Also called: Space Systems Engineer
Makes sure every part of a spacecraft (power, computers, radios, thrusters) works together as one machine.
You are the person who knows a little about everything on the vehicle. In one day you might settle a fight between the power team and the radio team over who gets more battery, update the master requirements list, and review a test plan line by line.
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 aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering; many add a master's in systems engineering.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering.
Growing faster than average (about 6% over 10 years). Part of BLS aerospace engineers category.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI drafts requirements, models and test plans; integrating hardware and making go/no-go calls stay human.
Classes: AP Physics, AP Calculus, Computer science, Speech or debate.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2011.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.