Careers in space communications are almost as hot as the Sun right now!
There’s never been a better time to carve out your place in the space careers galaxy. But space is so huge, we hear you say! What should you study and where could you even work? Well, if you follow the numbers, space communications technology is an awesome field to explore – the global satellite communication market was worth US$66.63 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow 9.8% every year until 2028.
If you’re keen on space and love all things tech, this could be a winning combo for
you. Space communications technology involves working with satellites that facilitate communication on Earth every single day by helping to power phone calls, broadcasting and Internet access all around the world.
A universe of options
The cool thing about working with satellites is there isn’t just one way to do it. Depending on your skills and interests, you could be anything from an assembly technician (they’re the clever people who construct satellites) to a space systems engineer (think of them as the designers and testers).
The space industry also needs computer scientists to build software systems for satellites, satellite controllers to monitor activity, and radiocommunications technicians to install, maintain and repair satellite communications systems.
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Jobs on Earth
A job in space communications doesn’t mean you have to catch a rocket to work every day. There are plenty of roles to play right here on Earth!
So who’s hiring satellite pros? You could work for telecommunications companies like Optus, satellite TV providers like FOXTEL and satellite internet companies like iiNet. The Australian Defence Force also needs satellite specialists as satellites provide them with long-range communications.
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Space communications careers start here
Study
- Bachelor of Space Science, RMIT University
- Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) / Space Technology, Swinburne University
- Certificate III in Telecommunications Technology, TAFE NSW
Jobs
- Aerospace engineer: $58K–$133K
- Telecommunications engineer: $53K–$128K
- Software engineer: $56K–$116K*
* Salaries according to payscale.com
