Surface Ops
Runs the work outside the hab: hauling, site prep, construction and keeping the base moving.
Frontier work hiring now: Run the yard at a battery gigafactory, a launch site or a fusion build: heavy equipment, staging, logistics and crews that finish on schedule.
On Earth
On Earth this is site operations and field engineering: getting heavy equipment, crews and supplies to the right place on a mine, launch site or construction job, safely and on schedule.
In space
On Mars it means planning every trip outside, staging cargo from landers, grading pads and berms, and running the teleoperated and autonomous machines that do most of the digging.
Roles on our board now
Real titles from current openings that lead toward Surface Ops work. 41 internship · 32 entry · 229 experienced
- Technical Program Manager (9 open)
- Robotics Field Service Technician (6 open)
- Senior Technical Program Manager (5 open)
- Environmental Test Technician I (4 open)
- Manager (4 open)
- Business Operations Internship/Co-op (4 open)
- Robotics Field Service Engineer (4 open)
- Logistics Coordinator (3 open)
Core skills
- Operations planning and scheduling
- Field test and integration
- Reading drawings and procedures
- Safety and hazard analysis
- Equipment telemetry and logs
Tools you'll see
- Gantt and work-order systems
- Python or Excel for ops data
- Checklists and procedure software
- Basic CAD viewers
Earth backgrounds that transfer
- Construction site supervisors
- Mine and quarry operators
- Military logistics and field engineers
- Launch and test-site technicians
- Event or warehouse operations leads
Starting out
Look for test, integration and field technician internships. Hands-on clubs (rocketry, Baja SAE, robotics) count, so put them on your file.
Changing careers
Ops experience transfers well. Frame your past work in terms of schedules hit, incidents avoided and crews run, then target "field engineer" or "launch operations" roles.
Academy track
The Surface Ops Track: Site Work, Heavy Equipment and Hauling track is open: 5 modules and a final test, free for crew members.
Surface Ops ranks
Ranks reflect Mars Mining Academy progress. They are not job titles and do not mean employment. Everyone starts at Hauler the moment they join and pick Surface 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.
Hauler MM-R1
Join the department. Everyone starts here.
Operator 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 Hand 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.
Foreman MM-R4
Earn the track certificate and finish a solo real-world project, submitted and reviewed. Coming: projects aren't open yet.
Superintendent MM-R5
Finish a team project with other crew members. Coming: projects aren't open yet.
Site Manager 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 Hauler (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 like being where the work is, not behind a desk all day
- You make a plan and adjust it when the weather (or the dust) changes
- Checklists calm you down rather than bore you
If you nodded at two or more, Surface Ops is worth a look. Not sure? Take the quiz.