Roadmap to joining the mission
Five tracks into the industries building the Moon and Mars, each in four steps. Every step has something to do, free or cheap resources, a portfolio milestone you can show an employer, and a link to matching jobs on our board (692 live today).
AI and software
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Learn the autonomy stack
What to do. Work through the MIT VNAV labs in order and push each to a public repository.
Why. Space companies hiring ML mostly want imagery, autonomy and perception skills, and these labs cover that stack.
Resources. MIT OCW 16.485 Visual Navigation for Autonomous Vehicles (free) · ROS 2 Jazzy first-steps learning path (free)
Portfolio milestone. Public repo with completed labs and a short README per lab.
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If you're a student Get on the internship and fellowship calendar
What to do. Put the next NASA OSTEM deadline and the early-fall fellowship windows in your calendar. Apply to at least one company internship program each cycle.
Why. Most early-career hiring in this industry runs through internships, and the best fellowships close in early October.
Resources. NASA OSTEM and Pathways internships · SpaceX internships · Blue Origin internships · Brooke Owens Fellowship FAQ · Patti Grace Smith Fellowship · Matthew Isakowitz Commercial Space Scholarship
Portfolio milestone. Three applications submitted in one cycle.
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If you're a career changer Translate your current job into a posting
What to do. Find three postings on our board that already describe what you do today. Note the one skill each asks for that you lack.
Why. Career changers move fastest by entering through an adjacent title, not by starting over.
Resources. BLS Occupational Outlook: Aerospace Engineers · 22 CFR 120.62, definition of U.S. person
Portfolio milestone. A list of three target postings and one named skill gap.
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If you're a experienced pro Pick the company, then the problem
What to do. Shortlist five companies whose product needs your specialty. Read their postings for the exact tools and standards they name, and check export-control requirements.
Why. Experienced hires are bought for a specific problem. Showing you already know theirs shortens the process.
Resources. 22 CFR 120.62, definition of U.S. person
Portfolio milestone. Five tailored applications, each citing a problem from the posting.
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Build one domain project
What to do. Pick one problem from a real posting (image analysis, autonomy, test tooling) and build a small working version with open data.
Why. A project that mirrors a posting is the fastest proof you can do that job.
Resources. MIT OCW 16.485 Visual Navigation for Autonomous Vehicles (free)
Portfolio milestone. A one-page write-up with results, failures and what you changed.
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Get hired where volume is, then move
What to do. Apply to AI and robotics companies with high posting volume, and to the few early-career AI roles at space companies.
Why. Our count found about 2.6 percent of space postings were AI-titled and almost all were senior.
Resources. 22 CFR 120.62, definition of U.S. person
Portfolio milestone. First offer in AI, robotics or space software.
Robotics
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Finish the ROS 2 beginner path
What to do. Do the official first-steps tutorials in order: nodes, topics, services, actions, launch files, bags.
Why. ROS ideas show up across robotics postings, and the official path is free and maintained by the project.
Resources. ROS 2 Jazzy first-steps learning path (free) · ROS 2 documentation (free)
Portfolio milestone. Turtlesim and a custom node running, recorded in a bag file.
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If you're a student Get on the internship and fellowship calendar
What to do. Put the next NASA OSTEM deadline and the early-fall fellowship windows in your calendar. Apply to at least one company internship program each cycle.
Why. Most early-career hiring in this industry runs through internships, and the best fellowships close in early October.
Resources. NASA OSTEM and Pathways internships · SpaceX internships · Blue Origin internships · Brooke Owens Fellowship FAQ · Patti Grace Smith Fellowship · Matthew Isakowitz Commercial Space Scholarship
Portfolio milestone. Three applications submitted in one cycle.
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If you're a career changer Translate your current job into a posting
What to do. Find three postings on our board that already describe what you do today. Note the one skill each asks for that you lack.
Why. Career changers move fastest by entering through an adjacent title, not by starting over.
Resources. BLS Occupational Outlook: Aerospace Engineers · 22 CFR 120.62, definition of U.S. person
Portfolio milestone. A list of three target postings and one named skill gap.
