3359 - Instrument Mechanic
Federal Occupation Description
Federal Occupation Description
This standard is for grading nonsupervisory jobs involved in installing, aligning, modifying, troubleshooting, repairing, overhauling, testing, and calibrating a variety of instruments containing electric, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and/or electronic components, assemblies, and controls. The work includes using both manual and automated test equipment such as pneumatic, hydraulic, or vacuum test stands or computer controlled electronic test consoles to test, align, and calibrate instruments. The work also includes maintaining, repairing, and calibrating precision instruments and standards such as dial indicators, concentricity gauges, sine bars, micrometers, and plug and ring gauges. The work requires knowledge and application of electrical and mechanical principles; knowledge of pneumatic and/or hydraulic mechanisms; and, in some work situations, knowledge of electronic principles and theory.
For job opportunities in this series, go to the Office of Personnel Management USAJOBS website.
Other Federal Occupations
It is not uncommon for individuals in one federal occupational series to perform duties related to another series within the same federal occupational group. To find out about the certifications for another series in the INSTRUMENT WORK FAMILY, click on that series below. Note that credentials have not yet been identified for all series – links are provided only to those series for which the identification of credentials has been completed. Additional series will be added over time.
- 3306 - Optical Instrument Repairing
- 3314 - Instrument Making
- 3378 - Precision Measurement Equipment Calibrating

The following certifications have been identified as most relevant to the broad duties of this federal occupational series. Please note that these credentials may not reflect all of the unique job functions that you perform within your organization. Also these credentials may require additional education, training or experience. For more information about any credential, click on the credential title below.
Compare | Credential | Agency | Related As | GI Bill® | Accreditation | ID | |
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Associate Electronics Technician (CETa) Is Not In Demand | Electronics Technicians Association, International (ETA-I) | ![]() |
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Telecommunications Electronics Technician (TCM) Is Not In Demand | Electronics Technicians Association, International (ETA-I) | ![]() |
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RADAR Electronics Technician (RAD) Is Not In Demand | Electronics Technicians Association, International (ETA-I) | ![]() |
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Fiber Optics Technician (FOT) Is Not In Demand | Electronics Technicians Association, International (ETA-I) | ![]() |
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Master Certified Electronics Technician (CETma) Is Not In Demand | Electronics Technicians Association, International (ETA-I) | ![]() |
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Senior Certified Electronics Technician (CETsr) Is Not In Demand | Electronics Technicians Association, International (ETA-I) | ![]() |
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Certified Electronics Technician - Associate-Level Is Not In Demand | International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians (ISCET) | ![]() |
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Certified Electronics Technician - Journeyman-Level - Communications Is Not In Demand | International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians (ISCET) | ![]() |
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Certified Electronics Technician - Journeyman-Level - Industrial Is Not In Demand | International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians (ISCET) | ![]() |
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Certified Electronics Technician - Journeyman-Level - Medical Is Not In Demand | International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians (ISCET) | ![]() |
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Certified Electronics Technician - Journeyman-Level - Radar Is Not In Demand | International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians (ISCET) | ![]() |
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Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing Professional - Senior Is Not In Demand | American Society of Mechanical Engineers International (ASME) | ![]() |
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Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing Professional - Technologist Is Not In Demand | American Society of Mechanical Engineers International (ASME) | ![]() |
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Industrial Hydraulic Mechanic (IHM) Is Not In Demand | International Fluid Power Society (IFPS) | ![]() |
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Industrial Hydraulic Technician (IHT) Is Not In Demand | International Fluid Power Society (IFPS) | ![]() |
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Mobile Hydraulic Mechanic (MHM) Is Not In Demand | International Fluid Power Society (IFPS) | ![]() |
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Mobile Hydraulic Technician (MHT) Is Not In Demand | International Fluid Power Society (IFPS) | ![]() |
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Pneumatic Mechanic (PM) Is Not In Demand | International Fluid Power Society (IFPS) | ![]() |
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Pneumatic Technician (PT) Is Not In Demand | International Fluid Power Society (IFPS) | ![]() |
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Certified Control Systems Technician - Level I (CCST-I) Is Not In Demand | International Society of Automation (ISA) | ![]() |
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Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET)
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Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) | ![]() |
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Certified Radiology Equipment Specialist (CRES) Is Not In Demand | Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) | ![]() |
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Wireless Communications Electronics Technician (WCM) Is Not In Demand | Electronics Technicians Association, International (ETA-I) | ![]() |
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Biomedical Electronics Technician (BMD) Is Not In Demand | Electronics Technicians Association, International (ETA-I) | ![]() |
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Industrial Electronics Technician (IND)
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Electronics Technicians Association, International (ETA-I) | ![]() |
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Certified Calibration Technician (CCT) Is Not In Demand | American Society for Quality (ASQ) | ![]() |
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Biomedical Imaging Electronics Technician (BIET) Is Not In Demand | Electronics Technicians Association, International (ETA-I) | ![]() |
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Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Technician Is Not In Demand | International Association for Radio, Telecommunications and Electromagnetics (iNARTE) | ![]() |
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Avionics Electronics Technician (AVN) Is Not In Demand | Electronics Technicians Association, International (ETA-I) | ![]() |
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Certified Aerospace Technician Core Is Not In Demand | SpaceTEC | ![]() |
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Aircraft Electronics Technician (AET) Is Not In Demand | National Center for Aerospace & Transportation Technologies (NCATT) | ![]() |
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Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Engineer Is Not In Demand | International Association for Radio, Telecommunications and Electromagnetics (iNARTE) | ![]() |
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Fiber Optics Technician (Outside Plant) (FOT-OSP) Is Not In Demand | Electronics Technicians Association, International (ETA-I) | ![]() |
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Certified Control Systems Technician - Level II (CCST-II) Is Not In Demand | International Society of Automation (ISA) | ![]() |
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Certified Control Systems Technician - Level III (CCST-III) Is Not In Demand | International Society of Automation (ISA) | ![]() |
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Termination and Testing Technician (TTT) Is Not In Demand | Electronics Technicians Association, International (ETA-I) | ![]() |
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Technician in Precision Optics (TPO) Is Not In Demand | Electronics Technicians Association, International (ETA-I) | ![]() |
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Electronics Associate DC (EM1) Is Not In Demand | Electronics Technicians Association, International (ETA-I) | ![]() |
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Electronics Associate AC (EM2) Is Not In Demand | Electronics Technicians Association, International (ETA-I) | ![]() |
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Electronics Associate Analog (EM3) Is Not In Demand | Electronics Technicians Association, International (ETA-I) | ![]() |
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Electronics Associate Digital (EM4) Is Not In Demand | Electronics Technicians Association, International (ETA-I) | ![]() |
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Electronics Associate Comprehensive (EM5) Is Not In Demand | Electronics Technicians Association, International (ETA-I) | ![]() |
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Certified Laser Repair Technician (CLRT) Is Not In Demand | National Council on Laser Certification | ![]() |
State Licenses
Some states have specific licensing requirements for the following related civilian occupations. These state licenses may require additional education, training or experience. Click on the occupation below to get more information on state requirements from the U.S. Department of Labor.
- Avionics Technicians
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
- Electrical Engineering Technicians
- Electro-Mechanical Technicians
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
- Medical Equipment Repairers
Related Civilian Private Sector Occupations
The following civilian private sector occupations are similar to the duties performed by 3359 - Instrument Mechanic. These occupations may require additional education, training or experience. For more information about these occupations, click on the civilian occupation below.