Program Goals

While rockets and spacecraft travel fast, for many decades the space and satellite industry did not. It innovated at a measured pace with long timelines for assets in orbit. But those days are now in the rear-view mirror. Waves of new investment, rising pressure on available RF spectrum and the plummeting cost of access to space are driving an explosion of new business models and once-unimaginable tech solutions. They are also driving the fastest ramp-up in the headcount of the industry in its history, and accelerating the pace at which people move and change within companies.

Meeting the Challenge of Employment Growth

That is the challenge the Space Business Qualification program was designed to meet. Traditionally, when people joined companies or changed jobs, they gained the skills and knowledge they needed through on-the-job experience or in graduate programs. Those still have value. But for most people in most jobs, they are too slow and costly. SBQ saves hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars with an online learning and certification program that increases the effectiveness of people working in every discipline and enhances their ability to rise in their profession.

Benefiting Employees, Employers and Students

The SBQ courses offer a 360-degree view of the industry and the wide range of activities needed to successfully operate a space-based business, delivered through efficient, effective self-paced learning:

People entering the industry for the first time will quickly gain a comprehensive understanding to accelerate their success, whether in finding a job or taking on new assignments.

Long-time employees who moving into new fields or more responsible positions will fill the gaps in their knowledge and be better able to apply their experience to the challenges and greater responsibilities ahead.

Employers will more quickly and effectively onboard new hires and give people they are moving into new positions essential support that improves retention. .

Students specializing in a particular engineering, science, legal or regulatory disciplines will gain a broader grasp of the industry where they hope to apply their skills, enhancing their job prospects and initial performance on the job.

How SBQ Contributes to Your Success

Space & satellite is a complex business at the intersection of technology, communications, surveillance, government and commercial markets. SBQ puts it into perspective for people at turning points in their careers:

For engineering and technical staff, SBQ prepares them for transition to sales engineering or management positions contributing to growth, or delivers market insights that guide decisions on everything from a constellation’s architecture to technical performance trade-offs and the specifications for a software solution.

For people in sales, marketing and business development, SBQ gives new hires an understanding of industry capabilities, regulatory constraints and emerging opportunities, and helps product managers diversify the business through insight into rapid changes in business models.

For finance, insurance, and legal staff, SBQ offers context on business models, customer needs, technologies and regulatory issues that inform critical decisions and converts experts in narrow specialties into effective advisors.

For employees in procurement, logistics and regulatory compliance, SBQ provides the background needed to turn an engineer’s request for purchase of a particular component into a disciplined procurement process, or to identify the full range of regulatory compliance issues affecting a service.

For staff on the management track, SBQ provides a 360-degree view of the industry that enhances their ability to evaluate opportunities, identify potential partnerships, determine strategy and execute the plan.

For new graduates from college or university, SBQ is a convenient, low-cost program – and a valuable credential – that eases entry into the space and satellite industry.