SIDF Spacecraft Mechanic

I- I told the commander as much. That ship isn't ready, it's tagged as not-flight ready. There was a fault in the line between the FTL Drive and the engine - if the Drive was turned on, the engine would discharge power directly into the inside of the ship, under the shielding. I tried to explain it to him. But he sent Claire out in it anyway. And then just- Only minutes later, we hear the call to ready the departure bay for a collector craft.
I told him.

— Kaiti Michelakos, bereaved mechanic

SIDF Spacecraft Mechanics, true to their names, are those who maintain and repair the various spacecraft operated by the Sol Interstellar Defence Force. Despite the risks that arise if their jobs were done incorrectly, they do not receive anywhere near the pay or funding as pilots or developmental engineers, and many aboard each station could tell a horror story of when their expertise was overlooked by command.

Qualifications

Due to the specialised nature of the SIDF's spacecraft, mechanics must be trained directly by the SIDF and its associate colleges, requiring either high grades in fields of physics and chemistry, or civilian experience with transport machinery at a high level. There are also the health requirements of being able to get off-planet in the first place, though some mechanics are always required planet-side, so this does not apply to all. For those who are accepted for training, it will take a minimum of 2 years to be granted accreditation and to be allowed to work on 'live' craft.

Career Progression

SIDF mechanics will find little mobility within their field, with only minor pay rises given to those with experience and who have done important repairs. There is some sideways mobility available, as SIDF mechanics tend to specialise in specific types of spacecraft - single-pilot craft, crew craft, transporters, and so on. In those cases, it's possible to transition to another type of ship without any change in pay, and some veterans recommend doing so every few years of military service to avoid boredom.
Real mobility comes after a mechanic leaves the SIDF, as their skills will be highly sought after by private interests with their own spacecraft. These private interests are renowned for paying handsomely for ex-military mechanics, seeing them as boosting their own power and influence, despite how little importance the SIDF places on its mechanics.

Type

Engineering

Demand

High

Employed by

The Sol Interstellar Defence Force

Notable Mechanics

Kiran Khan
Kuroki Hinata

Perception

Among civilians, SIDF spacecraft mechanics are seen as quite impressive, though those who dislike the SIDF are unlikely to find much to say about them. However, they receive very little attention in favour of the brave and heroic pilots who fly the ships they repair, and few mechanics are household names.
This hardly speaks of the SIDF's stance towards its mechanics, which is to treat them as an utterly dull necessity. After all, they have none of the excitement and panache of an engineer or designer, and experience far less risk than a pilot or medic. It's a bog-standard job to the SIDF, and this has led to many incidents of mechanics being overruled on matters of safety.