Role

Space Sustainability Engineer

Designs satellites so they make less space junk, can come down safely, and can be fixed in orbit.

12 chaptersAbout 3–5 months15–30 min a day14 skills1 projects
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Day 1 on the Space Sustainability Engineer path.

What a Space Sustainability Engineer does

Designs satellites that make less space junk and can be brought down safely when they stop working. Some can also be repaired or refuelled in orbit, so space stays usable for future missions.

  • Design satellites to deorbit or reach disposal orbits after their missions end
  • Plan debris mitigation steps like passivation, tethers, and drag devices
  • Run conjunction analysis to predict close approaches and plan avoidance maneuvers
  • Model orbital decay and reentry to confirm casualty risk stays within limits
  • Design docking and refueling features for on-orbit servicing and life extension
  • Assess collision and breakup risks across a mission's full orbital lifetime
  • Apply space traffic and debris rules to mission requirements and reviews
  • Document disposal plans and compliance evidence for regulators and reviews

A day in the life

  1. Review fresh conjunction alerts and decide if a maneuver is needed
  2. Run orbit propagation and reentry models, then check results against limits
  3. Join design reviews to defend disposal margins and debris tradeoffs
  4. Update deorbit budgets after propulsion, mass, or orbit changes
  5. Coordinate with operators and traffic services on avoidance plans
  6. Write disposal and compliance sections for the mission's review package

Tools you will use

Orbit analysis: STK, GMAT, OrekitProgramming: Python, MATLABDebris and risk: DRAMA, DAS, ORSATData analysis: Jupyter, pandasRequirements tools: DOORS, JamaVersion control: GitDocumentation: Confluence, requirements tools

Your plan

Chapter by chapter.

1~1 wk

See space sustainability engineer work up close

StartFree
21–2 wks

Orbital mechanics and debris

Skills
31–2 wks

Two-option trade study memo with recommendation

Proof
41–2 wks

Modelling and data analysis

Skills
51–2 wks

Regulatory compliance and documentation

Skills
6~1 wk

Meet working space sustainability engineers

People
71–2 wks

Judgement and risk

Skills
81–2 wks

Solving problems and managing risk

Skills
91–2 wks

Working with people

Skills
101–2 wks

Choose your space sustainability engineer route

Decide
111–2 wks

Prepare for space sustainability engineer interviews

Interview
12on your timeline

Apply for space sustainability engineer roles

Apply

By the last chapter

This is what you can show.

Things you've made

Two-option trade study memo with recommendation

Skills you can prove

14 skills, each rated on work you actually did.

People you've talked to

3 people who do the job, with a message ready for each.

Questions you can answer

19 interview questions and a mock interview, with feedback.

Credentials

8 credentials compared, so you can pick one, or decide you don't need one. None is required.

Ways in

There is more than one route.

Ways to study

  • Bachelors degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or physics
  • Masters degree focused on astrodynamics, space systems, or mission design
  • Short course or certificate in orbital mechanics or space situational awareness
  • Research project on debris modeling, reentry, or conjunction analysis

How people get their first job

  • Apply for space systems or mission analysis internships that touch debris and disposal
  • Start as a mission analyst or orbit analyst and take on disposal planning tasks
  • Join a university CubeSat team and own its deorbit and compliance plan
  • Build a portfolio with orbit propagation, decay, and conjunction analysis projects
  • Learn an orbit tool like GMAT or Orekit and publish a small reentry study

Life skills on this path: Networking · Job interviews · Job search

How the work is changing

What AI is doing to this role

How AI is changing this role · one of 6 tasks we track

Model orbital decay and reentry lifetimes

Sped up a lot

What AI does

GMAT and Orekit scripts run decay sweeps in bulk.

Still yours

Judging when the uncertainty is small enough is yours.

Reviewed September 2026

In the app · Premium

The rest is in the app

  • How AI affects the other 5 tasks
  • Whether this job is growing or shrinking
  • How hard the first job is to get
  • Similar roles that are easier to get into
  • Updated every month, with sources
See it in the app →

How we rate a job →

Already working

Already a Space Sustainability Engineer?

Plan your move to Senior Space Sustainability Engineer: 11 chapters that end with a strong case for your next review.

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Questions

Questions about this path

How long does it take to become a space sustainability engineer with Welica?

The path is 12 chapters, 3–5 months at 15 to 30 minutes a day. You can go faster or slower; the plan moves with you.

Do I need a degree?

Not always. Common routes are bachelors degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or physics, masters degree focused on astrodynamics, space systems, or mission design, short course or certificate in orbital mechanics or space situational awareness, or research project on debris modeling, reentry, or conjunction analysis.

What is free?

Chapter 1, See space sustainability engineer work up close, is free for good. Premium unlocks the rest of the path.

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Chapter 1 free. About 15 to 30 minutes a day.

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