Employment Prospects
Employers
Space pilots are employed by SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, United Launch Alliance (which is co-owned by Lockheed Martin, Boeing), and other aerospace companies.
Starting Out
Most space pilots enter the field after obtaining extensive experience as military pilots, civilian test pilots, or NASA pilot/astronauts. Some people become space pilots after working as airline pilots. Job opportunities can be discovered via networking, by attending aerospace career fairs, and by visiting the career Web sites of potential employers to learn about job openings and eligibility requirements.
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- Aircraft Mechanics
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- Airport Service Workers
- App Services Workers
- Architects
- Armored Truck Drivers
- Astrobiologists
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- Astronomers
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- Autonomous Vehicle Safety and Test Drivers
- Aviation Safety Inspectors
- Avionics Engineers
- Avionics Technicians
- Biologists
- Biosecurity Monitors
- Build Reliability Engineers
- Chemical Engineers
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
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- Computer Programmers
- Computer Systems Programmer/Analysts
- Cryptographic Technicians
- Driverless Car Engineers
- Drone Engineers
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- Drone Pilots
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- Electrical Engineering Technologists
- Electrical Engineers
- Electronics Engineering Technicians
- Electronics Engineers
- Engineering Technicians
- Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Fleet Maintenance Technicians
- Flight Attendants
- Flight Instructors
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- Futurists
- Geographic Information Systems Specialists
- Green Transportation Careers
- Ground Services Workers
- Gunsmiths
- Hypersonics Engineers
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- Industrial Engineers
- Intelligence Officers
- Internet Security Specialists
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Laser Technicians
- Manufacturing Engineering Technologists
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Manufacturing Supervisors
- Materials Engineers
- Mechanical Engineers
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- Military Recruiters
- Military Workers, Enlisted
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