Flight director
A flight director is the person in charge of a space mission. They stay on Earth and lead the team inside the mission control centre.
About the job
What it's like
A lot of people need to work together to make space missions successful, including:
astronauts
ground controllers
scientists
engineers
researchers
Much of the action happens in a busy mission control centre, but people can work from all over the world to provide support. Picture yourself as the person everyone looks to for direction and to make the big decisions.
You'd help everyone work towards the goals of the mission and look after the safety of astronauts in space. You might support the International Space Station orbiting Earth or work on new missions. Imagine leading a mission to Mars or the moon!
Your tasks might include:
leading a large team of people in a control centre
coordinating support personnel working in other areas
communicating with controllers to check on different systems, for example flight dynamics or communications
looking out for astronaut safety and welfare
making decisions critical to the success and safety of the mission
running simulations to train people and prepare for missions
Hours
You’d work at a console that’s operated 24/7. You’d work in shifts to keep your console staffed. You'd work nights, weekends and holidays depending on the needs of the mission.
Environment
You'd work for a space agency, in a busy mission control centre. You'd be sitting at a desk for long periods of time monitoring technical data. It's a fast-paced environment where you'll need to stay alert. You'll have to react to any issues or complex situations that arise.
Travel
You'd likely work from a set base of operations but may need to travel occasionally depending on the needs of the mission. This could include international travel.
Explore more information about this job
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- time management
- resilience
- motivating others
- taking responsibility
- adaptability
- listening
- cooperating
- verbal communication
- problem solving
- making decisions
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Applications of Mathematics
Skills for Work: Engineering Skills
Practical Craft Skills
Practical Electronics
Maths (Mathematics)
Physics
Engineering Science
Design and Manufacture
Computing Science
Foundation Apprenticeship: Engineering
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
To work in this role, you'd need at least a bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as aerospace engineering. Other engineering subjects, maths and physics are also useful.
If you're not quite ready for university, consider an apprenticeship or college first. You can gain skills, experience and a qualification that could lead on to a degree course.
Apprenticeship
You can start learning the skills you'll need in this career through a Foundation Apprenticeship. While you're in S5 or S6, you'll gain work experience while you study.
Have a look at this Engineering apprenticeship on Apprenticeships.scot. It could set you up for further study or to get into a job where you can develop your skills.
If you’re 16 or older, a Modern Apprenticeship will let you work and earn while you study for a qualification. After you qualify, you'd be able to study further or move into a role where you can build experience.
Check out this Engineering Modern Apprenticeship.
You could also earn a degree level qualification through a Graduate Apprenticeship. Check out this course:
College
There are many subjects where you can learn useful practices. Some cover engineering from a general perspective and others offer more specialised knowledge. You could study:
aircraft engineering
civil engineering
electrical engineering
engineering
engineering systems
mechanical engineering
Entry requirements will depend on the subject and the level you're studying. For HNC or HND courses, you'll likely need 1 or 2 Scottish Highers at Grade C. Courses value school qualifications in maths or physics.
Search for courses relevant to this role.
University
Degrees in aerospace engineering are particularly valuable. Some subjects you could study include:
aerospace systems
aircraft engineering
civil engineering
computer science
electrical engineering
engineering
mathematics
mechanical engineering
physics
The qualifications you need for degree courses will depend on the subject. You'd likely need either:
an HNC or HND in a relevant subject
4 Highers at BBBB or above
Courses value qualifications in maths, science and technology subjects.
Having experience in leadership roles and knowledge of risk management is important.
Competition for jobs in the space sector is very high. Check out the Space Placements in INdustry scheme (SPIN). It offers placements each year to students considering working in the sector.
You’ll need a lot of experience working in the space industry, particularly in mission control centres. Many flight directors have worked as ground controllers on space missions.
You'd do further training while working for a space agency to prepare for this role. This would include areas like:
operational leadership
risk management
flight control
spacecraft systems
Before you start work, you'd need to pass background checks and a physical examination.
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