Fire Controlman
The civilian and federal jobs that hire Navy Fire Controlmans — with real salaries and the resume that gets callbacks.
Every FC has more options than a Google search will tell you. Below: career paths, BLS salary data, federal GS series, certifications by target career, and how to translate your experience without losing what made you valuable to the Navy in the first place.
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After the Navy I got hired into 6 federal career fields and tech sales, and sat on federal hiring panels along the way. I spent the last 2 years rebuilding everything I learned into BMR, tuned for how AI actually screens resumes today. This is the system I wish I'd had on day one.
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Military Role Overview
Fire Controlmen (FC) operate and maintain the Navy's most advanced weapons and combat systems — the hardware that aims, tracks, and fires everything from 5-inch guns to Standard Missiles. FCs are the sailors behind the Aegis Weapon System and its SPY-1 phased-array radar, the Close-In Weapon System (CIWS Phalanx), MK 160 Gun Computer System, Tomahawk Weapon System, MK 99 Fire Control System, and the MK 41 Vertical Launching System that houses ESSM, SM-2, and SM-6 missiles. When the ship goes to General Quarters, FCs are the ones running engagement sequencing and putting ordnance on target.
The FC rating demands a rare combination of electronics expertise and tactical proficiency. FCs troubleshoot to the component level on radar transmitters, receiver-exciters, CORT computers, console displays, and radar repeaters using oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and built-in test equipment. They execute Combat Systems Operational Sequencing System (CSOSS) procedures, perform combat systems alignment, run systems readiness testing, conduct pre-fire checks, and maintain the fire control switchboards that route targeting data between sensors and weapons. When a system goes down during a live exercise or real-world engagement, the FC is the one pulling boards, running signal traces, and getting the system back online.
Training begins at FC A School in Great Lakes, Illinois, where sailors learn electronics fundamentals, digital logic, and basic fire control theory. From there, FCs attend platform-specific C Schools — the Aegis Training Center in Dahlgren, Virginia being the most common for Aegis-equipped cruisers and destroyers. The technical depth FCs develop across radar theory, digital networking, and complex systems integration makes them highly valuable to defense contractors, electronics firms, and federal agencies that maintain the same systems they operated in uniform.
FCs work on some of the most complex weapons systems in the Navy — Aegis, missile systems, fire-control radars. The federal engineering technician series and major defense contractors (Raytheon, Lockheed, Northrop) actively recruit FCs out of uniform. The systems-level experience plus clearance is the package. — Brad Tachi, Navy Diver veteran & BMR founder
Pay Reality Check
The number that matters when you're deciding what's next: how does civilian pay compare to what you make now?
Military comp is approximate (varies by location/dependents). Civilian is BLS median. Federal includes locality pay. Your real number depends on duty station, family status, GS step, and overtime.
Private Sector Career Paths
The defense electronics industry treats FC experience as a hiring credential. Companies that build, maintain, and upgrade the same systems FCs worked on — Aegis, CIWS, SPY-1 radar, MK 41 VLS — actively recruit from this rating because FCs arrive with documented systems knowledge that takes years to develop internally. Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and BAE Systems run large post-production support programs for Aegis ships, and former FCs fill roles as field service engineers, test engineers, and weapons systems technicians supporting these contracts.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024), the median annual wage for Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment is $66,820 (O*NET 49-2094.00). Electronics Engineers earn a median of $117,750 (O*NET 17-2072.00), though engineering roles typically require a bachelor's degree. Avionics Technicians — a closely related technical field — earn a median of $81,390 (O*NET 49-2091.00).
Beyond defense contracting, FC skills in radar systems, digital networking, and complex troubleshooting transfer to commercial electronics, telecommunications, and industrial automation. The phased-array radar knowledge from SPY-1 operations is directly applicable to weather radar systems, air traffic control radar, and satellite ground station equipment. FCs who specialize in the networking side of combat systems — data links, switch settings, and network configuration — find that their experience maps well to IT infrastructure and network engineering roles.
Civilian Job Title Translations
| Civilian Job Title | Industry | BLS Median Salary | Outlook | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Weapons Systems Technician O*NET: 49-2094.00 | Defense / Aerospace | $66,820 | About as fast as average | strong |
Radar / Electronics Technician O*NET: 49-2094.00 | Defense / Telecommunications / Aviation | $66,820 | About as fast as average | strong |
Defense Systems Engineer O*NET: 17-2072.00 | Defense / Aerospace | $117,750 | About as fast as average | moderate |
Calibration Technician O*NET: 49-2094.00 | Manufacturing / Defense / Aerospace | $66,820 | About as fast as average | strong |
Test Engineer O*NET: 17-2072.00 | Defense / Manufacturing / Aerospace | $117,750 | About as fast as average | moderate |
Field Service Engineer O*NET: 49-2094.00 | Defense / Industrial Equipment / Telecommunications | $66,820 | About as fast as average | strong |
Avionics Technician O*NET: 49-2091.00 | Aviation / Aerospace / Defense | $81,390 | Faster than average | moderate |
Control Systems Specialist O*NET: 49-2094.00 | Industrial Automation / Manufacturing / Energy | $66,820 | About as fast as average | moderate |
Companies That Hire This Background
See a salary you want? Build a resume targeting it.
