performs correctly, and any surface defects get caught during inspection. Some roles involve operating unmanned submarines, aircraft, or similar equipment to gather visual data at places like oil rigs, crop fields, or hazardous waste sites, while others assist engineers directly in testing and designing robotics equipment. The job moves fast, requires real precision, and can involve difficult interactions with frustrated coworkers or clients.
Pros
Only vocational training, apprenticeship, or an associate's degree is required, not a four-year degree
Pay can reach $109k+ for experienced technicians, strong upside without a bachelor's degree
Hands-on precision work assembling and testing robotics and automated equipment
Cons
Above-average hours (40-50/week) common in production and testing schedules
Slower than average projected job growth (1.1% over the next decade)
Only about 1,300 positions nationwide, so opportunities are geographically limited
A typical day
The lab's current project is an inspection drone for confined industrial spaces, and the technologist's morning is assembly from the schematic: motor controllers installed in the airframe, wiring harnesses routed and soldered, each connection against the diagram because improvisation in mechatronics fails at the worst moment. Testing follows — the interesting part: bench-running the propulsion system while watching current draw, calibrating sensors against known references, and chasing a servo jitter that turns out to be electrical noise from a poorly shielded cable, fixed with routing and ferrite. Precision instruments verify the mechanical side: clearances measured in thousandths. The afternoon adds a firmware parameter tweak with the engineer, a test-flight log, and prep for tomorrow's demo in a simulated tank environment. Robotics on paper meets physics in the shop — the technologist is where they reconcile.
Tasks at the job
Read blueprints, schematics, diagrams, or technical orders to determine methods and sequences of assembly.
Install electrical or electronic parts and hardware in housings or assemblies, using soldering equipment and hand tools.
Verify part dimensions or clearances to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
Align, fit, or assemble component parts, using hand or power tools, fixtures, templates, or microscopes.
Test performance of electromechanical assemblies, using test instruments such as oscilloscopes, electronic voltmeters, or bridges.
Inspect parts for surface defects.
Workplace & working conditions
Work happens indoors in a climate-controlled setting. Noise levels can be distracting or uncomfortable. The role involves regular exposure to hazardous equipment or conditions and contaminants, and standard protective equipment (gloves, safety glasses, and similar) is expected.
The pace is often fast, with real time pressure to meet deadlines. Precision and accuracy are essential to the work. You'll regularly deal with frustrated or upset people as part of the job.
Education necessary or common
Vocational training, apprenticeship, or associate's degree