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AI exposure Architecture and engineering

Will AI replace engineering technologists and technicians?

Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other. US occupation 17-3029.

0.0%

of the time engineering technologists and technicians spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of engineering technologists and technicians' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.

Ranked 346 of 756 US occupations. No AI use seen in the work yet, along with 410 other occupations.No handover started yet, along with 410 other occupations.

Average US job 7.7%

Among the least exposed jobs there are.Still waiting for liberation.

What AI already does for engineering technologists and techniciansWhat engineering technologists and technicians no longer do alone

O*NET lists 40 tasks for engineering technologists and technicians. None of them shows meaningful AI use at work yet.

What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human

40 of the 40 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.

  • Adjust or maintain equipment, such as lasers, laser systems, microscopes, oscilloscopes, pulse generators, power meters, beam analyzers, or energy measurement devices.Core task
  • Assist engineers in the development of new products, fixtures, tools, or processes.Core task
  • Assist scientists or engineers in the conduct of photonic experiments.Core task
  • Compute or record photonic test data.Core task
  • Conduct liquid penetrant tests to locate surface cracks by coating objects with fluorescent dyes, cleaning excess penetrant, and applying developer.Core task
  • Develop or use new non-destructive testing methods, such as acoustic emission testing, leak testing, and thermal or infrared testing.Core task
Show the other 34
  • Document non-destructive testing methods, processes, or results.Core task
  • Document procedures, such as calibration of optical or fiber optic equipment.Core task
  • Examine structures or vehicles such as aircraft, trains, nuclear reactors, bridges, dams, and pipelines, using non-destructive testing techniques.Core task
  • Identify defects in concrete or other building materials, using thermal or infrared testing.Core task
  • Identify defects in solid materials, using ultrasonic testing techniques.Core task
  • Interpret or evaluate test results in accordance with applicable codes, standards, specifications, or procedures.Core task
  • Interpret the results of all methods of non-destructive testing (NDT), such as acoustic emission, electromagnetic, leak, liquid penetrant, magnetic particle, neutron radiographic, radiographic, thermal or infrared, ultrasonic, vibration analysis, and visual testing.Core task
  • Maintain clean working environments, according to clean room standards.Core task
  • Make radiographic images to detect flaws in objects while leaving objects intact.Core task
  • Map the presence of imperfections within objects, using sonic measurements.Core task
  • Monitor inventory levels and order supplies as necessary.Core task
  • Prepare reports on non-destructive testing results.Core task
  • Produce images of objects on film, using radiographic techniques.Core task
  • Recommend optical or optic equipment design or material changes to reduce costs or processing times.Core task
  • Select, calibrate, or operate equipment used in the non-destructive testing of products or materials.Core task
  • Set up or operate assembly or processing equipment, such as lasers, cameras, die bonders, wire bonders, dispensers, reflow ovens, soldering irons, die shears, wire pull testers, temperature or humidity chambers, or optical spectrum analyzers.Core task
  • Set up or operate prototype or test apparatus, such as control consoles, collimators, recording equipment, or cables.Core task
  • Supervise or direct the work of non-destructive testing trainees or staff.Core task
  • Test or perform failure analysis for optomechanical or optoelectrical products, according to test plans.Core task
  • Visually examine materials, structures, or components for signs of corrosion, metal fatigue, cracks, or other flaws, using tools and equipment such as endoscopes, closed-circuit television systems, and fiber optics.Core task
  • Assemble components of energy-efficient optical communications systems involving photonic switches, optical backplanes, or optoelectronic interfaces.
  • Assemble fiber optical, optoelectronic, or free-space optics components, subcomponents, assemblies, or subassemblies.
  • Assemble or adjust parts or related electrical units of prototypes to prepare for testing.
  • Build prototype optomechanical devices for use in equipment such as aerial cameras, gun sights, or telescopes.
  • Design, build, or modify fixtures used to assemble parts.
  • Evaluate material properties, using radio astronomy, voltage and amperage measurement, or rheometric flow measurement.
  • Fabricate devices, such as optoelectronic or semiconductor devices.
  • Lay out cutting lines for machining, using drafting tools.
  • Mix, pour, or use processing chemicals or gases according to safety standards or established operating procedures.
  • Optimize photonic process parameters by making prototype or production devices.
  • Perform diagnostic analyses of processing steps, using analytical or metrological tools, such as microscopy, profilometry, or ellipsometry devices.
  • Repair or calibrate products, such as surgical lasers.
  • Splice fibers, using fusion splicing or other techniques.
  • Terminate, cure, polish, or test fiber cables with mechanical connectors.

How that compares

Among the 34 architecture and engineering occupations, engineering technologists and technicians rank 25. The group averages 3.8%, and its most exposed job is Computer Hardware Engineers at 14.5%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.

All 756 occupations, ranked

Level with 0.0%

  1. 346Emergency Management Directors 0.0%
  2. 346Emergency Medical Technicians 0.0%
  3. 346Engine and Other Machine Assemblers 0.0%

What this does and does not mean

Exposure is observed use, not a forecast. Anthropic maps work conversations with Claude onto the tasks O*NET lists for each job and asks, of the tasks AI could speed up, which are actually being used for at work. A use that does the task outright counts in full and a use that assists a person counts half. The task scores are averaged into the occupation figure by the share of time spent on each task.

A high figure means AI is already part of how this work gets done. It does not mean anyone has been replaced. Anthropic's own reading of the labour market finds no systematic rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting exposed jobs.No measurable rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting these jobs. Gap years for everyone. Labor market impacts, 5 March 2026.

Task list and titles from O*NET 31.0 by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Scores from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Checked 1 November 2026. How the ranking works.