Software, data & the business
Supply Chain & Facilities
Buy, plan, store, ship and maintain everything a space company needs, and keep its plants and launch sites running.
What it is
Supply chain and facilities is the work of getting the right parts and materials to the factory floor on time and keeping the buildings, test sites and launch pads working. Buyers and supply managers choose suppliers and negotiate prices, planners work out what is needed and when, and warehouse, receiving and logistics staff move and track every part. Facilities and security teams maintain the HVAC, power, cranes, compressed air and access control that the sites run on.
What you actually do
- Issue purchase orders, confirm delivery dates with suppliers and expedite late parts.
- Plan material needs from bills of materials and build schedules in an ERP system such as SAP, Oracle or Infor.
- Receive incoming hardware and check it against the paperwork for damage, part number, quantity and revision before logging it.
- Pick and kit parts for the shop floor, run cycle counts, and track shelf life and lot traceability.
- Arrange transport of flight hardware and shipments of hazardous materials under DOT and IATA rules.
- Maintain buildings and equipment (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, compressed air, cranes) through a work order system, and run site security and access control.
A day of this work, concretely
Rescue a late part before an engine build
The open-orders report shows a machined part will arrive a week after the engine build needs it. You call the supplier, find the cause (a raw material shortage) and agree on a partial shipment while engineering checks whether an approved alternate exists. You update the delivery date in the ERP system so planners and the build team see the new picture.
Receive and kit flight hardware
A pallet of fittings and fasteners arrives. You check the certificate of conformance and match part numbers, quantities and revisions to the purchase order, flag a damaged box as nonconforming, and receive the rest in the ERP. Later you pick a kit for a work order and record the lot numbers so each part can be traced to the vehicle it goes into.
Ship batteries to another site
A set of lithium battery packs has to travel by air to another facility. You confirm the classification, packaging, labels and shipping papers meet the dangerous goods rules, book a carrier that accepts the shipment, and keep the records for audit. If air is not allowed for that shipment, you plan a ground route that still meets the schedule.
Is it right for you?
This is one of the most open areas of the industry. Warehouse, receiving, inventory and facilities technician roles typically ask for a high school diploma and one to two years of hands-on experience from warehouses, factories, building maintenance or the trades, and security roles often recruit from the military and law enforcement. Buyer, planner and supply manager roles usually want a business, supply chain or engineering degree, or years of purchasing experience instead. People who thrive are organized, persistent with suppliers and comfortable with schedules that change daily.
You will likely enjoy it if
- You are organized and like keeping track of many moving pieces at once.
- You enjoy hands-on work such as driving a forklift or fixing building systems, or desk work such as negotiating with suppliers.
- You stay calm when a delivery slips and look for the fastest fix.
- You can work shifts, overtime or weekends when a build or launch needs it.
What you need
- High school diploma or equivalent for warehouse, receiving, inventory and facilities technician roles, usually with one to two years of related experience
- Bachelor's degree, or several years of supply chain, production or engineering experience in its place, for buyer, planner and supply manager roles
- Ability to meet the physical requirements postings state, such as lifting 35 to 50 pounds unassisted and standing for long shifts
- U.S. person status for most roles, since the parts and drawings are export-controlled under ITAR
Skills that help
How to get started
- 1Choose your entry point: hands-on (warehouse, receiving, inventory, facilities technician, security officer) or office-based (buyer, planner, logistics coordinator).
- 2For hands-on roles, get one to two years of experience in a warehouse, distribution center, factory or building maintenance job, including forklift work and an ERP or warehouse management system.
- 3For office roles, get strong in Excel, learn purchasing basics and how to read a bill of materials, and build toward the business or supply chain degree or purchasing experience postings ask for.
- 4If you want logistics, learn the basics of shipping hazardous materials, since senior postings name DOT, IATA and IMDG certifications.
- 5Look at factories, test sites and launch sites, where space employers hire many hourly roles across several shifts.
- 6On your resume, list the systems you used, the volume you handled, any certifications and the shifts you can work.
Common misconceptions
Myth: You need an engineering degree to work at a rocket company.
Reality: Many supply chain and facilities roles ask for a high school diploma and a year or two of experience. The parts are high-tech, but receiving, storing, shipping and maintaining them uses the same core skills as other factories, plus stricter paperwork and traceability.
Myth: Buying is just placing orders.
Reality: Supply manager postings describe sourcing strategy, cost models, supplier site visits and contract negotiation. You judge whether a supplier can make a part at the needed rate and quality, and negotiate terms on price, liability and export compliance.
Myth: Facilities work is just cleaning and repairs.
Reality: Facilities teams keep critical systems running: HVAC, compressed air, fire protection, power, cranes that lift flight hardware, and fueling infrastructure. When those go down, the factory or test site stops.
What it pays
Supply Chain work typically pays $68.5k–$187k/yr today, with a live median of $110k/yr across the 358 open roles that state their pay.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a job at a space company without a degree?
Yes, and this area is one of the easiest ways in. Warehouse, receiving, inventory, logistics technician and facilities technician postings commonly ask for a high school diploma or equivalent plus one to two years of related experience, and some buyer and logistics postings accept years of experience in place of a degree. The board lists 772 open supply chain and facilities roles today. For other no-degree routes, see how to become an aerospace technician.
Do I need a forklift certification?
Many receiving, inventory and facilities postings ask for forklift experience. Under OSHA's powered industrial truck rule, the employer must train, evaluate and certify each operator, and must evaluate each operator again at least once every three years. Prior experience helps you get hired, but expect your new employer to evaluate you on its own equipment.
What certifications help in space logistics?
For senior logistics roles that ship hazardous materials, such as lithium batteries, employers name DOT, IATA and IMDG dangerous goods certifications. Under U.S. hazmat training rules, a new hazmat employee may work only under direct supervision until trained, must finish training within 90 days, and must be retrained at least once every three years. Knowing the basics before you apply makes you stand out for entry logistics roles.
What does a facility security officer do at a space company?
At companies cleared for classified government work, the facility security officer (FSO) and their assistants run the security program: processing employee clearances, giving security briefings, controlling badges and access, and preparing for reviews by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. Postings for these roles often ask for an active clearance and knowledge of the NISPOM rules, and the rules themselves require contractor FSOs to complete training within six months of appointment. The ITAR and security clearance guide explains clearances in more detail.
Related kinds of work
Manufacturing & Technicians
Build rockets and satellites by hand and machine: machining, welding, composites, harnesses and assembly.
Quality & Mission Assurance
Check that every part is built right and every site is safe, from inspection and NDT to mission assurance and EHS.
Launch & Mission Operations
Run the launch pad, the countdown and the spacecraft in orbit, often on shifts around the clock.