Deep Space Industries jobs in 2026: from asteroid mining pioneer to ISRU career paths
If you have searched for "Deep Space Industries jobs" in 2026, you have likely discovered that the company no longer exists as an independent entity. Deep Space Industries (DSI) was one of the earliest and most visible asteroid mining startups, founded in 2013 with an ambitious plan to prospect near-Earth asteroids, extract water and platinum group metals, and build an in-space resource economy. The company attracted significant media attention, developed prototype water-based thruster technology, and published detailed roadmaps for asteroid mining operations. But by 2019, the economics had not materialized, and DSI was acquired by Bradford Space, a Netherlands-based spacecraft components manufacturer.
This guide explains what happened to Deep Space Industries, what Bradford Space does today, and — most importantly — where to find real jobs in asteroid mining and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) in 2026.
What happened to Deep Space Industries
Deep Space Industries was co-founded by David Gump and Rick Tumlinson with a stated mission to harvest resources from asteroids for use in space. The company's original business plan had three phases:
- Prospecting: Send small spacecraft (FireFly scouts) to survey near-Earth asteroids for water and mineral content
- Harvesting: Deploy larger spacecraft (DragonFly harvesters) to extract water and regolith from asteroid surfaces
- Processing: Refine extracted materials in orbit for use as propellant, radiation shielding, and raw materials for space construction
DSI made real technical progress. The company developed and flight-qualified Comet water-based thrusters — small propulsion systems that use superheated water as propellant. These thrusters worked, and they represented a genuine step toward water-based in-space propulsion. However, the revenue from selling thrusters was insufficient to fund the multi-billion-dollar asteroid mining infrastructure the company envisioned.
In 2019, Bradford Space acquired Deep Space Industries. Bradford, which specializes in green propulsion systems and satellite components, absorbed DSI's thruster technology into its existing product line. The asteroid mining mission was shelved. Bradford Space continues to operate from offices in the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United States, selling propulsion and attitude control systems for spacecraft — but it does not pursue space mining.
Planetary Resources, another high-profile asteroid mining startup backed by Larry Page and Eric Schmidt, met a similar fate. Founded in 2012, Planetary Resources was acquired by ConsenSys (a blockchain company) in 2018, and its mining ambitions were abandoned. The first generation of asteroid mining companies demonstrated that the technology concepts were plausible but the business timelines were decades too early for the commercial market. The second generation of companies, now launching missions, learned from these failures.
Bradford Space: DSI's successor
Bradford Space now employs DSI's legacy technology team and offers several products descended from DSI's work:
Product line:
- Comet water-based thrusters (from DSI heritage)
- Green propulsion systems using ADN-based propellants
- Attitude control systems for small and medium satellites
- Square Rocket high delta-V maneuvering vehicles (SR-300)
Careers at Bradford Space: The company is small (under 200 employees across three countries) and hires primarily in the Netherlands and Sweden, with some U.S. positions. Roles focus on propulsion engineering, systems engineering, and spacecraft integration. Job listings are posted on Bradford Space's careers page and LinkedIn.
Bradford Space is a reasonable employer for propulsion engineers interested in green and water-based propulsion technologies, but it is not a path to asteroid mining work.
Where to find real asteroid mining and ISRU jobs in 2026
The asteroid mining concept did not die with Deep Space Industries. A new generation of companies has picked up the mission with more targeted approaches, better funding, and near-term launch plans. Here are the most active companies hiring in this space:
AstroForge
AstroForge, based in Huntington Beach, California, is the most visible asteroid mining startup in 2026. The company is developing spacecraft to extract platinum group metals (PGMs) from near-Earth asteroids. AstroForge has already launched a test mission and is planning its Vestri mission in 2026, which aims to fly to a PGM-rich asteroid and collect reconnaissance data.
What they are hiring for:
- Spacecraft systems engineers
- GNC (guidance, navigation, and control) engineers
- Propulsion engineers
- Flight software engineers
- Mission operations specialists
AstroForge is a startup with fewer than 50 employees, so roles are hands-on and cross-functional. The company offers competitive startup compensation including equity. Browse AstroForge careers or visit their careers page at astroforge.com/careers.
TransAstra
TransAstra, founded by Joel Sercel and based in Lake Forest, California, takes a different approach: optical mining. Instead of physically drilling into asteroids, TransAstra's technology uses concentrated sunlight to heat asteroid surfaces, releasing volatile materials (primarily water) that can be captured and processed into propellant. The company has received NASA grants and is developing the capture bag technology needed for asteroid processing.
