Questions about your career and its development

What is your name?

Evan Slattery

 Where do you work and what is your role/job title?

Business Development Manager with Aerospace Engineering background at SpaceChain, UK

 Does your job allow you to have a lifestyle you are happy with?

My job allows me to work at something I am very passionate about and travel, meeting amazing people in an industry full of those who are devoted to space. The work is also quite flexible allowing me to work almost anywhere in the world as long as I have access to my laptop.

Questions about your current Job

How did you go about getting your current job?

I studied at the International Space University in Strasbourg, France to obtain a Masters in Space Studies. As part of the program, we are required to complete an internship. I secured my internship at Skyrora where I developed further knowledge about the small rocket launch industry that is just on the horizon. I have since changed job and I am now working with a company called SpaceChain that is developing blockchain-enabled satellites that are capable of signing off on cryptocurrency transactions and much more.

Describe a typical day.

Open my laptop, have meetings with colleagues then meet with customers. I always try to have a dialog with the engineering teams to understand how well the technology has been developing and when it is called for, I could end up travelling to do what ever is required for the company.

What’s the coolest part of your job?

I am so happy to be a part of a cross section between the two most innovative industries in the world – Space and Blockchain. Every day that goes by brings with it massive innovation and I find it spectacular to learn of these things and even better to play a part in it.

Are there any elements of your job that you dislike

Nope

Questions about education and training

What subjects did you take in school/college and how have these influenced your career path?

I was a very maths and practical oriented student which helped a lot as I followed a career into aviation and then onto space.

Favourite Subjects: Technical Graphics/Designer Communication Graphics, Woodwork/Construction, Mathematics, Physics among many others

Questions about yourself

What have been the most rewarding events in your career so far?

Studying at the International Space University in France

Meeting UK ESA astronaut Tim Peake

What is your dream job?

To play a role in launching a satellite, that benefit society, into space. This could simply be by working with a company like SpaceX/NASA/ESA. I would even love to be onboard a launch vehicle as an astronaut piloting a rocket to the Moon!

Advice for people thinking of this job as a career choice

What advice would you give to someone considering this job? Are there important personal characteristics, or good work experience they can undertake for example.

Anyone who likes space and is amazed by the endless applications of space technology, I can tell you that it is possible for anyone of you to work at one of these companies now. Up until very recently USA and Russia were really the only countries developing space tech and they are very difficult to get jobs at but now a whole new range of companies have started up in the UK and Europe that are open to everyone in Ireland.