Also called: TPS Engineer, Ablative Materials Engineer
Develops heat shield materials that let capsules survive reentry at temperatures hotter than lava.
You test material samples in an arc-jet, a machine that blasts them with superheated gas, and then slice them open to see how they burned. You also help manufacture the real tiles and check each one.
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 materials science or aerospace engineering; many have a master's or PhD.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Materials Science and Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering.
Growing faster than average (about 6% over 10 years). Uses BLS materials engineers figures.
Low risk for 10 years. AI helps predict materials; making and torch-testing heat shields stays hands-on lab work.
Classes: AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Calculus, Shop class.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2131.
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