Also called: Free-Space Optics Engineer
Builds laser systems that let satellites send data to each other and to Earth using beams of light instead of radio.
You align lasers and telescopes on an optical bench so precisely that a beam can hit a target thousands of miles away. Starlink-style constellations use these links to talk satellite-to-satellite.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Bachelor's in physics, optics, or electrical engineering; master's common.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years).
Low risk for 10 years. AI helps point and track beams; building and aligning laser terminals stays hands-on in a fast-growing field.
Classes: AP Physics, AP Calculus, Electronics class, Computer science.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2072.
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