Space Jobs for Physicists

Across the 38 distinct hourly rates posted for roles for physicists, astronomers and optical engineers right now, typical pay runs from $128000 to $232000 an hour, with a median of $164000. The highest posted rate is $285000 an hour, at SpaceX. 13 of the 51 open roles for physicists, astronomers and optical engineers state no pay, so check each listing.

For science and research roles often yes; optics and sensor engineering roles usually ask for a bachelor's or master's and hands-on experience. Each listing states the degree and the location it asks for. Of the 14 open roles for physicists, astronomers and optical engineers whose requirements we read, 1 ask for a PhD, 12 a bachelor's or a degree and 1 name no degree.

A physicist or optical engineer at a space company designs and tests the parts of a mission that depend on physics: telescopes and cameras, laser links, sensors, radiation effects and plasma thrusters, and the science a mission is built to do.

Each employer runs its own hiring, and each listing says what it asks for: the degree or the hands-on experience, the location, and for export-controlled work in the US, often U.S. person status.

Every role here is read from a space employer's own careers page or job board (Muon Space, Inversion Space, K2 Space and Apex among them), and each employer's page here covers who they are and how they hire. A real employer never charges you to apply, never asks you to buy equipment and never interviews you only by chat app.