From internet access to bushfire monitoring and weather forecasts, we rely on space tech for many things. Keeping Earth safe is one of them…
Every industry needs security specialists, and space is no exception. Protecting satellites, ground stations and data links from hackers and terrorists is getting more important as we find new ways to use space-based technology in everyday life.
The Australian Space Discovery Centre says cyber security experts are critical to the space industry to keep data transmissions safe. And the demand for these specialists in Australia is growing fast, with an increase of 7000 workers needing training by 2024.
There’s more to the job than designing computer programs and networks to protect against cyber attacks, though. Security specialists need to be able to think about a problem from every angle to solve real-world security issues. So there are opportunities for STEM grads of all kinds!
Security skills
Across the galaxy, security specialists out-think the bad guys and save the day. Do you have what it takes?
Persistence: Hackers aren’t going to make it easy to catch them in the act. Staying the distance to untangle tough problems is part of the job.
Perceptiveness: Can you put yourself in someone else’s shoes? The ability to think like a hacker is a must.
Inquisitiveness: Do you wonder what makes tech and people tick? If you’re always asking ‘why?’ ‘how?’ and ‘what if?’, you’re on the right track.
Great communication: Can you explain how technology works in a way that anyone can understand? It’s a skill that’s in high demand by security employers.
Love to learn: Cyber security is always changing, and fast! If you’re curious and crave
knowledge, it could be the job for you.
Space and security study
- Advanced Diploma of Cyber Security, Victoria University Polytechnic
- Bachelor of Applied Data Analytics, The University of Adelaide
- Bachelor of Engineering, University of Western Australia
- Bachelor of Science (Computer Science), UNSW
Space and security jobs
Penetration tester: $56K–$125K
Security analyst: $55K–$101K
Security engineer: $58K–$154K
Security consultant: $58K–$150K*
*Source: salaries according to payscale.com
This article originally appears in Careers with STEM: Space 2022 – the flip cover to Careers with STEM: Science 2022.
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