- Ostranauts jobs revolve around shipbreaking, cargo hauling, and racing for steady income
- Hiring crew requires building relationships through conversation before negotiating contracts
- Crew management uses a priority-based roster system similar to RimWorld for task automation
- Death benefits can drain your funds—always negotiate these payouts down during hiring
- Cargo kiosks and specialized containers offer scalable shipping opportunities across stations
Understanding Ostranauts Jobs and Career Paths
In the Void, making a living means choosing the right type of work. Ostranauts jobs currently center around independent contracting rather than traditional corporate employment. The core career path is shipbreaking—salvaging derelict vessels for parts and profit. However, recent updates have expanded opportunities significantly.
Players looking for variety can now engage in cargo transport using Cargo Kiosks and specialized Cargo Containers available at various stations. Additionally, racing events at Venus provide an alternative income stream for pilots with fast ships and sharp reflexes. The narrative design encourages players to escape the traditional career life and build their own independent enterprise.
Video Highlights:
- Learn how to approach NPCs and build relationships before offering a job
- See the negotiation interface for salary, signing bonuses, and death benefits
- Understand the crew duties roster system for task prioritization
- Watch live shipbreaking with AI crew members using autotask
While shipbreaking remains the primary job, the game's narrative positions you as someone escaping corporate life. Your goal is independence—each job type you pursue builds toward self-sufficiency rather than climbing a corporate ladder.
| Job Type | Income Potential | Risk Level | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shipbreaking | High | Moderate | Ship, tools, crew |
| Cargo Transport | Medium | Low | Cargo pods, visas |
| Racing (Venus) | Variable | High | Fast ship, piloting skill |
| Component Salvage | Low-Medium | Low | Basic tools |
Hiring Crew for Your Ship Operations
Building a reliable crew is essential for scaling any Ostranauts job operation. You cannot handle shipbreaking alone—uninstalling components, hauling debris, and repairing systems require multiple hands. The hiring process mirrors real-world recruitment: you need to establish rapport before pitching employment.
Key Hiring Steps:
- Find an NPC in a station or hub area
- Strike up casual conversation (weather, small talk)
- Build relationship to at least Acquaintance status
- Ask about their skills to assess suitability
- Propose employment and enter stakes negotiation
Build Rapport Through Conversation
Approach potential crew members and engage in casual dialogue. Discuss weather, ask how they are doing, and let the conversation flow naturally. Some NPCs may insult you—this is part of their personality and does not necessarily prevent hiring.
Assess Their Skills
Use the "Change Subject" option and ask about skills. NPCs will reveal their talents, such as diagnosing mental illness, acting, or technical abilities. Match their skills to the roles you need filled on your ship.
Initiate Job Negotiation
Propose hiring them as crew. If they agree to negotiate, a stakes window appears showing your current offer: daily salary, signing bonus, and death payment.
Balance the Contract Terms
Decrease the death payment as much as possible while offering a modest signing bonus and reasonable daily salary. Watch their reaction—if you push too hard on negative terms, they will walk away.
Finalize and Onboard
Once both parties agree, the crew member joins your roster. Use Caps Lock to switch between characters. Immediately check their status—hunger, hygiene, equipment—and address any urgent needs.
Death payments can bankrupt you. Crew members may die from accidents, helmet issues, or self-inflicted causes. Always negotiate this number down. A starting death pay of 57,000 credits can often be reduced to around 27,000 with careful negotiation.
Contract Negotiation Strategies
The stakes negotiation window is where fortunes are made or lost. Understanding how to balance salary, bonuses, and death benefits determines your long-term profitability. The interface is menu-driven—you cannot type custom numbers, so you must work within the incremental adjustment system.
| Contract Element | Strategy | Impact on NPC |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Salary | Increase moderately | Improves willingness |
| Signing Bonus | Offer 1,000-2,000 credits | Boosts attitude |
| Death Payment | Decrease aggressively | Risk of NPC walking |
Signing bonuses are placed in escrow—you will not have immediate access to those funds. Factor this into your budget when negotiating. The money is committed regardless of how the employment ends.
The negotiation dance requires patience. Start by offering a small signing bonus to keep the NPC's attitude positive. Then incrementally decrease the death payment. If the NPC shows signs of reluctance, increase the daily salary slightly to balance the conversation. A target daily rate around 350-400 credits with a death payment under 30,000 credits represents a solid contract for most crew members.
Every adjustment affects the NPC's willingness. If you sense hesitation after reducing death pay, immediately follow with a positive adjustment—raise salary or bonus. Never stack multiple negative changes in a row.
Crew Management and Task Assignment
Once hired, crew members need direction. Ostranauts uses a priority-based roster system accessible through the crew duties panel. This system functions similarly to RimWorld's work priority system—you assign task categories in order of importance for each crew member.
