Security & DefenceISCO 0310
Military engineer
A military engineer is a person who carries out the technical and scientific work that military equipment requires.
Check yourself in a minute: military engineer
Rate 5 of the 34 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
define technology strategy
ensure compliance with types of weapons
monitor technology trends
design engineering components
handle surveillance equipment
About military engineer
The military engineer develops concepts for military technical equipment: setting the tactical and technical requirements, which is to say what a device has to do and in what conditions. Production of military equipment at contractors is supported, technical research is carried out and quality control supervised, checking that equipment taken into service meets the requirements it was ordered to.
The engineer also answers for maintenance and technical readiness: inspection schedules, spares holdings, operating documentation and the training of crews. Military weapons and their properties are known, and statistics are used in assessing technical solutions, their reliability among them.
The engineer manages technical risk, assessing which parts of the equipment could fail and what such a failure would mean, maintains communication during operations and uses different communication channels, and knows military drill. One route into the work is study at a military technical academy, and access to classified information requires a security clearance granted after vetting.
Key Work Functions
Core areas of responsibility for a military engineer.
1
Military equipment design and development
- Develop concepts for military technical equipment based on operational requirements and strategic doctrine
- Apply engineering principles and design methodologies to create innovative military solutions
- Conduct technical research to improve equipment performance, reliability, and operational effectiveness
- Utilize CAD software and simulation tools to develop and test designs before physical production
2
Manufacturing support and quality assurance
- Oversee manufacturing processes to ensure compliance with military specifications and quality standards
- Conduct quality inspections and testing of manufactured equipment to verify performance standards
- Document manufacturing processes and maintain detailed quality records for traceability
- Identify and resolve manufacturing defects and equipment failures before deployment
3
Technical maintenance and field support
- Develop maintenance protocols and technical documentation for military equipment
- Provide field technical support and troubleshooting for deployed equipment
- Train military personnel on proper equipment operation, maintenance, and safety procedures
- Analyze field failures and implement improvements based on operational experience
4
Risk management and security protocols
- Assess technical risks associated with equipment design and manufacturing processes
- Implement security measures to protect military equipment specifications and manufacturing processes
- Ensure compliance with classified information handling and military security requirements
- Conduct hazard analysis and develop mitigation strategies for operational safety
5
Project management and technical documentation
- Manage technical projects from conception through commissioning and deployment
- Prepare comprehensive technical documentation including specifications, design drawings, and performance reports
- Coordinate with multiple departments including procurement, logistics, and personnel training
- Monitor project timelines and budgets while maintaining quality and security standards
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (34)
electricity principleselectricity principlesElectricity is created when electric current flows along a conductor. It entails the movement of free electrons between atoms. The more free electrons are present in a material, the better this materi...engineering principlesengineering principlesThe engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.geographic information systemsgeographic information systemsThe tools involved in geographical mapping and positioning, such as GPS (global positioning systems), GIS (geographical information systems), and RS (remote sensing).mechanical toolsmechanical toolsVarious type of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.project commissioningproject commissioningProcess of supervising the correct functioning of systems, buildings or plants during the final stages before deployment.algorithmsalgorithmsThe self-contained step-by-step sets of operations that carry out calculations, data processing and automated reasoning, usually to solve problems.risk managementrisk managementThe process of identifying, assessing, and prioritising of all types of risks and where they could come from, such as natural causes, legal changes, or uncertainty in any given context, and the method...securitiessecuritiesThe financial instruments traded in financial markets representing both the right of property over the owner and at the same time, the obligation of payment over the issuer. The aim of securities whic...statisticsstatisticsThe study of statistical theory, methods and practices such as collection, organisation, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data. It deals with all aspects of data including the planning of ...terminologyterminologyThe study of terms, their etymology, and their use. The study of the meaning of words depending on the context in which they are used, the origin of the word, and its evolution over time.packaging engineeringpackaging engineeringThe processes of packaging or protecting products for distribution, storage