Rover Ops
Drives, programs and maintains the robots and vehicles that cover ground.
Frontier work hiring now: Keep autonomous trucks, warehouse robots, drones and driverless cars working: field repairs, remote ops and controls you can trust.
On Earth
On Earth these are robotics, autonomy and controls jobs: self-driving vehicles, warehouse robots, drones and farm machines.
In space
On Mars rover drivers plan each day's moves from orbit and camera data, as JPL teams do for Curiosity and Perseverance. Autonomy lets the rover handle more on its own between commands.
Source: NASA JPL: Driving Perseverance
Roles on our board now
Real titles from current openings that lead toward Rover Ops work. 39 internship · 7 entry · 150 experienced
- 2027 Summer Intern (8 open)
- Autonomy Engineer Intern (8 open)
- Robotics Field Service Technician (6 open)
- Embedded Software Engineer (5 open)
- Senior Product Manager (4 open)
- Senior Embedded Software Engineer (4 open)
- Software Engineer (4 open)
- Guidance (4 open)
Core skills
- Controls and kinematics
- Perception and sensor fusion
- C++ and Python
- Path planning
- Field testing robots
Tools you'll see
- ROS / ROS 2
- Gazebo or Isaac Sim
- Linux
- Git
- OpenCV and PyTorch
Earth backgrounds that transfer
- Drone pilots
- Heavy equipment operators
- Industrial automation techs
- Self-driving test operators
- Game and simulation developers
Starting out
FIRST Robotics, university rover teams (URC) and autonomy internships are the main path. Put your code on GitHub.
Changing careers
Operators can start as robot test operators or field technicians; software people can move into autonomy through ROS projects.
Academy track
The Rover Ops Track: Autonomy, Field Maintenance and Drones track is open: 4 modules and a final test, free for crew members.
Rover Ops ranks
Ranks reflect Mars Mining Academy progress. They are not job titles and do not mean employment. Everyone starts at Operator 1 the moment they join and pick Rover Ops. Ranks are worked out from the quizzes you pass, the certificates you earn and the projects you finish. You can't set them yourself.
Operator 1 MM-R1
Join the department. Everyone starts here.
Operator 2 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.
Field 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.
Fleet Lead MM-R4
Earn the track certificate and finish a solo real-world project, submitted and reviewed. Coming: projects aren't open yet.
Ops Manager MM-R5
Finish a team project with other crew members. Coming: projects aren't open yet.
Fleet Chief 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 Operator 1 (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 want to see code move something real
- You debug with logs and patience
- You do not mind a robot embarrassing you in a demo
If you nodded at two or more, Rover Ops is worth a look. Not sure? Take the quiz.