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If you're a experienced pro Pick the company, then the problem
What to do. Shortlist five companies whose product needs your specialty. Read their postings for the exact tools and standards they name, and check export-control requirements.
Why. Experienced hires are bought for a specific problem. Showing you already know theirs shortens the process.
Resources. 22 CFR 120.62, definition of U.S. person
Portfolio milestone. Five tailored applications, each citing a problem from the posting.
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Build a real robot that does one job
What to do. Put your stack on a cheap wheeled base with a camera or lidar. One task, done reliably. Test it on sand or gravel for a rover angle.
Why. Real hardware failures are what interviewers want to hear about.
Resources. MIT OCW 16.485 Visual Navigation for Autonomous Vehicles (free) · ROS 2 Jazzy first-steps learning path (free)
Portfolio milestone. Video plus a write-up of the three worst bugs and fixes.
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Apply across the four robotics groups
What to do. Target humanoids, autonomous vehicles, drones and industrial automation. Test and field roles are the most open door.
Why. Planetary rover teams hire from this same Earth-robotics pool.
Portfolio milestone. First robotics role.
Aerospace engineering
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Name your subsystem
What to do. Map your degree or experience onto one subsystem: structures, thermal, avionics, propulsion, materials, GNC or test.
Why. Rocket companies post by subsystem, and most of their roles are not titled "aerospace engineer."
Resources. BLS Occupational Outlook: Aerospace Engineers
Portfolio milestone. A one-line pitch: "I want to work on X because I have done Y."
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If you're a student Get on the internship and fellowship calendar
What to do. Put the next NASA OSTEM deadline and the early-fall fellowship windows in your calendar. Apply to at least one company internship program each cycle.
Why. Most early-career hiring in this industry runs through internships, and the best fellowships close in early October.
Resources. NASA OSTEM and Pathways internships · SpaceX internships · Blue Origin internships · Brooke Owens Fellowship FAQ · Patti Grace Smith Fellowship · Matthew Isakowitz Commercial Space Scholarship
Portfolio milestone. Three applications submitted in one cycle.
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If you're a career changer Translate your current job into a posting
What to do. Find three postings on our board that already describe what you do today. Note the one skill each asks for that you lack.
Why. Career changers move fastest by entering through an adjacent title, not by starting over.
Resources. BLS Occupational Outlook: Aerospace Engineers · 22 CFR 120.62, definition of U.S. person
Portfolio milestone. A list of three target postings and one named skill gap.
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If you're a experienced pro Pick the company, then the problem
What to do. Shortlist five companies whose product needs your specialty. Read their postings for the exact tools and standards they name, and check export-control requirements.
Why. Experienced hires are bought for a specific problem. Showing you already know theirs shortens the process.
Resources. 22 CFR 120.62, definition of U.S. person
Portfolio milestone. Five tailored applications, each citing a problem from the posting.
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Fly hardware
What to do. Earn NAR Level 1 with a rocket you built, adding one designed part (such as a logging avionics bay), or own a subsystem on a CubeSat or rocketry team.
Why. Hardware teams hire people who close the loop from design to test.
Resources. NAR Level 1 high-power certification procedure · NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative
Portfolio milestone. Certified flight, or a subsystem test report, with predicted vs. measured data.
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Apply by subsystem
What to do. Apply to the roles matching your subsystem, including materials, test and manufacturing titles.
Why. A materials or test job at a rocket company is aerospace experience for the next employer.
Resources. 22 CFR 120.62, definition of U.S. person
Portfolio milestone. First aerospace or space role.
Space ops, policy and business
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Learn the industry’s rules and economics
What to do. Read the Artemis Accords and our reading paths on space resources law and money.
Why. Policy, compliance and business roles reward people who already know the treaty and contract basics.
Resources. The Artemis Accords (signed text) · NASA overview of in-situ resource utilization · 22 CFR 120.62, definition of U.S. person
Portfolio milestone. A one-page memo on one current issue, such as safety zones or launch costs.
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If you're a student Get on the internship and fellowship calendar
What to do. Put the next NASA OSTEM deadline and the early-fall fellowship windows in your calendar. Apply to at least one company internship program each cycle.
Why. Most early-career hiring in this industry runs through internships, and the best fellowships close in early October.
