The connectivity landscape is changing fast.
In the US, 5G, satellite, broadband, connected devices, AI and edge technologies are increasingly converging, creating new opportunities for businesses and new challenges for the people building them.
And there is one question that deserves more attention:
Where will the talent come from?
THE CONNECTIVITY LANDSCAPE IS CHANGING
Satellite is no longer a niche conversation.
The FCC says Low Earth Orbit (LEO) systems such as SpaceX's Starlink and Amazon Leo are emerging as high-speed, low-latency broadband options across the US, including for remote and rural areas. In February 2026, the FCC authorised Amazon's Leo system to deploy an additional 4,500 LEO satellites, bringing its total authorised constellation to approximately 7,700 satellites.
At the same time, 5G continues to reshape terrestrial networks. Across North America, 5G represented around 60% of mobile connections in 2024, according to GSMA, with 5G-Advanced and AI becoming increasingly important to network development.
The interesting part?
These aren't separate technology stories anymore.
Satellite connectivity is increasingly sitting alongside broadband, wireless networks, connected devices, cloud, AI and edge computing.
That changes the talent conversation.
THE NEXT SATELLITE ENGINEER MAY ALREADY BE WORKING IN CONNECTIVITY
A company building a satellite connectivity programme doesn't necessarily need every engineer to come directly from the space industry.
Relevant expertise may already exist across:
Broadband CPE → Embedded Systems → Hardware → Networks → Connected Devices → Satellite
Someone who understands broadband devices may have highly transferable experience.
A network engineer may already understand many of the fundamentals required for a new connectivity environment.
An embedded systems specialist may have the technical foundations needed for connected devices or satellite hardware.
The opportunity is to look beyond the exact job title and understand the capability underneath it.
“THE OPPORTUNITY IS BIGGER THAN SATELLITE”
For Jon Gibbs, GCS, this broader connectivity ecosystem is where the real opportunity lies.
“The opportunity isn't just satellite connectivity. It's understanding how satellite connects into the wider technology ecosystem and the people and skills needed to make that happen.”
Jon Gibbs | EVP
From LEO and satellite connectivity to broadband, smart home, connected devices and networks, the technologies are becoming increasingly connected.
And so are the skills needed to build them.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US EMPLOYERS?
For organisations developing the next generation of connectivity, the question may no longer be:
“Where can we find a satellite engineer?”
It may be: “Where does the technical capability we need already exist?”
That could mean looking across adjacent technology markets and identifying transferable expertise in:
- Embedded Systems
- Hardware Engineering
- Network Engineering
- DevOps
- Connected Technologies
- Technical Project Management
This approach can open up a much broader talent pool, particularly in a market where technology is evolving faster than traditional job titles.
THE FUTURE OF CONNECTIVITY WILL BE BUILT AT THE INTERSECTION
Satellite won't replace terrestrial connectivity.
It will increasingly become part of a broader ecosystem.
Satellite + Networks + Broadband + Devices + AI + Data
For US technology businesses, that creates an opportunity to rethink both their technology strategy and their approach to talent.
At GCS, we're building our US connectivity focus around that intersection — connecting organisations with specialist technology talent across the evolving connectivity ecosystem.
Because the next generation of connectivity won't be built by one technology.
And it won't be built by one type of engineer.
BUILDING WHAT COMES NEXT?
If you're scaling a connectivity programme, developing satellite or LEO capability, building connected technologies or looking for specialist engineering talent in the US, let's talk.
Subject: US Connectivity
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