Life Support
Keeps air, water, temperature and pressure right so people can live inside.
Frontier work hiring now: Keep air, water and power in spec at data centers, clean rooms and new reactor sites, and be the one who fixes the chiller at 3 a.m.
On Earth
On Earth this work is HVAC, water treatment, electrical power and grid work, environmental control and clean-room systems.
In space
In space it is ECLSS (environmental control and life support), the systems the ISS uses to recycle water and scrub carbon dioxide, scaled up for a long stay on Mars.
Source: NASA: ISS Environmental Control and Life Support System
Roles on our board now
Real titles from current openings that lead toward Life Support work. 18 internship · 13 entry · 91 experienced
- Senior Electrical Engineer (13 open)
- Electrical Engineer (6 open)
- Environmental Test Technician I (5 open)
- Staff Electrical Engineer (3 open)
- Process Engineer (2 open)
- Staff Supply Chain Manager (2 open)
- Facilities Engineer II (2 open)
- Electrical Test Engineer (2 open)
Core skills
- Thermal and fluid systems
- Sensors and controls
- Reliability and redundancy
- Test and verification
- Reading P&IDs
Tools you'll see
- Thermal modeling tools
- Python or MATLAB
- LabVIEW or similar DAQ
- Fault tree and FMEA templates
Earth backgrounds that transfer
- HVAC technicians and engineers
- Water and wastewater operators
- Navy nuclear and submarine techs
- Aircraft environmental systems mechanics
- Building facilities engineers
Starting out
Mechanical, chemical or aerospace engineering with a thermal or fluids focus. Test engineering internships give you the verification habit.
Changing careers
If you have kept a building, ship or plant breathing, you already speak this language. Target thermal, test and systems engineering roles.
Academy track
The Life Support Track: HVAC, Cooling, Water and Power track is open: 4 modules and a final test, free for crew members.
Life Support ranks
Ranks reflect Mars Mining Academy progress. They are not job titles and do not mean employment. Everyone starts at Apprentice the moment they join and pick Life Support. Ranks are worked out from the quizzes you pass, the certificates you earn and the projects you finish. You can't set them yourself.
Apprentice MM-R1
Join the department. Everyone starts here.
Journeyman MM-R2
Pass 2 module quizzes in this department's track and fill in your resume basics: name, contact and target role, education and training, professional experience and skills.
Lead Tech MM-R3
Pass every module quiz in this department's track and finish early life, the work-style interview, passions and at least one portfolio item. Lateral transfer opens here.
Crew Chief MM-R4
Earn the track certificate and finish a solo real-world project, submitted and reviewed. Coming: projects aren't open yet.
Facility Mgr MM-R5
Finish a team project with other crew members. Coming: projects aren't open yet.
Chief Engineer MM-R6
Lead a team project and pass the capstone. Coming: projects aren't open yet.
Transfers
You serve in one department at a time and start at Apprentice (R1). Once you reach R3 in your department you can put in for a lateral transfer. You start at R1 in the new department, and every rank you earned before stays on your service record, which shows on your dashboard and your certificate verify page.
Before R3 you stay put. The one exception: if you picked wrong, you can change once in your first 7 days.
You can hold top rank in every department. That takes years, because the higher ranks need real-world projects and team work, not just quizzes.
Is this you?
- You worry about what happens when the backup fails too
- You like systems that quietly work
- You like data more than drama
If you nodded at two or more, Life Support is worth a look. Not sure? Take the quiz.