Think You Know Space Careers?

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are hot-ticket buzzwords in today’s technology landscape. Beyond hype, data-driven algorithms have very exciting applications within the space industry—from advanced satellite monitoring, to planetary rovers on science missions to Mars. 

AOCS stands for Attitude and Orbit Control System—a critical on-board component of all spacecraft. The AOCS is responsible for fine-tuning and correcting a satellite’s position in orbit, through the use of sensors (to recognize undesired changes in orientation), and actuators—think thrusters—to gently correct the problem and return the satellite to its proper bearing.

As with any industry, the long-term health of a space company is dependent on its ability to expand and adapt to the changing marketplace. Business development specialists are agile, big-thinking team members who identify, develop, and implement methods by which space companies are empowered to grow. 

Broadly speaking, CFD analysts use algorithms to simulate the effects of aerodynamic processes on an object. Within the space industry, CFD engineers are instrumental during a new spacecraft's concept or design phase. These mechanical engineers run simulations to determine whether (for example) a specific wing shape and material will withstand re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. Without CFD analysts, the only way to know whether a craft's design is suitable for space travel would be to simply launch it and observe the results.

Big data is a big business in the space industry. Data engineers are responsible for designing the architecture that supports massive amounts of satellite data relayed from orbit, and data scientists analyze the returns in order to make sense of what the satellites “see.”

Flight dynamics is a field dedicated to understanding how forces—like gravity, propulsion, and aerodynamics—impact a spacecraft’s operation while in flight. Flight dynamics engineers are responsible for modeling how a spacecraft will behave during operation, and work with a craft’s Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) systems in order to successfully maneuver the craft during its mission.

The ground segment is an invaluable component of satellite operations. Radio navigation engineers, for example, are a specialized subset of the ground segment, tasked with using radio signals in order to navigate a craft within its orbit. These engineers are involved in both R&D and ongoing monitoring and analysis in order to maximize mission efficiency.

LEOP stands for Launch and Early Orbit Phase—a critical period of any spacecraft’s mission, immediately after launch and reaching orbit. LEOP specialists are spacecraft operations engineers responsible for monitoring a satellite’s entry into orbit, during which time all on-board systems must be checked to ensure proper function.

Space tech is often seen as an especially unapproachable sector—which is why capable and creative marketers are of special interest to commercial space enterprises. Marketing for the space industry requires a unique combination of technical knowledge and audience understanding in order to fully leverage the huge potential of today's space companies.

An optical system is a crucial component of a spacecraft’s imaging and sensing capabilities. Optical engineers design and test ways for satellites to observe celestial bodies or other points of interest, enabling precise measurements, continuous monitoring, and other aspects of data-gathering missions. 

Product- and quality-assurance engineers are the last line of defense between a craft bound for space and potential mission failure. These engineers are responsible for comprehensive testing and diagnostics to ensure that the craft in question, its architecture and subsystems all conform to precise specifications. 

Project Control engineers plan and oversee all aspects of a space project or mission’s lifecycle, from early-stage budgeting and workflow management to end-of-mission reporting. These engineers are responsible for properly allocating human and financial resources in order to most efficiently execute a mission’s objectives. 

The commercial—and often, entrepreneurial—nature of today’s space industry requires knowledgeable and charismatic salespeople who are able to convey the real value of a company’s high-tech products. These valuable team members help ensure a space technology’s viability in the broader marketplace.

Satellite operations engineers are key players within the space industry. There are thousands of satellites currently in orbit around the planet, with thousands more planned to launch in the years ahead—and each satellite requires meticulous planning, comprehensive testing, and myriad complex calculations in order to fulfill its mission. Satellite operations engineers are the people who make all of this come together to provide data and communications relays between our planet’s surface and the vacuum of space. 

Thermal engineers play a vital role in the space industry, as it is their job to ensure efficient transfer of heat and energy between components of in-space systems and technologies. Take satellites, for example—without precise thermal controls in place, the lifespan and integrity of these spacecraft are greatly reduced, and the mission is put in jeopardy.