Spacecraft Test Technicians

Employers

Spacecraft test technicians are employed by government agencies and private sector companies. The employment site Space Crew says that there are about 77 space agencies around the world, with 16 having launch capabilities. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the oldest and best-known space agency. Other space agencies include the European Space Agency, China National Space Administration, Roscosmos-Russian Federal Space Agency, Canada Space Agency, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

In recent years, the private sector, in cooperation with NASA and other space agencies, has achieved great accomplishments in space. Major employers of technicians include SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, Bigelow Aerospace, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and United Launch Alliance (which is co-owned by Lockheed Martin, Boeing). There are many small to midsize space technology companies that also employ technicians.

Starting Out

Many technicians landed their first full-time job as a result of contacts made via internships and other experiential education opportunities. NASA and aerospace companies use these programs to identify promising job candidates. So, the best thing you can do for your career prospects is to treat your internship or co-op like a job and work hard and be enthusiastic every day. NASA brings on student interns who are participating in the federal Pathways Program (https://www.nasa.gov/careers/pathways). Internships are available in engineering and the physical sciences. NASA also operates its own internship programs; more information on these opportunities can be accessed through its Web site at https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/internship-programs. Commercial aerospace companies also provide internships, and the best way to learn more about these programs is to visit their Web sites.

Other job-search methods include using the services of a recruiter, creating a LinkedIn profile and being active on this social networking site to attract the interest of hiring managers, utilizing the resources of one’s college career center, and visiting the career Web sites of potential employers to learn about job openings and eligibility requirements.

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics offers a career center for job seekers at its Web site, Professional Career Timeline at its Web site, https://aiaa.org/careers/for-job-seekers, that offers information about internships, full-time job openings, and company projects. Additionally, NASA offers information on careers and landing a job at https://www.nasa.gov/careers.