Resources. NASA OSTEM and Pathways internships · SpaceX internships · Blue Origin internships · Brooke Owens Fellowship FAQ · Patti Grace Smith Fellowship · Matthew Isakowitz Commercial Space Scholarship
Portfolio milestone. Three applications submitted in one cycle.
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If you're a career changer Translate your current job into a posting
What to do. Find three postings on our board that already describe what you do today. Note the one skill each asks for that you lack.
Why. Career changers move fastest by entering through an adjacent title, not by starting over.
Resources. BLS Occupational Outlook: Aerospace Engineers · 22 CFR 120.62, definition of U.S. person
Portfolio milestone. A list of three target postings and one named skill gap.
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If you're a experienced pro Pick the company, then the problem
What to do. Shortlist five companies whose product needs your specialty. Read their postings for the exact tools and standards they name, and check export-control requirements.
Why. Experienced hires are bought for a specific problem. Showing you already know theirs shortens the process.
Resources. 22 CFR 120.62, definition of U.S. person
Portfolio milestone. Five tailored applications, each citing a problem from the posting.
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Get policy or ops exposure
What to do. Graduate students: apply to the Isakowitz scholarship. Everyone: target supply chain, program and compliance postings at space companies.
Why. These roles are posted in volume and value adjacent experience from other industries.
Resources. Matthew Isakowitz Commercial Space Scholarship · NASA OSTEM and Pathways internships
Portfolio milestone. One application to a policy program or three to ops roles.
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Follow the opportunities weekly
What to do. Track new programs, contracts and openings in the Friday briefing and on our news pages.
Why. Business and policy hiring follows contracts. Knowing who just won one tells you who is about to hire.
Portfolio milestone. A running list of five companies with recent contracts.
Skilled trades and technicians
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Choose a regulated or proven credential
What to do. Look at the FAA A&P certificate routes: an FAA-certificated school, military experience, or documented practical experience (18 months for one rating, 30 for both).
Why. It is the best-defined path into hands-on aerospace work without a four-year degree.
Resources. FAA: Become an aviation mechanic · 14 CFR 65.77 mechanic experience requirements
Portfolio milestone. A chosen route with a start date.
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If you're a student Get on the internship and fellowship calendar
What to do. Put the next NASA OSTEM deadline and the early-fall fellowship windows in your calendar. Apply to at least one company internship program each cycle.
Why. Most early-career hiring in this industry runs through internships, and the best fellowships close in early October.
Resources. NASA OSTEM and Pathways internships · SpaceX internships · Blue Origin internships · Brooke Owens Fellowship FAQ · Patti Grace Smith Fellowship · Matthew Isakowitz Commercial Space Scholarship
Portfolio milestone. Three applications submitted in one cycle.
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If you're a career changer Translate your current job into a posting
What to do. Find three postings on our board that already describe what you do today. Note the one skill each asks for that you lack.
Why. Career changers move fastest by entering through an adjacent title, not by starting over.
Resources. BLS Occupational Outlook: Aerospace Engineers · 22 CFR 120.62, definition of U.S. person
Portfolio milestone. A list of three target postings and one named skill gap.
-
If you're a experienced pro Pick the company, then the problem
What to do. Shortlist five companies whose product needs your specialty. Read their postings for the exact tools and standards they name, and check export-control requirements.
Why. Experienced hires are bought for a specific problem. Showing you already know theirs shortens the process.
Resources. 22 CFR 120.62, definition of U.S. person
Portfolio milestone. Five tailored applications, each citing a problem from the posting.
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Show hardware discipline
What to do. Build and certify a NAR Level 1 rocket, documenting the build and safety inspection.
Why. It demonstrates building to a standard and following a safety process, the core of technician work.
Resources. NAR Level 1 high-power certification procedure
Portfolio milestone. Certified flight with a photo build log.
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Apply to technician roles near test sites
What to do. Search technician titles at launch and spacecraft companies near you, including test sites outside the big cities.
Why. Manufacturing and test sites hire technicians in volume and are often outside the main metro clusters.
Resources. 22 CFR 120.62, definition of U.S. person
Portfolio milestone. First technician role.
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