Available Task Categories:
- Haul – Moving loose items and components
- Construct – Installing and uninstalling equipment
- Repair & Restore – Fixing damaged systems
- Other duties – Station-based tasks
Hauler Role
- Primary task: Haul
- Moves salvaged components
- Clears work areas
- Ideal for strong NPCs
Technician Role
- Primary task: Construct
- Uninstalls ship equipment
- Handles component removal
- Needs driver drill and Weber torch
Repair Specialist
- Primary task: Repair
- Fixes damaged systems
- Restores functionality
- Works alongside hauler
To assign duties, open the roster panel and click "Switch to Crew Duties" on the right side of the screen. Set priority numbers for each task type. Lower numbers typically indicate higher priority, though you should experiment with the numbering to confirm behavior with your current build.
New crew members may lack permissions to open airlocks or embark/disembark. Check their permission settings immediately after hiring. Without proper permissions, they may get stuck or fail to follow you to target ships.
Autotask System:
After assigning duties, use the Autotask command to let crew members automatically work through queued orders. Mark items for uninstall, repair, or haul, then activate Autotask on each crew member. They will begin working through the queue based on their priority settings.
If a crew member stalls or stands idle, cancel their Autotask and reissue it. This often resolves pathfinding or priority conflicts. Ensure they have the necessary tools—a driver drill and Weber torch are essential for technical work.
Cargo Transport and Alternative Jobs
Beyond shipbreaking, cargo transport represents the most scalable Ostranauts job. The introduction of Cargo Kiosks and Cargo Containers has created a viable shipping career path. Different stations offer different cargo types, and specialized containers allow you to optimize your hauling routes.
Getting Started with Cargo Jobs:
| Step | Action | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Obtain a visa | Embassy terminals, Commercial district |
| 2 | Acquire cargo pods | Station vendors |
| 3 | Upgrade to better pods | Improves cargo capacity and type |
| 4 | Find profitable routes | Compare prices across stations |
| 5 | Specialize containers | Match to your preferred route |
Some stations do not carry all cargo types. Find a profitable loop between two or three stations and invest in containers that match those specific cargo types. This focused approach maximizes efficiency over general-purpose hauling.
Racing at Venus offers a completely different career path. While details remain limited, racing provides income for skilled pilots with fast, maneuverable ships. This high-risk, high-reward option suits players who enjoy piloting over salvage operations.
Visas are obtained through Embassy terminals located in the top-right room of the Commercial area. Without the proper visa, you cannot access certain cargo jobs or restricted stations.
Crew Care and Long-Term Success
Maintaining a healthy, equipped crew is critical for sustained job performance. Crew members have needs that must be addressed regularly—ignoring these leads to decreased efficiency and potential death.
Daily Crew Maintenance Checklist:
- Check hunger levels and provide food
- Monitor hygiene status and allow freshening up
- Ensure adequate oxygen and CO2 filter supply
- Verify battery levels on EVA equipment
- Equip crew with proper tools (driver drill, Weber torch)
- Provide backpacks for inventory storage
- Replace pressure suits when damaged
- Clean up generated trash from daily activities
Crew members do not have access to your wallet. They cannot independently purchase food, supplies, or equipment. You must buy items and transfer them to crew members manually. Plan your supply runs accordingly.
Equipment Priority for New Crew:
| Priority | Item | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Food | Prevents starvation |
| 2 | Pressure suit | Basic survival |
| 3 | Backpack | Inventory management |
| 4 | Driver drill | Component uninstall |
| 5 | Weber torch | Advanced salvage |
| 6 | EVA helmet | Space operations |
Recent updates replaced the dangerous "Jettison" button with a proper trash system. Previously, players would accidentally jettison critical items. Now, trash can be properly disposed of without risk of losing valuable equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I have a career other than shipbreaking in Ostranauts?
Yes. While shipbreaking is the primary job, you can pursue cargo transport using Cargo Kiosks and specialized containers. Racing at Venus also provides income. The game's narrative positions you as escaping traditional career life, so these jobs represent independent contracting rather than corporate employment.
Q: How do I reduce death benefit payments when hiring crew?
During the stakes negotiation window, use the 'Decrease Death Pay' option incrementally. Balance each reduction with a positive adjustment like a small signing bonus or salary increase. If the NPC shows reluctance, stop reducing and finalize the deal. Target a death payment under 30,000 credits.
Q: Why won't my crew member follow me to the target ship?
Check their permission settings. New crew members may not have permissions to open airlocks or embark/disembark. Update their permissions in the roster panel. Also verify they are not in a restricted mode and that their Autotask is active.
Q: Can crew members buy their own food and supplies?
No. Crew members do not have access to your wallet and cannot complete transactions independently. You must purchase food, equipment, and supplies for them. Monitor their hunger and hygiene stats regularly and provide items as needed.
Q: Where do I get a visa for cargo transport jobs?
Visas are available through Embassy terminals located in the top-right room of the Commercial area. Better visas unlock access to higher-tier cargo jobs and restricted stations.