Fight to launch space talent

As SpaceCareers.com re-launch, welcome comes with caution from specialist recruiter that alone it will not stem engineering skills shortages.

SpaceCareers.com is a not-for-profit advisory service to support awareness of opportunities within the industry.

It aims to promote engineering careers to help recruit international space industry experts. The platform supports a move away from the outdated ‘rockets and astronauts’ image the sector faces.

Engineering by Murray recruiters welcomes it as a positive move, but notes employers will need to be more innovative in sourcing the specialist talent required in the short term, and how they are engaging with talent.

According to the recruiters, employers in the space sector need to look at other sectors such as renewables and IT, which are more successfully building engineering talent pools – particularly of embedded electronics engineers.

Chris Nelson, Associate Director at Engineering by Murray, says, ‘The sector has, for too long, been largely siloed from other engineering disciplines and has struggled more than most to source skills, particularly in niche areas like embedded software, radio frequency and electronics.

'Employers will have to think laterally, and replicate employer branding and other attraction tactics seen in other STEM fields in order to find the talent required.

‘However, few employers here look further afield, limiting their access to trained engineers. The fact that demand for space expertise is scaling up means that solutions need to be identified for the long term, but, even more importantly – for now.’

They note the USA is investing more and more into its space sector, and it won’t be long before firms there start to seek skills from the UK, which will in turn only exacerbate shortages.

On a positive note they say, ‘The talent is out there, it’s finding it that’s the key.'