What they are hiring for:
- Optical systems engineers
- Thermal analysis engineers
- Mechanical design engineers
- Materials scientists
- Business development professionals
Karman+
Karman+, a Colorado-based company, plans to launch an asteroid excavation test mission in 2026. Their approach focuses on developing and proving mining equipment that can operate in microgravity on asteroid surfaces.
NASA ISRU programs
NASA has its own ISRU programs that hire engineers and scientists through civil service positions and contractor support. The key areas include:
| Program | Center | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Lunar Surface Innovation | Kennedy Space Center | Extracting water ice from lunar regolith |
| MOXIE follow-on | JPL | Producing oxygen from Martian CO2 atmosphere |
| RASSOR excavator | Kennedy Space Center | Robotic regolith excavation and transport |
| ISRU system architecture | Marshall Space Flight Center | Integration of resource extraction into Artemis infrastructure |
If you are motivated by the vision that originally attracted you to Deep Space Industries, focus your career search on ISRU (In-Situ Resource Utilization) rather than asteroid mining specifically. ISRU encompasses lunar ice extraction, Martian atmosphere processing, and asteroid resource harvesting. NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and multiple startups are investing in ISRU technologies. The skills overlap heavily with traditional spacecraft engineering — thermal systems, propulsion, materials science, and robotics — making it a career path you can pursue while the asteroid mining market matures.
Skills for ISRU and space mining careers
The job market for ISRU and resource extraction in space requires a blend of traditional aerospace skills and mining/geology knowledge:
Engineering disciplines:
- Mechanical engineering (excavation systems, processing equipment)
- Chemical engineering (resource extraction, refinement)
- Thermal engineering (optical mining, cryogenic storage)
- Robotics and autonomy (remote operations in microgravity)
- Spacecraft systems engineering (mission design, power systems)
Science disciplines:
- Planetary geology (asteroid composition, regolith mechanics)
- Materials science (in-space manufacturing, 3D printing from extraterrestrial materials)
- Spectroscopy (remote sensing for resource identification)
Crossover skills from terrestrial mining:
- Mining engineering (excavation techniques, resource estimation)
- Metallurgy (ore processing and refining)
- Environmental engineering (closed-loop resource processing)
Explore ISRU and space mining careers or browse companies like AstroForge and Bradford Space on Zero G Talent.
Frequently asked questions
Does Deep Space Industries still exist?
No. Deep Space Industries was acquired by Bradford Space in 2019. The DSI brand was retired, and the asteroid mining mission was discontinued. Bradford Space continues to develop and sell propulsion systems that originated from DSI's water-based thruster technology, but the company does not pursue space mining. If you are looking for asteroid mining jobs, companies like AstroForge, TransAstra, and Karman+ are the active players in 2026.
Can I get a job in asteroid mining in 2026?
Yes, but the opportunities are limited and concentrated in a handful of startups. AstroForge is the most active hiring company, with open positions for spacecraft engineers, GNC specialists, and mission operations personnel. TransAstra and Karman+ also hire, though they are smaller. NASA's ISRU programs at Kennedy Space Center, JPL, and Marshall Space Flight Center offer additional paths through civil service and contractor positions. Total industry employment in dedicated asteroid mining work is probably under 200 people globally in 2026.
What degree do I need for ISRU or asteroid mining careers?
Most positions require at minimum a bachelor's degree in an engineering or science discipline — mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, materials science, geology, or planetary science are the most relevant. For NASA research positions and some startup roles, a master's or PhD is preferred. Practical experience with robotics, embedded systems, or mining equipment is highly valued and can substitute for formal education in startup environments.
Is asteroid mining actually profitable?
Not yet. No company has demonstrated profitable asteroid resource extraction as of 2026. The economic models project that water extracted from asteroids could be sold as propellant in orbit at prices far below the cost of launching water from Earth, but this requires a functioning in-space fuel market that does not yet exist. Platinum group metals from asteroids could be valuable on Earth, but the cost of retrieval still exceeds the value of the metals. The industry is pre-revenue, operating on venture capital and government grants.
What happened to Planetary Resources?
Planetary Resources was the other prominent asteroid mining startup of the 2010s, backed by investors including Larry Page, Eric Schmidt, and Ross Perot Jr. The company was acquired by ConsenSys, a blockchain firm, in 2018. Its asteroid mining technology and mission plans were effectively abandoned. Like DSI, Planetary Resources proved that the technology concepts were feasible but the commercial timeline was premature.
