BAE Systems Seeks Talent for Cislunar Exploration
BAE Systems is recruiting candidates with diverse backgrounds to support cislunar exploration missions.
The United States is planning to revisit the moon and eventually Mars, with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stating that the goal is to master the skills for where the country will inevitably go next.
It's a grand vision: accelerate and expand cislunar exploration as bedrock for a booming cislunar economy, the yields from which will improve life on Earth and fuel a new era of deep-space missions and strategic national security advantage.
According to John Troeltzsch, Exploration Architect at BAE Systems, making this dream a reality will require commercial partners that have proven experience, advanced technology and skilled workers.
**A lunar-ready legacy**
BAE Systems has a strong background of support on space missions, including assisting the development of novel technologies that are best situated to lead the cislunar revolution.
| Mission | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Deep Impact | 2004 | Probed the surface of a comet |
| Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter | 2006 | Circled Mars |
| Kepler Space Telescope | 2009 | Confirmed 2,662 exoplanets |
| James Webb Space Telescope | - | Largest and most powerful telescope launched to space |
| Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope | 2026 | Will help astronomers unlock the mysteries of the universe |
The company has contributed to several successful missions, including the Deep Impact spacecraft, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the Kepler Space Telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope, and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.
BAE Systems is developing the AscentTM spacecraft, the newest addition to the company's ElevationTM product line, designed to support dynamic space operations through advanced maneuverability capabilities.
The company is also developing spectral imaging solutions such as the instrument suites for the University of Colorado's L-CIRiS and NASA's LunarVISE missions.
**Staffing the cislunar future**
New cislunar environments come with new operational challenges. According to Troeltzsch, when you think about day-to-day operations on a moon base, you need some level of autonomy.
That requires more computing and really good communications back to Earth. To achieve this, BAE Systems is recruiting candidates with diverse backgrounds, including early- and mid-career professionals from automotive and other sectors who have not previously worked in aerospace.
The company offers opportunities for training, education and mentorship to help new employees succeed in a new industry. Perhaps even more important, however, company leaders say it offers a meaningful mission and a compelling sense of purpose.
For Troeltzsch, it's more than just a job. It's a chance to solve problems that have never been solved. It's a chance to work on something that will be landing on the moon in a year. That's pretty exciting.
Bertels agreed, saying that for a new person coming into the company or the industry, it's impossible not to be inspired. We're building things that will help the United States take the next big leap in space and send humans to Mars someday. When you come through the doors, you're going to have opportunities immediately to impact that work.