and sale.ICT project management methodologiesICT project management methodologiesThe methodologies or models for planning, managing and overseeing of ICT resources in order to meet specific goals, such methodologies are Waterfall, Incremental, V-Model, Scrum or Agile and using pro...military weaponrymilitary weaponryThe types of arms used by different military organisations, such as army, navy or air force and in different nations worldwide; the weapons' aspects, damage potential and ways to defend against them.military drillmilitary drillThe marching techniques and use of weapons, and other disciplinary methods applied in military operations.surveillance methodssurveillance methodsSurveillance methods used in the gathering of information and intelligence for investigation purposes.define technology strategydefine technology strategyCreate an overall plan of objectives, practices, principles and tactics related to the use of technologies within an organisation and describe the means to reach the objectives, taking into account an...use different communication channelsuse different communication channelsMake use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.ensure compliance with types of weaponsensure compliance with types of weaponsComply with legal requirements when using different kinds of firearms and other types of weapons and their matching ammunition.monitor technology trendsmonitor technology trendsSurvey and investigate recent trends and developments in technology. Observe and anticipate their evolution, according to current or future market and business conditions.design engineering componentsdesign engineering componentsDesign engineering parts, assemblies, products, or systems.handle surveillance equipmenthandle surveillance equipmentMonitor surveillance equipment to observe what people are doing in a given area and ensure their safety.perform ground-handling maintenance proceduresperform ground-handling maintenance proceduresEnsure safety during ground-handling procedures, maintain ground service equipment, and conduct equipment checks.maintain operational communicationsmaintain operational communicationsMaintain communications between different departments of an organisation, between the staff, or during specific operations or missions, to ensure that the operation or mission is successful, or that t...oversee quality controloversee quality controlMonitor and assure the quality of the provided goods or services by overseeing that all the factors of the production meet quality requirements. Supervise product inspection and testing.supervise the maintenance of military equipmentsupervise the maintenance of military equipmentPlan and supervise the routine maintenance and repair work of military equipment and weaponry to ensure proper working order.monitor military equipment usemonitor military equipment useMonitor the use by military staff of specific military equipment to ensure that no unauthorised personnel gains access to specific types of equipment, that everyone handles the equipment according to ...examine engineering principlesexamine engineering principlesAnalyse the principles that need to be considered for engineering designs and projects such as functionality, replicability, costs and other principles.adjust engineering designsadjust engineering designsAdjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.surveyingsurveyingThe technique of determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them.logisticslogisticsThe management of resources such as materials, time, and information to control the flow of products between the point of origin and the point of use. This includes the production, packaging, storing ...design principlesdesign principlesThe elements used in design such as unity, scale, proportion, balance, symmetry, space, form, texture, colour, light, shade and congruence and their application into practice.advise superiors on military operationsadvise superiors on military operationsAdvise on the strategic decisions made by superiors on deployment, mission tactics, resource allocation or other military operation specifics, to help superiors reach a better decision and to provide ...project managementproject managementThe discipline of project management, the activities which comprise this area and the variables implied in it, such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.quality standardsquality standardsThe national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
Optional (82) — show
Agile project managementAgile project managementThe agile project management approach is a methodology for planning, managing and overseeing of ICT resources in order to meet specific goals and using project management ICT tools.geographic areasgeographic areasThe detailed knowledge of a geographical area where different organisations carry out operations.quality assurance proceduresquality assurance proceduresThe procedures to inspect a product or system to ensure that it is according to specifications and requirements.business intelligencebusiness intelligenceThe tools used to transform large amounts of raw data into relevant and helpful business information.instrumentation equipmentinstrumentation equipmentThe equipment and instruments used for the monitoring and controlling of processes, such as valves, regulators, circuit breakers, and relays.energyenergyPower capacity in the form of mechanical, electrical, heat, potential, or other energy from chemical or physical resources, which can be used to drive a physical system.data miningdata miningThe methods of artificial intelligence, machine learning, statistics and databases used to extract content from a dataset.radarsradarsSystems that can use radio waves or