Table 1Transition record

flight test engineertosurface engineer

A flight test engineer already meets 49% of what the surface engineer role asks for. The move turns on 5 required skills not yet in the profile.

From flight test engineer

49%

Overlap1

To surface engineer

14 Skills carried over

5 Required, not held

51.2 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 51.2

This move: 51.2 of 100 · moderate

1 Share of the surface engineer role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the flight test engineer profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 14 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A surface engineer role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a flight test engineer background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held industrial engineering engineering, manufacturing and construction
already held production processes engineering, manufacturing and construction
already held analyse test data information skills
already held approve engineering design communication, collaboration and creativity
already held mechanical engineering engineering, manufacturing and construction
already held manufacturing processes engineering, manufacturing and construction

All 14 carried skills, including the 10 the surface engineer role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 24 missing skills fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 engineering, manufacturing and construction 2 required, 7 supplementary

required, not held safety engineering required
required, not held surface engineering required

optional, not held ferrous metal processing optional
optional, not held material mechanics optional
optional, not held non-destructive testing optional
optional, not held semiconductors optional
optional, not held soldering techniques optional
optional, not held types of metal optional
optional, not held welding techniques optional

02 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 2 required, 2 supplementary

required, not held corrosion types required
required, not held mathematics required

optional, not held chemistry optional
optional, not held physics optional

03 information skills 1 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held execute analytical mathematical calculations required

optional, not held analyse stress resistance of materials optional
optional, not held develop material testing procedures optional
optional, not held recognise signs of corrosion optional

04 constructing 2 supplementary

optional, not held apply phosphate coating to metal workpiece optional
optional, not held parkerise metal workpiece optional

05 working with machinery and specialised equipment 2 supplementary

optional, not held use non-destructive testing equipment optional
optional, not held galvanise metal workpiece optional

06 business, administration and law 1 supplementary

optional, not held environmental legislation optional

2 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a surface engineer role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 14 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held adjust engineering designs skill
already held approve engineering design skill
already held engineering principles knowledge
already held engineering processes knowledge
already held industrial engineering knowledge
already held manufacturing processes knowledge
already held perform scientific research skill
already held production processes knowledge
already held technical drawings knowledge
already held use technical drawing software skill
already held analyse test data skill
already held electrical engineering knowledge
already held mechanical engineering knowledge
already held record test data skill

The 2 learning areas not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 information and communication technologies (icts) 1 supplementary

optional, not held computer simulation optional

08 services 1 supplementary

optional, not held hazardous waste types optional

19 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held apply phosphate coating to metal workpiece optional
optional, not held parkerise metal workpiece optional
optional, not held ferrous metal processing optional
optional, not held use non-destructive testing equipment optional
optional, not held analyse stress resistance of materials optional
optional, not held chemistry optional
optional, not held computer simulation optional
optional, not held develop material testing procedures optional
optional, not held environmental legislation optional
optional, not held galvanise metal workpiece optional
optional, not held hazardous waste types optional
optional, not held material mechanics optional
optional, not held non-destructive testing optional
optional, not held physics optional
optional, not held recognise signs of corrosion optional
optional, not held semiconductors optional
optional, not held soldering techniques optional
optional, not held types of metal optional
optional, not held welding techniques optional

20 held skills the surface engineer role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role aerodynamics knowledge
not needed by the target role aerospace engineering knowledge
not needed by the target role aircraft flight control systems knowledge
not needed by the target role aviation meteorology knowledge
not needed by the target role common aviation safety regulations knowledge
not needed by the target role conduct performance tests skill
not needed by the target role electronics knowledge
not needed by the target role ensure aircraft compliance with regulation skill
not needed by the target role inspect aircraft manufacturing skill
not needed by the target role instrumentation engineering knowledge
not needed by the target role instrumentation equipment knowledge
not needed by the target role operate cockpit control panels skill
not needed by the target role operate radio navigation instruments skill
not needed by the target role operate two-way radio systems skill
not needed by the target role oversee aircraft sensor and recording systems skill
not needed by the target role perform flight manoeuvres skill
not needed by the target role perform routine flight operations checks skill
not needed by the target role perform take off and landing skill
not needed by the target role plan test flights skill
not needed by the target role visual flight rules knowledge

16 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held corrosion types required
required, not held mathematics required
required, not held safety engineering required
required, not held surface engineering required
optional, not held ferrous metal processing optional
optional, not held chemistry optional
optional, not held computer simulation optional
optional, not held environmental legislation optional
optional, not held hazardous waste types optional
optional, not held material mechanics optional
optional, not held non-destructive testing optional
optional, not held physics optional
optional, not held semiconductors optional
optional, not held soldering techniques optional
optional, not held types of metal optional
optional, not held welding techniques optional

Index

Other moves recorded from flight test engineer

Full index of moves from flight test engineer

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.