Optical Engineer Jobs in Mankato, MN (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Advanced Electronics / Computer Field (ET/FC)
Category / Component: Enlisted • Active

Overview
The Advanced Electronics and Computer Field trains Sailors to maintain, operate, and repair some of the Navy’s most sophisticated electronics and computing systems, including radar, communications, navigation, local area networks, weapons fire control, and Aegis combat systems. ETs and FCs form the backbone of a ship’s Combat Systems department aboard carriers, cruisers, destroyers, and other surface combatants, as well as at repair and technical activities ashore.

Key Responsibilities
Serve as an Electronics Technician (ET) or Fire Controlman (FC) after training, based on performance and Navy needs; as an ET, maintain and repair radar, communication, and navigation equipment including transmitters, receivers, displays, and shipboard communications suites such as SATCOM and HF; as an FC, operate, maintain, and repair fire control radars, computers, large screen displays, local area networks, weapon control consoles, and automatic gun systems; troubleshoot complex electronic and electro mechanical faults using technical documentation, test equipment, and established procedures; maintain configuration control, documentation, and logs that support inspections, certifications, and combat system readiness.

What to Expect
Hands on technical work that blends classroom, computer based training, and intensive lab practice; frequent troubleshooting under time pressure to restore mission critical combat systems and communications; strict adherence to safety procedures, configuration control, technical documentation, and test routines; team based maintenance and watchstanding afloat and ashore, often on rotating shifts to support around the clock operations; progressive responsibility as you qualify on systems, earn Navy Enlisted Classifications, and advance in rate.

Work Environment
Assignments aboard surface combatants such as aircraft carriers, Aegis cruisers and destroyers, and amphibious ships, as well as at shore based repair and technical facilities; daily work in combat systems spaces, radar rooms, communications centers, electronics shops, and shipboard network spaces; a mix of lab style environments and shipboard spaces with noise, ladders, confined areas, and occasional exposure to heat or weather when working on topside equipment.

Pathways, Training & Advancement
Recruit Training followed by Apprentice Technical Training at Great Lakes, Illinois, covering basic electronics, circuitry, safety, digital theory, microcomputers, fiber optics, test equipment, and troubleshooting; strand training in either the Fire Controlman or Electronics Technician track, with FCs focusing on radar, ballistics, and fire control basics, and ETs focusing on communications suites and radar systems; follow on A School and platform or system specific C Schools, often with college credit recommended by the American Council on Education; accelerated advancement to E4 upon completion of initial school training and all advancement requirements, with continued promotion based on performance, time in rate, and professional development.
Enlist under the Advanced Electronics and Computer Field program, with final placement into the Electronics Technician or Fire Controlman rating during initial training at Great Lakes, based on performance and Navy needs; maintain AECF eligibility throughout training in order to retain any accelerated advancement benefits; fleet conversion into ET or FC from another rating may be possible for qualified Sailors, subject to screening and community manning.

Qualifications
All Navy jobs require meeting general enlistment or commissioning standards, which typically include:

Eligibility to serve in the United States Navy, which may involve United States citizenship or other legal residency and work status, depending on the program and current law and policy
A high school diploma or equivalent for enlisted positions, and a bachelor’s or qualifying professional degree for officer positions
Meeting age limits that vary by program and are set in law and Navy policy. Some communities have more restrictive age ranges
Meeting medical, vision, and dental standards, including body composition and physical fitness requirements, with some jobs requiring more demanding standards
Meeting character and conduct standards, including background screening
Achieving required test scores for your program, such as the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery for enlisted roles or officer qualification tests for officer programs
Eligibility for a security clearance when required for your rating or designator
Additional qualifications can include specific skills, education, licensure, or experience that are unique to a job or community and will be reviewed with you by a recruiter.

Additional qualifications for this job may include:
Normal hearing and color perception to work safely with electronic displays and color coded wiring and schematics; strong arithmetic and computing aptitude, with the ability to learn digital theory and complex technical systems; physical strength and manual dexterity to handle equipment, tools, ladders, and shipboard environments.

Education
Education benefits are available through standard Navy programs such as Tuition Assistance, the Post-9/11 GI Bill, ACE-recommended college credit for Navy training, Navy COOL-funded certifications, USMAP apprenticeships, and other Navy College Program opportunities. Specific options depend on the Sailor’s status, training, and current Navy policy.

Pay, Benefits & Service
Pay, benefits, and service commitments follow standard Navy Active and/or Reserve policies for this type of role, including basic pay, allowances when eligible, health coverage, and retirement options. Exact entitlements, special pays, and service obligations depend on program, component, years of service, and current law and Navy guidance.

Incentives
Incentives such as bonuses, special pays, and loan repayment may be available at times for specific ratings or communities, but they change frequently and cannot be guaranteed. Applicants must confirm current incentives and eligibility with an official Navy recruiter or authoritative Navy source.

Notes and Disclaimers
This description is a general overview of typical duties, training, and opportunities in this community. It does not replace official Navy instructions, policies, or contracts and does not guarantee specific assignments, training, incentives, or outcomes. Actual opportunities depend on Navy needs, individual performance, screening results, and current law and policy.