Transitioning to the Space Sector: A Guide for Mid-Career STEM Professionals in Europe

With the European space sector predicted to grow by 233% over the next decade, driven by the concurrent advances in both policy ambition by the EU and private sector investment, there is a real opportunity for individuals in traditional, even declining, sectors of the economy with STEM skills to find new and exciting roles within the aerospace/space-related sectors. In this article, we will explore how mid-career STEM professionals in the Eurozone can leverage their skills and networks, helping them transition into vibrant and exciting aerospace roles that are totally out of this world.

Skills Assessment and Transferability – The Basics

If your sector is facing decline, from STEM-specific roles in print media to bricks and mortar retail, if you posses a robust skills-set in STEM subjects – in any of the Sciences, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics, you can redirect traditional sectoral skills and transition them into developing niche areas within the satellite or aerospace sector – from satellite payload technologies to signal boosting infrastructure, your current skills can help advance European space endeavours. Even non STEM-specific mid-career professionals with extensive project management experience can leverage traditional sectoral backgrounds with the complexities of space project management and deployment. This is achieved by understanding what skills are transferable and how your skill sets interconnect with traditional skill requirements. This helps you design and implement a career pivot.

Educational Pathways and Certification – The Power of Upskilling

Once you’ve identified your STEM-based skills-set for your pivot, you then need to identify any gaps within your skill requirement pathway. To become the “perfect” candidate, further sector-related training can help – especially in the aerospace industry. The EU offers indirect training resources, as does the European Space Agency and many large EU-based aerospace corporations similarly provide a raft of training resources. In addition, distance learning from a variety of EU-based institutions likewise makes it very simple to up-skill. Furthermore, investing in project management qualifications like PRINCE2 or AGILE can also enhance your credentials in the eyes of any recruiter.

Navigating the Job Market

Just because you’re looking to create technology that is out of this world doesn’t mean the jobs are too. However, navigating the European space/aerospace sector requires a conscientious approach. Understanding your skills and identifying and up-skilling any gaps in your skill set is only half the journey. The next step is to understand the geographic distribution of the European space sector – and understanding that Toulouse, Bremen, Turin, and Derby or other space-heavy centres of excellence would be possible geographical avenues for new roles. In addition, one would need to understand the online landscape of aerospace recruitment – this would mean understanding niche job websites like Space-Careers and how their digital tools could help you identify the right job for your unique skill set. However, tailoring your resume is the important final step on this journey. You need to emphasise just how your past experiences marry up coherently with the aerospace role you are applying for. By undertaking this approach you can increase your visibility as a job seeker.

Conclusion 

If you are a Mid-Career Professional in the Eurozone, the burgeoning aerospace/space sector can offer a range of possible career avenues – and also provide personal growth and empowerment. The diversity of aerospace in the Eurozone is legion. If you utilise the aforementioned processes – identifying your skills, understanding any gaps, and leveraging technology to find the right role for you, you too can have a major impact on Europe’s continued space economy success.