BMR rewrites your FC experience for any of the civilian roles above — keywords, achievements, and language hiring managers actually scan for.
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“I am wrapping up a 21 year Naval career, all of which was working on fighters. I had picked up a job as a contractor for a company on the same base I’ve been at for the last ten years. I submitted that resume while on deployment and it worked great. Thanks again Brad. Dave ”
Federal Career Paths
GS-0856 (Electronics Technician) is the strongest federal match for FCs, and it is where the bulk of DoD civilian FC-adjacent positions sit. NAVSEA, NSWC Dahlgren, NSWC Port Hueneme, and Fleet Readiness Centers hire GS-0856 electronics technicians specifically to maintain and test the same fire control and combat systems FCs operated in the fleet. These positions frequently use Direct Hire Authority for veterans, shortcutting the standard competitive process.
GS-0855 (Electronics Engineer) requires a bachelor's degree in engineering or equivalent, but FCs pursuing degrees through the GI Bill should target this series — it opens systems engineering and acquisition roles at NAVSEA, PEO IWS (Integrated Warfare Systems), and missile defense agencies. The technical foundation from the rating gives FC veterans a significant advantage in these programs.
GS-0301 (Miscellaneous Administration and Program) and GS-0343 (Management and Program Analyst) are where senior FCs with leadership experience find opportunities. These series cover program management, acquisition support, and administrative roles at NAVSEA, OPNAV, and Systems Commands. A senior FC who managed combat systems maintenance programs, coordinated depot-level repairs, or led training teams has the analytical and organizational background these positions demand.
Veterans' Preference gives former FCs 5 or 10 extra points on federal hiring assessments. Start the USAJobs application process at least 6 months before separation — federal hiring timelines are measured in months, not weeks. Build a federal resume at bestmilitaryresume.com — federal resumes follow strict formatting rules and are 2 pages max.
GS Series & Position Matches
| GS Series | Federal Job Title | Typical Grades | Match | Explore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-0856 | Electronics Technician | GS-7, GS-9, GS-11, GS-12 | View Details → | |
| GS-6605 | Artillery Repairing | WG-10, WG-11, WG-12 | View Details → | |
| GS-2210 | Information Technology Management | GS-7, GS-9, GS-11, GS-12 | View Details → | |
| GS-2604 | Electronics Mechanic | WG-10, WG-11, WG-12 | View Details → | |
| GS-0855 | Electronics Engineering | GS-9, GS-11, GS-12, GS-13 | View Details → | |
| GS-0340 | Program Management | GS-11, GS-12, GS-13 | View Details → | |
| GS-1910 | Quality Assurance | GS-7, GS-9, GS-11 | View Details → | |
| GS-0343 | Management and Program Analyst | GS-9, GS-11, GS-12 | View Details → | |
| GS-0802 | Engineering Technician | GS-7, GS-9, GS-11 | View Details → | |
| GS-0301 | Miscellaneous Administration and Program | GS-7, GS-9, GS-11 | View Details → |
Federal resumes follow different rules. We know them.
Federal hiring uses keyword-matching and structured experience. BMR builds federal-format resumes (USAJobs-ready) with the right keywords, hours/week, and supervisor info — for any GS series above.
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Want to Change Careers Entirely?
Not everyone wants to stay in a related field. These career paths leverage your transferable skills — leadership, risk management, logistics, project planning — in completely different industries.
Air Traffic Controller
A Fire Controlman spends watches tracking contacts on radar and making time-critical calls. Air traffic control is the civilian version of that same scope picture, sequencing fast-moving targets without losing the picture.
Nuclear Power Reactor Operator
FCs run integrated combat systems where a missed parameter has real consequences. A reactor control room rewards the same console discipline, watch-standing focus, and procedural rigor under pressure.
Computer Systems Analyst
Combat systems are sensor-to-computer integration problems, exactly what a systems analyst solves for business. FCs already think in terms of how data moves between subsystems and where it breaks.
Robotics Technician
A fire-control system is a sensor-driven robot that points and fires. The instinct for keeping integrated electro-mechanical systems calibrated and running transfers directly to factory robotics and automation.
Public Safety Telecommunicator
FCs coordinate engagements while the picture changes by the second. Emergency dispatch demands the same composure, multi-tasking, and disciplined comms, just pointed at first responders instead of a weapons system.
Computer Network Architect
Networked combat systems pass data between radars, consoles, and shooters across redundant links. That mental model of resilient, secure data flow is what a network architect designs for enterprises.
Pivoting industries? You don't need to start from scratch.
The skills that made you a good Marine, Sailor, Airman, or Soldier transfer further than you think. BMR rewrites your bullets for any of the pivot careers above — without making you sound like you've never done the work.
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Skills Translation Guide
If you're applying to defense contractors or electronics companies that work on the same systems you maintained in the Navy, you probably don't need this section. They know what SPY-1 radar means. They know what CSOSS is.
