Spacecraft Systems Engineer

An innovative space technology organisation is looking for an experienced Spacecraft Systems Engineer to join its growing engineering team.

This is an excellent opportunity to play a central role in the design and development of complex spacecraft missions, working across multiple engineering disciplines to develop robust, achievable technical solutions.

The Role

As a Spacecraft Systems Engineer, you will act as a technical architect across the mission lifecycle, supporting system design, requirements, trade-offs, integration, verification and ultimately spacecraft operations.

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop spacecraft mission and system-level designs.
• Derive, allocate, verify and maintain system requirements and traceability.
• Perform system-level trade studies and technical assessments.
• Manage spacecraft budgets including mass, power, data and propellant.
• Produce and maintain CONOPS, V&V plans, ICDs and other systems engineering documentation.
• Own and manage system-level interfaces, including space-to-ground and TM/TC.
• Support spacecraft testbeds, validation and system-level testing.
• Contribute to FDIR, FMECA and fault-tree activities.
• Coordinate engineering activities across multiple subsystem teams.
• Support spacecraft integration, verification and environmental test campaigns.
• Present technical analyses and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to bids, proposals and early-stage mission studies.
• Support key programme reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR and TRR.
• Provide technical support during commissioning and critical in-orbit operations.

We’re looking for a systems engineer with experience working on satellite or similarly complex aerospace systems.

Essential experience:

• 2+ years’ experience in satellite systems engineering.
• Good understanding of the key subsystems that make up a spacecraft.
• Experience with requirements derivation, verification and traceability.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to perform complex technical trade-offs.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Comfortable using Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Desirable Experience

• Understanding of attitude and orbit control systems (AOCS).
• Satellite-level AIT experience.
• Exposure to FFT, STB, TM/TC and MIB activities.
• Mission operations experience.
• Experience with GMAT or Orekit.
• Python, MATLAB or other engineering analysis tools.
• FMECA, FDIR, fault-tree analysis or reliability engineering.
• Experience working on institutional or ESA missions.

• Hybrid working with flexible core hours.
• Optional compressed working pattern.
• 25 days’ holiday, increasing to 28 with service, plus Bank Holidays.
• Private healthcare, life insurance and long-term sick pay.
• Relocation support may be available.
• Modern engineering and cleanroom facilities.
• Regular social and team events.
• The opportunity to work on technically challenging spacecraft and space missions.