microwaves to capture the speed, direction, range, and altitude of objects. It can be used for the detection of aeroplanes, ships, and weather formations.military logisticsmilitary logisticsThe operations of the supply and demand of goods and recources on military bases and during military operations on the field, the disruption of enemy supplies, cost analysis, equipment demands, and ot...scaffolding componentsscaffolding componentsThe different components of which scaffolding is constructed, their usage cases and limitations. Weight bearing properties of each component and how they are assembled.machine learningmachine learningThe principles, methods and algorithms of machine learning, a subfield of artificial intelligence. Common machine learning models such as supervised or unsupervised models, semi- supervised models and...military codemilitary codeThe code language used in specific intelligence or military organisations and operations, how to use and decipher them.politicspoliticsThe method, process and study of influencing people, gaining control over a community or society, and the distribution of power within a community and between societies.decision support systemsdecision support systemsThe ICT systems that can be used to support business or organisational decision making.electrical engineeringelectrical engineeringThe field of engineering that deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism.law enforcementlaw enforcementThe different organisations involved in law enforcement, as well as the laws and regulations in law enforcement procedures.mathematicsmathematicsMathematics is the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. It involves the identification of patterns and formulating new conjectures based on them. Mathematicians strive to pr...electronic and telecommunication equipmentelectronic and telecommunication equipmentThe offered electronic and telecommunication equipment and products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.control systemscontrol systemsDevices or a set of devices that command and manage the performance and behaviour of other equipment and systems. This includes Industrial control systems (ICS) which are used for industrial productio...electronics principleselectronics principlesThe study of electric energy, more specifically electron, control and its prominent principles regarding integrated circuits and electrical systems.sensorssensorsSensors are transducers that can detect or sense characteristics in their environment. They detect changes in the apparatus or environment and provide a corresponding optical or electrical signal. Sen...operational researchoperational researchThe application of scientific methods to provide solutions to administrative and management issues of organised systems as industrial, commercial, or governmental processes.military aviationmilitary aviationThe rules and regulations concerning military aviation procedures, such as military air space, aviation procedures in civilian air space, and specific military aviation equipment.robotic componentsrobotic componentsThe components that can be found in robotic systems, such as microprocessors, electronics, sensors, circuit boards, encoders, servomotors, controllers, pneumatics or hydraulics.knowledge managementknowledge managementThe process of collecting, structuring and sharing information and knowledge within an organisation, which allows for a more efficient distribution of expertise and increased collaboration.risk identificationrisk identificationThe different types of risk and the related classification criteria such as their nature and scope, the activity to which they relate, their causes and consequences and their financing.strategic planningstrategic planningThe elements defining the foundation and core of an organisation such as its mission, vision, values, and objectives.public healthpublic healthThe principles of health and sickness affecting the population, including the means for health promotion and prevention and community and primary care.business process modellingbusiness process modellingThe tools, methods and notations such as Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) and Business Process Execution Language (BPEL), used to describe and analyse the characteristics of a business proce...computer equipmentcomputer equipmentThe offered computers, computer peripheral equipment and software products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.mechanical engineeringmechanical engineeringDiscipline that applies principles of physics, engineering and materials science to design, analyse, manufacture and maintain mechanical systems.business processesbusiness processesProcesses which an organisation applies to improve efficiency, set new objectives and reach goals in a profitable and timely manner.information confidentialityinformation confidentialityThe mechanisms and regulations which allow for selective access control and guarantee that only authorised parties (people, processes, systems and devices) have access to data, the way to comply with ...military combat techniquesmilitary combat techniquesThe fighting techniques specific to military operations, using military weapons and equipment, and the regulations concerning military combat actions.computer technologycomputer technologyComputers, computer networks and other information technologies and equipment that can store, retrieve, transmit and manipulate data.industrial research and developmentindustrial research and developmentThe set of activities that companies carry out to do industrial innovation and introduce new engineering products and services or new industrial production processes.accountingaccountingThe documentation and processing of data