Also called: Rover Planner, Mission Science Operations Lead
Decides each day what a Mars rover will drive to, photograph, and drill.
Each morning, new images arrive from Mars. Your team picks targets, plans the rover's drive, and sends commands before the end of the Martian day. During early missions, the team even lives on 'Mars time.'
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 7 years after high school. Master's or PhD in planetary science, geology, or engineering; often on a NASA or JPL team.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Planetary Science, Geology, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science.
Growing about average. BLS does not project this specialty separately; rating estimated from related occupations.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Rovers get more self-driving autonomy, but daily science target choices by the team stay human.
Classes: Earth science, AP Physics, AP Computer Science.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-2099.
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