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7590 Career Guide

Marine Corps

7590: Aviation Launch and Recovery Equipment Maintenance Officer

Career transition guide for Marine Corps Aviation Launch and Recovery Equipment Maintenance Officer (7590)

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Tech Roles You Could Aim For

Real industry tech roles your 7590 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.

Site Reliability Engineer

DevOps / Platform

SOC 15-1244
Good match

Your experience maintaining complex launch and recovery systems translates to ensuring the reliability and uptime of software systems. The 'System Modeling' cognitive skill is directly applicable to understanding complex system architectures.

Typical stack:

LinuxOne scripting language (Python or Go)Observability stack (Prometheus, Grafana, OpenTelemetry)Incident response practicesCloud platform basics

DevOps Engineer

DevOps / Platform

SOC 15-1244
Good match

Your background in managing the operation and maintenance of critical systems, coupled with your training in electrical control systems, aligns well with DevOps principles. 'Procedural Compliance' helps you automate and streamline software development and deployment processes.

Typical stack:

CI/CD tooling (GitHub Actions, GitLab, Jenkins)Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Pulumi)Containers (Docker, Kubernetes)Cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure)Linux

QA / Test Automation Engineer

Engineering

SOC 15-1253
Moderate match

Your experience in safety procedures and evaluating system readiness makes you a good fit for ensuring software quality through automated testing. Leverage 'Situational Awareness' to anticipate edge cases and potential failure points in software applications.

Typical stack:

One scripting languagePlaywright / Cypress / SeleniumCI/CD pipelinesTest design (boundary, equivalence, mutation)Bug-reproduction discipline

Computer Systems Analyst

Customer / Field

SOC 15-1211
Moderate match

Your planning and coordination experience can be used to analyze existing computer systems and make recommendations for improvements. Your experience with NATMS and ILARTS systems will translate to working with other software systems.

Typical stack:

Software systems literacyProcess mappingRequirements gatheringSQLStakeholder communication

Skills You Already Have

Concrete bridges from 7590 experience to tech-industry practice.

  • Catapult Systems Maintenance and TroubleshootingTroubleshooting and debugging software systems
  • Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems Operation and RepairUnderstanding system dependencies and interactions
  • Electrical Control Systems MaintenanceWorking with monitoring and control systems in a software context
  • System ModelingUnderstanding complex system architectures
  • Rapid PrioritizationManaging incidents and critical issues
  • Procedural ComplianceAdhering to software development processes and standards

Skills to Learn

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

Linux fundamentalsCloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP)Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Terraform or AnsibleContinuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelinesPython fundamentalsTesting frameworks like Selenium or CypressSQL and database managementNetworking fundamentals

How VWC fits

Vets Who Code accelerates the parts we teach — software engineering fundamentals, web development, AI tooling. For everything else above, the path is doable independently with the resources we link to.

See VWC Programs

Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 7590 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Mechanical Engineer

$95K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

CAD software (e.g., AutoCAD, SolidWorks)Project management methodologies

Maintenance Manager

$85K
High matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Civilian safety regulations (e.g., OSHA)Budget management software

Aerospace Engineer

$118K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Advanced aerospace design principlesCFD or FEA softwareFAA regulations

Technical Trainer

$70K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Instructional design principlesE-learning platform proficiency

Quality Control Specialist

$65K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Six Sigma certificationStatistical analysis softwareISO 9001 standards

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 7590 training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

You maintained complex catapult and arresting gear systems, understanding the intricate relationships between mechanical, hydraulic, and control components. This included anticipating potential points of failure and optimizing system performance under pressure.

This translates to a strong ability to understand and manage complex interconnected systems in any field. You can visualize how different parts interact and identify bottlenecks or areas for improvement.

Rapid Prioritization

You were responsible for ensuring the readiness and safety of critical launch and recovery systems, demanding quick and effective decision-making under tight deadlines. You had to rapidly assess situations, prioritize tasks, and allocate resources to maintain operational efficiency.

This means you excel at quickly identifying and addressing the most important tasks, especially when facing competing demands. You can effectively manage crises and ensure critical operations continue smoothly.

Situational Awareness

You maintained comprehensive awareness of the status of launch and recovery systems, weather conditions, and aircraft movements. This constant vigilance was crucial for preventing accidents and ensuring safe and efficient flight operations.

This skill translates to being highly attuned to your environment and understanding how various factors impact operations. You can anticipate potential problems and proactively adjust plans to maintain optimal performance.

Procedural Compliance

You meticulously followed established procedures and protocols for the operation, maintenance, and testing of launch and recovery systems, ensuring strict adherence to safety regulations and operational standards.

You possess a strong understanding of the importance of following established guidelines and regulations to ensure consistent and safe operations. You are able to learn and adhere to complex processes with ease.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Amusement Park Ride Engineer

SOC 17-2141.02

You've been responsible for the safe and efficient operation of complex launch and recovery systems on aircraft carriers. That experience makes you exceptionally well-suited to overseeing the maintenance, safety, and operational integrity of amusement park rides, which demand the same level of precision and attention to detail. Your expertise in hydraulic and control systems directly translates to this industry.

Wind Turbine Technician

SOC 49-9081.00

You've been trained to maintain complex mechanical and hydraulic systems under pressure. Wind turbines rely on similar technology, and your skills in troubleshooting, repair, and preventative maintenance will be invaluable. You're already accustomed to working in challenging environments and adhering to strict safety protocols.

Robotics Technician

SOC 49-9062.00

You've got a solid background in maintaining complex electromechanical systems, including catapults and arresting gear. Robotics combines mechanical, electrical, and computer systems, similar to what you’ve worked on in the Navy. Your understanding of system modeling and troubleshooting will make you a valuable asset in robotics.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Naval Aviation Technical Training Center (NATTC), Pensacola, FL

480 training hours12 weeksUp to 6 semester hours in Mechanical Engineering Technology

Topics Covered

  • Catapult Systems Maintenance and Troubleshooting
  • Arresting Gear Systems Maintenance and Troubleshooting
  • Hydraulic Systems Operation and Repair
  • Pneumatic Systems Operation and Repair
  • Electrical Control Systems Maintenance
  • Visual Landing Aid Systems
  • Safety Procedures for Launch and Recovery Operations

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP)60% covered

Focus on business management, financial metrics, and some advanced reliability engineering principles not typically covered in depth with military equipment.

Certified Plant Maintenance Manager (CPMM)50% covered

Study strategic maintenance planning, budget control, and personnel management in a civilian industrial setting. Also, understand preventative vs predictive maintenance and cost analysis.

Recommended Next Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Professional in Reliability Engineering (CPRE)Six Sigma Green Belt

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Naval Air Traffic Management Systems (NATMS)Air Traffic Control (ATC) systems, such as those provided by Thales or Raytheon
Integrated Launch and Recovery Television Surveillance System (ILARTS)Industrial-grade video surveillance systems with high-speed recording and playback, similar to those from Bosch or Axis Communications
Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment (ALRE) Hydraulic SystemsHeavy-duty hydraulic systems used in industrial machinery, such as those manufactured by Parker Hannifin or Eaton
Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG)High-performance braking systems used in motorsport or emergency braking systems for high-speed trains
Landing Signals Officer (LSO) Visual Landing AidsPrecision approach path indicator (PAPI) systems used at civilian airports
Catapult Launch Monitoring System (CLMS)Real-time performance monitoring systems used in manufacturing or process control, such as those offered by Siemens or Rockwell Automation
Barricade Net SystemsSafety netting and barrier systems used in construction and industrial settings to prevent falls and protect equipment.

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