Also called: Command Sequence Engineer
Writes the timed scripts of commands a robotic spacecraft runs on its own when it's too far for real-time control.
Because signals to Saturn take over an hour, you write a week of commands in advance: turn here, snap 200 photos, fire thrusters, call home. Then you test it in a simulator.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in engineering, physics, or computer science.
Ways in: 4-year college. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Physics.
Growing faster than average (about 6% over 10 years). Part of BLS aerospace engineers category.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. AI planners can build command sequences automatically, shrinking these roles; checking and fixing plans stays human.
Classes: AP Computer Science, AP Physics, Statistics, AP Calculus.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2011.
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