regarding financial activities.DevOpsDevOpsThe DevOps development approach is a methodology to design software systems and applications focused on the collaboration and between software programmers and other ICT professionals and automation.concepts of telecommunicationsconcepts of telecommunicationsThe telecommunication principles, theories, models, equipment and processes such as transfer rate, bandwidth, signal-to-noise ratio, bit error ratio and C/N ratio, as well as the effect of the qualiti...surveillance radarssurveillance radarsTypes of surveillance radars such as Mode A/C Secondary Surveillance Radar stations, which continuously interrogate all aircraft within their range, and Mode S Secondary Surveillance Radar stations, w...manage suppliesmanage suppliesMonitor and control the flow of supplies that includes the purchase, storage and movement of the required quality of raw materials, and also work-in-progress inventory. Manage supply chain activities ...operate radio equipmentoperate radio equipmentSet up and operate radio devices and accessories, such as broadcast consoles, amplifiers, and microphones. Understand the basics of radio operator language and, when necessary, provide instruction in ...perform risk analysisperform risk analysisIdentify and assess factors that may jeopardise the success of a project or threaten the organisation's functioning. Implement procedures to avoid or minimise their impact.manage budgetsmanage budgetsPlan, monitor, report on the budget and prepare set production budgets.perform data analysisperform data analysisCollect data and statistics to test and evaluate in order to generate assertions and pattern predictions, with the aim of discovering useful information in a decision-making process.maintain electrical equipmentmaintain electrical equipmentTest electrical equipment for malfunctions. Take safety measures, company guidelines, and legislation concerning electrical equipment into account. Clean, repair and replace parts and connections as r...perform physical stress tests on modelsperform physical stress tests on modelsPerform tests on products' models to analyse the ability of products to endure temperature, loads, motion, vibration and other factors.manage troop deploymentmanage troop deploymentManage the deployment of troops to areas in conflict, or in need of aid, and oversee the deployment procedures. Manage the deployment of the troops within an area for specific missions, and ensure the...use geographic information systemsuse geographic information systemsWork with computer data systems such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS).manage emergency proceduresmanage emergency proceduresReact quickly in case of emergency and set planned emergency procedures in motion.perform test runperform test runPerform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, ...ensure public safety and securityensure public safety and securityImplement the relevant procedures, strategies and use the proper equipment to promote local or national security activities for the protection of data, people, institutions, and property.programme work according to incoming ordersprogramme work according to incoming ordersSchedule tasks based on incoming work. Anticipate the total amount of resources required to complete the work and assign them accordingly. Assess the required working hours, pieces of equipment, and w...report test findingsreport test findingsReport test results with a focus on findings and recommendations, differentiating results by levels of severity. Include relevant information from the test plan and outline the test methodologies, usi...coordinate humanitarian aid missionscoordinate humanitarian aid missionsCoordinate the deployment of troops and resources to areas where humanitarian aid is required, and the operation in the area itself to ensure that the area is safe, the people have access to medical a...give battle commandsgive battle commandsGive commands during a battle or similar confrontation with enemy units to guide the activities of the troops, ensuring the safety of the troops and success of the operation, and give these commands i...ensure information securityensure information securityEnsure that the information gathered during surveillance or investigations remains in the hands of those authorised to receive and use it, and does not fall into enemy or otherwise non-authorised indi...defend human rightsdefend human rightsProtect human rights towards and between colleagues and also towards the civil populations one is in contact with.manage administrative systemsmanage administrative systemsEnsure administrative systems, processes and databases are efficient and well managed and give the sound basis to work together with the administrative officer/staff/professional.perform maintenance on installed equipmentperform maintenance on installed equipmentPerform the maintenance on installed equipment on-site. Follow procedures to avoid uninstalling equipment from machinery or vehicles.devise military tacticsdevise military tacticsDevise the strategic and tactical components of a military operation, taking into account the available equipment and assigning tasks to the different troops, and supervising the use of weapons and ot...apply information security policiesapply information security policiesImplement policies, methods and regulations for data and information security in order to respect confidentiality, integrity and availability principles.manage resourcesmanage resourcesManage personnel, machinery and equipment in order to optimise production results, in accordance with the policies and plans of the company.analyse supply chain strategiesanalyse supply chain strategiesExamine an organisation's