Artist

Artists produce art such as images of planets, technology, or other concepts for use within the company and the media. This could be for press releases or company websites and materials.

Astrobiologist

One of the main questions in space exploration is whether there is life in space. Astrobiologists try to determine what is required for life, where these conditions may be found in space and what the signs of life we could detect may be.

Astrophysicist

Astrophysicists study objects in the universe including galaxies and stars. They want to understand the history of them, what they are made of, how they formed and their main features to identify other similar objects.

Business Development

Business development build a relationship with other organisations such as the government or space agencies. They make sure the company receives grants and investments so that they can develop new technology and prepare for more missions.

Communications

Communications keep contact with other companies on behalf of the whole company. They also talk to the media with press conferences, events and writing statements and press releases.

Cost Estimator

Cost estimators think about all the costs involved in a project before it starts. This is especially useful if the company is looking for a contract, for example from the government, and needs to prove that their costs have been considered in an initial project proposal so that they know it is possible.

Data Scientist

Data scientists take data and put it into a useful format for others in the company. This might involve adding layers to maps to give a view of changes over an area or looking at space imagery and combining it with other relevant data.

Earth Observation

Earth observation use satellites with cameras and other instruments to observe how the Earth and its atmosphere change over time. They make predictions about future changes.

Environmental Engineer

Environmental engineers make sure that the spacecraft can survive in the environments that it will travel to or through. This includes launch, orbit, interplanetary travel, other planets, and re-entry to the Earth.

Finance

Finance teams are responsible for paying invoices, ordering in materials and parts and making deals with suppliers. They must keep track of the company’s incoming and outgoing money to make sure they are not making a loss and that the current financial situation is sustainable.

Flight Software

Flight software engineers make programs that control everything once the spacecraft is out of Earth’s atmosphere, such as cameras or solar panels.

Flight Surgeon

Flight surgeons are responsible for the overall health of astronauts on missions to space. They are checking in especially through the most intense parts of the mission, launch and landing, when astronauts experience high g-forces.

Ground Software

Ground software engineers work on making programs that operate the spacecraft and organise how it will send and receive information to and from Earth.

Human Resources

Human resources are responsible for people, contracts, making sure employees are happy and dealing with any issues they bring up. This helps to keep a good working environment and to make sure that the company’s work output is the best it can be.

Innovation Manager

Innovation managers oversee the company strategy for creating new product ideas and see where they would fit into the market. They write proposals to win contracts to develop ideas further and communicate with teams to see if the ideas are possible.

Museum Curator

Museum curators oversee collections of artefacts for museum exhibits. This involves acquiring, storing, and caring for artefacts, choosing themes and designs, and conducting tours and workshops for the public.

Planetary Geologist

Geologists are responsible for identifying where minerals are found and assessing the quantity and quality of them. They suggest areas that should be surveyed, for example by rovers on Mars, and prepare reports from this.

Policy Maker

Policy makers create laws to govern how space is used to keep it safe and sustainable. They give advice and guidance to the government and public companies. International relations are important for this so that countries can collaborate on missions.

Product Assurance

Product assurance make sure that products are “up to scratch” through the production process and before they are given to the customer. As well as checking that the product works, they make sure that it performs as well as possible and is reliable so will not suddenly stop working mid-mission.

Project Manager

Project managers organise all the activities and people for a project to make sure that it is completed on time and within the budget. They must notice problems and come up with solutions to them.

Risk Management