Missile and Space Systems Elect Maintenance

What does the Missile and Space Systems Elect Maintenance career field do?

Maintains, operates, and supervises maintenance on ground and air missiles, spacelift boosters, payloads, guidance and control systems, and subsystems. Monitors, analyzes, and compiles system performance data. Performs and supervises maintenance on automated and manual electronic test, launch control, checkout, and support equipment (SE). Designs and supervises assembly, calibration, operation, troubleshooting, and testing of research and development (R&D) systems and SE. Related DoD Occupational Subgroup: 112100.

Duties and responsibilities

• Monitors, operates, and supervises operation of consoles, fault display panels, and checkout equipment. Monitors status of airlaunched cruise missiles, intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), space lift boosters, payloads, subsystems, and SE. Operates or oversees checkout and test equipment operation.
• Supervises and performs missile, space lift booster, and payload systems maintenance and launch processing. Coordinates and oversees activities of contractor personnel during space launch activities. Operates, calibrates, inspects, maintains, or oversees these actions on missiles, missile and aircraft integration systems, aerospace vehicle equipment, operational ground equipment, automated and manual test equipment, space lift boosters, and payloads. Diagnoses flight data gathered during operational and test launches. Performs ICBM coding activities.
• Performs or assists malfunction analysis and repair of missile, space lift booster, and payload systems and subsystems. Determines system status. Operates or supervises operation of automated and manual test and checkout equipment to include performing calibrations. Disassembles, inspects, services, and replaces components and wiring. Modifies and repairs airframe and surfaces. Reassembles and verifies repairs, or supervises these actions on electronic components of cruise missiles, ICBMs, space lift boosters, and payloads. Maintains technical orders and publication files. Records findings.
• Performs or supervises maintenance on electronic equipment, and coordinates launch processing and maintenance activities. Performs or supervises electronic equipment maintenance. Uses or monitors use of manual and automatic checkout and test equipment to check integrated missile, space lift booster, payload systems, subsystems, and related electronic equipment.
• Performs laboratory R&D activities. Assembles, maintains, and operates specialized R&D systems such as energetic materials, propulsion, composites, optical, satellite, space structures and power. Collects and analyzes R&D test data. Designs, maintains, modifies, and operates support equipment such as data acquisition devices, fiber optic, instrumentation, vacuum systems, and environmental control systems.

Specialty qualifications

Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of electronic theory, circuitry, and schematic diagrams; and electronic principles of missiles, space lift boosters, and payloads.

Education. For entry into this specialty, completion of high school or General Education Development (GED) equivalency is mandatory. Courses in mechanics, physics, or basic electricity are desirable.

Training. For award of AFSC 2M031A/31B, completion of a specific basic 3-level missile and space systems electronic maintenance course is mandatory.

Experience. The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:

• 2M051A/51B. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 2M031A/31B and experience maintaining or operating missiles.
• 2M071. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 2M051A/51B and experience performing or supervising missile maintenance.

Other. The following are mandatory as indicated:

• For entry into this specialty, the following are mandatory:
• Screened for eligibility and meet requirements of the Personnel Reliability Program (PRP) as outlined in HQ AETC PRP Prescreening guidance.
• Passing color vision, as defined by correctly identifying at least 10 of 14 Ishihara Plates.
• Within 12 months of arrival at first duty station obtain civilian driver’s license and operate government vehicles according to AFI 24-301, Ground Transportation.
• Freedom from fear of heights and claustrophobia
• See attachment 4 for additional entry requirements.
• For award and retention of AFSCs 2M031A, and 2M031B:
• Must be Administratively Qualified IAW PRP standards outlined in the DoDM 5200.02, AFMAN 13-501, Nuclear Weapons Personnel Reliability Program (PRP) prior to departing technical Training.
• For award of AFSC 2M051/71 and retention of AFSC 2M031A, 2M031B, or 2M031/51/71, the following are mandatory:
• Must meet eligibility requirements to fill critical PRP positions IAW DoDM 5200.02, AFMAN 13-501.
• Must maintain local network access IAW AFI 17-130, Cybersecurity Program Management and AFMAN 17-1301, Computer Security.
• Specialty requires routine access to Tier 5 (T5) information, systems, or similar classified environment.
• For award and retention of AFSCs 2M031A, 2M031B, 2M051A, 2M051B, or 2M071/71:
• Completion of a Tier 5 Investigation according to AFMAN 16-1405, Personnel Security Program Management, is mandatory. NOTE: Award of the entry level without a completed Tier 5 Investigation is authorized provided an interim Top Secret security clearance has been granted.

Civilian career paths

Comparable civilian careers for this field pay roughly $36,390–$108,790 per year (median salaries; varies by role and location):

• Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians: $68,570
• Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians: $66,440
• Aviation Inspectors: $78,400
• Avionics Technicians: $67,840
• Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers: $41,090
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians: $67,550
• Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers: $36,390
• Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipmen: $62,010
• Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians: $59,800
• Electronics Engineers: $107,540
• Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters: $48,510
• First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers: $70,240
• Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers: $31,760
• Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers: $40,460
• Maintenance and Repair Workers, General: $40,850
• Maintenance Workers, Machinery: $50,100
• Quality Control Systems Managers: $108,790