Upstream vs. Downstream: Finding Your Place in the European Space Economy

The term "space industry" can feel impossibly broad. It covers everything from welding rocket fuel tanks to writing code for agricultural apps that use satellite data. If you're trying to find your place in it, this sheer scale can be daunting.

Fortunately, there's a simple framework to make sense of it all: splitting the industry into Upstream and Downstream sectors. Understanding this distinction is the single most important step to targeting your job search and understanding where your unique skills fit in.

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The Upstream Sector: Building for Space

Think of the upstream sector as everything involved in getting assets into space. This is the traditional heart of the aerospace industry—the design, manufacturing, launch, and operation of spacecraft and the ground infrastructure needed to support them.

It's the domain of hardware, physics, and complex systems engineering. If you are passionate about building the machines that go to orbit and beyond, this is your world.

• What it involves: Designing launch vehicles, manufacturing satellite buses, integrating scientific instruments, testing components in vacuum chambers, and building ground station antennas.
• Typical Job Titles: Propulsion Engineer, Structural Analyst, GNC Engineer, AIT (Assembly, Integration, and Test) Technician, Systems Engineer, RF Engineer.
• Key Skills: Deep knowledge of mechanical, electrical, or aerospace engineering principles; proficiency in software like CATIA, Ansys, or MATLAB; hands-on hardware experience; and a thorough understanding of the harsh space environment.

If this focus on tangible hardware and complex machinery excites you, start by exploring roles in the Engineering discipline on Find a Space Job.

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The Downstream Sector: Using Space on Earth

The downstream sector is about using the signals and data from space-based assets to create products, services, and value back on Earth. This part of the industry has exploded in recent years, driven by the vast amounts of data generated by satellite constellations.

This is the world of data science, software development, and market-specific applications. If you get excited about finding patterns in data or building software that solves real-world problems, the downstream sector is where you'll thrive.

• What it involves: Analysing Earth observation data for climate monitoring, developing navigation apps using Galileo/GPS signals, providing satellite-based internet services, using imagery to optimise shipping routes.
• Typical Job Titles: Data Scientist, GIS (Geographic Information System) Analyst, Machine Learning Engineer, Software Developer (GNSS), Product Manager, Data Engineer.
• Key Skills: Strong programming skills (especially Python); experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure); expertise in machine learning and data analysis; and domain knowledge in fields like agriculture, finance, or logistics.

Ready to work with data from orbit? Check out the latest roles in the Software discipline.

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Upstream or Downstream: Which is Right for You?

While many companies and roles bridge the two, here’s a simple way to think about your own career path:

• Do you enjoy working with hardware, physics, and tangible systems that have to survive extreme conditions? ➡️ Upstream is likely your domain.
• Are you passionate about data, software, and creating applications that solve Earth-based problems for a wide range of users? ➡️ Downstream is where you'll find your fit.

Both sides of the space economy are vital and deeply interconnected. The most advanced satellite (Upstream) is useless without skilled people on the ground to turn its data into meaningful insights (Downstream).

Whether you're a builder or a data wizard, your skills are needed. Start exploring opportunities across the entire European space ecosystem today. For more industry insights to guide your career, subscribe to our newsletter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an example of an upstream space activity? Designing and manufacturing rocket engines, building a satellite's structure and electronics, or assembling a deep-space probe. Essentially, any activity involved in creating and launching the hardware is upstream.

What is a downstream space application? Services that use data from space. This includes GPS navigation in your car (using GNSS signals), weather forecasting (using meteorological satellite data), or precision agriculture (using Earth observation imagery).

Are there more jobs in the upstream or downstream sector? Both sectors are growing rapidly. Historically, upstream manufacturing and launch were the largest employers. However, the downstream market, focused on data and services, is expanding at an incredible pace and creating a huge number of new roles.