planning details of production, their expected output units, quality, quantity, cost, time available and labour requirements. Provide suggestions in order to improve products...operate armoured fighting vehiclesoperate armoured fighting vehiclesOperate armoured fighting vehicles, such as tanks, armoured cars, air defense vehicles and troop carriers, using correct navigation systems and monitoring controls, as well as operating its weapons.identify security threatsidentify security threatsIdentify security threats during investigations, inspections, or patrols, and perform the necessary actions to minimise or neutralise the threat.coordinate patrolscoordinate patrolsCoordinate the investigation and inspection of a certain area by assigning patrollers to routes and areas, establishing the area that needs patrolling, and coordinating the activities during the patro...write situation reportswrite situation reportsWrite reports according to specifications and regulations of an organisation on the situation which needs to be reported on, such as the status of an investigation, of intelligence gathering, or of mi...maintain electronic equipmentmaintain electronic equipmentCheck and repair electronic equipment. Develop maintenance tasks on electronic equipment. Detect malfunction, locate faults and take measures to prevent damage.design prototypesdesign prototypesDesign prototypes of products or components of products by applying design and engineering principles.test electronic unitstest electronic unitsTest electronic units using appropriate equipment. Gather and analyse data. Monitor and evaluate system performance and take action if needed.perform minor repairs to equipmentperform minor repairs to equipmentConduct routine maintenance on equipment. Recognise and identify minor defects in equipment and make repairs if appropriate.determine production feasibilitydetermine production feasibilityDetermine if a product or its components can be produced by applying engineering principles.assess danger in risk areasassess danger in risk areasAssess the potential dangers involved in performinig military or humanitarian missions in risk areas, such as combat areas, areas affected by natural disasters, or politically tense areas.process dataprocess dataEnter information into a data storage and data retrieval system via processes such as scanning, manual keying or electronic data transfer in order to process large amounts of data.perform resource planningperform resource planningEstimate the expected input in terms of time, human and financial resources necessary to achieve the project objectives.practice vigilancepractice vigilancePractice vigilance during patrol or other surveillance activities in order to ensure safety and security, to look out for suspicious behaviour or other alarming changes in patterns or activities, and ...mathematical modellingmathematical modellingThe process of establishing a mathematical representation problem, such as equations, of a real-word to provide insights, discover new features about the problematic scenario, better understand the or...application processapplication processThe process candidates must complete in order to obtain an academic or professional position, including the techniques that will enhance their chances.supply chain managementsupply chain managementThe flow of goods in the supply chain, movement and storage of raw materials, work-in-process inventory, and finished goods from point of origin to point of consumption.perform military operationsperform military operationsPerform military operations according to given instructions from superiors, such as battle operations, rescue missions, aid missions, search and intelligence missions or other operations concerning de...calibrate electronic instrumentscalibrate electronic instrumentsCorrect and adjust the reliability of an electronic instrument by measuring output and comparing results with the data of a reference device or a set of standardised results. This is done in regular i...
Related Occupations
Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.
special forces officer8 shared essential skillsarmed forces officer7 shared essential skillsair force officer6 shared essential skillsartillery officer6 shared essential skillsnavy officer6 shared essential skillsarmed forces training and education officer5 shared essential skillsarmy corporal5 shared essential skillsarmy major5 shared essential skills
Frequently asked questions
What does a military engineer do?
Military engineers perform technical and scientific functions in the military, such as the development of concepts for military technical equipment, support of the manufacturing of military equipment, and technical research, maintenance, and quality assurance.
What skills does a military engineer need?
A military engineer needs 34 essential skills, including electricity principles, engineering principles, geographic information systems, mechanical tools, project commissioning.
Will AI replace military engineer jobs?
The AI disruption score for military engineer is 70/100 (high risk). Skills most exposed to automation: accounting, process data, sensors. Most resilient: military drill, military combat techniques, give battle commands.
AI Replacement Risk
70/ 100
High Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Skills most at risk from AI
Skills resilient to automation
This is the average for the whole occupation. The AI Career Shield test (about 10 minutes) shows the risk in your own work and what you can do about it.
Check your own AI riskQuick Facts
What are you missing to work as military engineer?
The free skill gap analysis compares your skills with what this occupation requires and shows where to start.
Check your gaps