Space Force · 62EX
Your Developmental Engineer experience maps to civilian jobs like Architectural and Engineering Managers—and well beyond. Explore the specific roles below, see what each pays and requires, and build from there.
These are the civilian jobs the U.S. Department of Labor maps to 62EX, plus the roles most closely related to them—ordered from the closest match. Think of them as a floor, not a ceiling: see what each role involves and pays, start where your Developmental Engineer experience already fits, and build toward the rest.
$165,370/yr mediantypical $107k–$234k~208K U.S. jobs
Typical entry: Graduate or professional degree
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.
Why it fits: A direct Department of Labor match—your Developmental Engineer work maps straight onto the management & project leadership side of this role.
$98,580/yr mediantypical $58k–$163k~948K U.S. jobs
★ Bright Outlook — Rapid growth; many openings
Typical entry: Bachelor’s degree typically expected
Analyze and coordinate the schedule, timeline, procurement, staffing, and budget of a product or service on a per project basis.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Developmental Engineer occupations on the business & financial operations side—a natural next step.
$99,380/yr mediantypical $65k–$142k~333K U.S. jobs
★ Bright Outlook — Rapid growth
Typical entry: Bachelor’s degree typically expected
Design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes, including human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics and material flow,…
Why it fits: Closely related to your Developmental Engineer occupations on the engineering & technical design side—a natural next step.
$106,950/yr mediantypical $69k–$172k~185K U.S. jobs
★ Bright Outlook — Rapid growth
Typical entry: Bachelor’s degree typically expected
Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Developmental Engineer occupations on the engineering & technical design side—a natural next step.
$79,400/yr mediantypical $48k–$129k~228K U.S. jobs
★ Bright Outlook — Rapid growth
Typical entry: Bachelor’s degree typically expected
Design or analyze operational solutions for projects such as transportation optimization, network modeling, process and methods analysis, cost containment, capacity enhancement, routing and…
Why it fits: Closely related to your Developmental Engineer occupations on the business & financial operations side—a natural next step.
$111,970/yr mediantypical $62k–$177k~151K U.S. jobs
Typical entry: Bachelor’s degree typically expected
Research, design, develop, or test automation, intelligent systems, smart devices, or industrial systems control.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Developmental Engineer occupations on the engineering & technical design side—a natural next step.
$106,910/yr mediantypical $60k–$200k~38K U.S. jobs
★ Bright Outlook — Rapid growth
Typical entry: Graduate or professional degree
Teach courses pertaining to the application of physical laws and principles of engineering for the development of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and services.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Developmental Engineer occupations on the training & education side—a natural next step.
Source: O*NET / DMDC Military Crosswalk and O*NET related-occupations data, August 2024. Pay is BLS OEWS (May 2023).
Use the level that reflects what you actually did—not rank alone. Two people with the same code and very different experience should not submit the same résumé.
Translate planning, technical judgment, briefings, team leadership, and the people and resources you were accountable for.
Emphasize programs, budgets, cross-functional organizations, policy, risk ownership, and measurable operational outcomes.
Target director, program, operations, and public-sector leadership roles that match your actual scope.
A translated title isn't enough. These four moves turn Developmental Engineer experience into evidence a civilian hiring manager can act on.
List the systems, vehicles, equipment, and tools you personally operated as Developmental Engineer—plus qualifications, certifications, and the recurring high-stakes tasks you owned.
Guardians led, dollar value of equipment you were accountable for, workload, readiness rates, and safety or quality outcomes. Scope beats adjectives.
For any target role, name the license, degree, or software it requires and start now—your GI Bill and credentialing assistance can cover most of it.
Recruiters rarely search “62EX.” Search job boards by the equipment, skills, and outcomes above as much as by “Developmental Engineer.”
You don't have to make this jump alone. These programs exist specifically to move service members into civilian careers—most are free, and several pay you while you train.
Train or intern with a civilian employer during your last ~180 days on active duty—at full military pay.
Earn a paycheck while you train for a trade or technical role; USMAP can credit the military training you already have.
Corporate fellowships and hiring events that place transitioning service members and military spouses.
Free career training and nationally recognized certifications for service members, veterans, and spouses.
VA-funded high-tech training (IT, cyber, data, software) that does not touch your GI Bill entitlement.
Free local career centers plus certification and state-by-state license finders for any field.
Free placement into registered apprenticeships across the building and construction trades.
How to use this: Treat these as targets, not limits. Your exact duties depend on your assignments, so lead with what you actually did—and remember that regulated careers require their own license, certification, or degree.