But if you're targeting roles outside of defense electronics — project management, IT, operations, sales engineering, or any corporate position — the hiring manager has never heard of MK 99 or engagement sequencing. The translations below reframe FC experience into language that resonates in non-defense industries. These are not just word swaps — they restructure how you describe your accomplishments so a non-military hiring manager understands the scope, responsibility, and impact of what you actually did.
Resume Bullet Examples
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BMR turns your FC duties and accomplishments into civilian bullets that match the job you're applying for — no manual translation, no rewriting.
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Certifications by Career Path
Which certifications you need depends on where you're headed. Find your target career path below.
Aviation Maintenance
Cybersecurity
Defense Contracting
Facilities Management
Federal Employment
Manufacturing
Operations Management
Project Management
Quality Assurance
Safety & EHS
Got a cert? Don't bury it. List it the right way.
The wrong placement can sink an otherwise strong application. BMR knows where each cert ranks, what to call it, and how to frame it for ATS keyword matching and hiring manager attention.
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Transition Resources
For Staying in Defense Electronics
SkillBridge Programs: Major defense contractors including Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and BAE Systems participate in DOD SkillBridge, allowing FCs to work full-time in contractor roles during their last 180 days of service while still receiving military pay. Search the SkillBridge database for current openings. Roles supporting Aegis, CIWS, and combat systems modernization are common placements for FCs.
NAVSEA Civilian Careers: NSWC Dahlgren and NSWC Port Hueneme are the primary Navy labs for fire control and combat systems. Both hire former FCs as electronics technicians (GS-0856) and frequently use Direct Hire Authority for veterans.
Industry Associations: The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) hosts defense technology conferences and job fairs where defense contractors recruit heavily. AFCEA chapters in Norfolk, San Diego, and the DC Metro area are especially active.
For Careers Outside Defense Electronics
IT and Cybersecurity: CompTIA certifications (Security+, Network+, A+) are the entry point. FCs already understand networks, digital systems, and troubleshooting methodology — these certs formalize that knowledge for civilian IT hiring managers. Security+ satisfies DoD 8570 requirements.
Project Management: The PMP certification (PMI) opens doors across industries. Senior FCs who managed combat systems maintenance programs likely have enough documented project hours to qualify. Cost: ~$555 (PMI member). GI Bill covers some prep courses.
Federal Employment (USAJobs): Create your USAJobs profile immediately. Key agencies for FCs: NAVSEA, PEO IWS, NSWC Dahlgren, NSWC Port Hueneme, Missile Defense Agency, DISA, and DLA. Federal resumes are 2 pages max. Build yours here.
Veteran Networking: American Corporate Partners (ACP) provides free mentorship from corporate executives. ACP is legitimate and completely free for veterans.
Education Benefits: GI Bill covers degree programs, professional certifications, and test prep. Verify program approval with the GI Bill Comparison Tool before enrolling.
Clearance Leverage: If you hold an active Secret or Top Secret clearance, that has significant market value. ClearanceJobs.com lists positions requiring active clearances. Don't let yours lapse during transition.
BMR Career Resources
Navy Resume Guide: Rating Translation | Complete Military Resume Guide | Top Companies Hiring Veterans | Build Your Resume Free
Your 30 / 60 / 90-Day Transition Plan
Most people do this backwards. They wait until terminal leave to start, then panic. Here's the sequence that works. Already out? Same plan, start at day one today.
Set the foundation
- Pull your DD-214 (request from Milconnect if separated)
- List your top 3 civilian roles AND top 3 GS series
- Build your tailored FC resume — BMR does it free
- Write 1 strong LinkedIn headline (not "veteran seeking opportunities")
- Pull together your evals/performance reports for accomplishments
Apply with intent
- Apply to 5–10 jobs/week — quality over quantity
- Tailor every resume to the job description (BMR auto-tailors)
- Connect with 5 people/week on LinkedIn (not a spray)
- Set up a USAJobs profile and a saved-search alert for your GS series
- Practice translating your military bullets out loud — explain to a civilian friend
Close the offer
- Track every application — date, status, contact, notes
- Follow up 7–10 days after each application
- Prep for behavioral interviews using the STAR method
- Negotiate salary — don't take the first offer (BLS median is your floor)
- Stay applying even after one offer — leverage = options
Print this. Tape it to your monitor. Veterans who treat the job search like a 90-day op get hired faster than the ones who treat it like an emergency.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do defense contractors pay former Fire Controlmen?
Do I need a degree to work as a civilian electronics technician?
What if I want to leave defense electronics entirely?
How valuable is my security clearance after leaving the Navy?
Which certifications should I get before separating?
How does Veterans' Preference work for federal jobs?
How do I explain FC experience in a non-defense job interview?
Where are the best job markets for former Fire Controlmen?
Should I use my GI Bill for a degree or certifications?
Can I start job searching while still on active duty?
Translate your FC Fire Controlman experience into a resume that gets callbacks
Stop rewriting from scratch every time you apply. BMR turns your military experience into civilian and federal resumes — tailored to each job.