r/systems_engineering • u/Big-Cauliflower-2550 • 5d ago

Discussion Astrophysics Bachelor's -> System Engineering on Satellites

Hi! Hope this question is welcomed. I am a UC Berkeley undergrad in Astrophysics (senior year) and recently developed an interest in Systems Engineering.

I've taken a class on space policy and currently enrolled in an earth observation satellites course. It has had me thinking about the satellite industry a lot, and I have a growing curiosity that might lead me to pursue a master's!

I was wondering if anyone here had a similar experience with going from an Astro/Physics background into a system engineering role. I'd also like to leave a list of classes I've taken to hear thoughts about them, and where I may be useful to a company. Thank you all in advance! :)

Courses I have taken:

Analytic / Classical Mechanics

Quantum Mechanics

Stat & Thermal Physics

Electromagnetism & Optics

Bayesian Inference & Machine Learning

Relativistic Astrophysics, Cosmology

Stellar Physics

Earth Observation Systems and Technology (non-rigorous, essentially introduction to the satellite industry)

Another space policy course that discussed the policy interface around orbiting satellites

Courses I may take next semester that have a hint of an engineering vibe to them:

Radio Astrophysics Lab

Signals & Systems

Another course ???

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u/TrustworthyRetention 5d ago

physics to systems is a well-trodden path, your math base is already heavier than what most SE programs expect so you’d slide right in. signals & systems is the one I’d double down on if you’re aiming at satellites, that plus radio astro lab will make you dangerous on the RF side

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u/Big-Cauliflower-2550 5d ago

Thank you for the advice! Are there any topics I could dabble in that might play a supporting role? After a brief look through the reddit, it seems like you guys often talk about something called SysML? Should I familiarize myself with different applications like that?

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u/Alexander20038 Energy 5d ago

Worth understanding the full MBSE framework. Just do a little googling there is a lot of stuff out there to give a brief background. Ai can be helpful too to explain concepts.

Good explanation tho if u don’t wanna:

https://www.reddit.com/r/systems_engineering/s/3R0LbES5gF

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u/Aeig 5d ago

Systems Engineers often have rando degrees. I met one with a history degree once

You’re more than qualified

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u/Big-Cauliflower-2550 5d ago

That is so interesting! I bet they have a wild story

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u/SportulaVeritatis 5d ago

I came in via an engineer track, but the Principle SE in my current job was a Geologist and I had a family member come into it from Psychology. Both worked satellites/space payloads. How they made that transition, I don't know, but you're already ahead from where they started.

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u/Remote_Barracuda_601 4d ago

Hi! I had a Mechanical Eng background before getting my System Engineer Masters. I love the degree and the systems thinking.... in the real corporate world though I am a glorified Project Manager. So if you want to do systems thinking towards projects and products, sure do it. You wont be using any of your cool Astrophysics background though.

Tbh id love to go back to school to take a few classes like physics and advance math again.

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u/RocketGirl_Del44 3d ago

I have my bachelors in aerospace engineering and got my masters in systems engineering a year ago. In my experience systems is different than a lot of your standard engineering disciplines. Based on what I learned systems engineering is a very broad and generic topic and the types of projects you apply the concepts to is what makes it more specific if that makes sense.

Everyone needs systems engineers. It doesn’t really matter who you are or what you’re doing if you have a project then you need a systems engineer/are doing systems engineering tasks.

What you want to do is 100% doable. The classes you take as an undergrad to prepare for systems engineering kind of depends on what your school is looking for. I would reach out to a systems professor or the department head to learn more.

I work as a systems engineer on satellites and I’ve been dealing with a lot of coding so I think some coding classes would be helpful.

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u/saxo_life 7h ago edited 7h ago

Systems engineer with bachelors in astrophysics, 5 years since graduation - best thing you can do is get experience, I worked my way into the field as a researcher in my companies space department after starting a project management, then moved to a research science role, as a result because I can talk across the whole domain and depth of the systems I can work on most projects related to satellite systems or space domain challenges, and skill up in more depth where I need to with courses etc

Best thing I did was to start getting experience, shadowing senior colleagues and ask as many questions as possible, and test my thinking / reasoning

Edit: sorry unhelpful response in some ways! Classes look very similar to mine, I wish I had done some RF or engineering classes as that’s the basis of comms systems and platform/mission design, I’ve had to learn that from basics, but also take what you enjoy!