Systems Engineer - Satellite Communications Portsmouth, UK 6 Month Inital Contract The Opportunity: Shape the Future of Secure Space-Based NetworksAn exceptional opportunity has arisen for a talented Systems Engineer to join our Lead Systems Engineers and Architects team within Defence & Space industry in Portsmouth, UK. This is your chance to directly contribute to the next generation of critical military...
Certain Advantage
Hilsea
Satellite Electrical Engineer
MERITUS are recruiting for a Satellite Electrical Engineer to join our client on an initial 6 month contract with very likely extensions thereafter. Overtime is available and there might be travel to Oxford involved in the position. SATELLITE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER - INSIDE IR35 - £45 PER HOUR - STEVENAGE - 6 MONTHS - SINGLE STAGE INTERVIEW PROCESS Responsibilities Maintenance and...
Meritus
Stevenage
Small Satellite Systems Engineer
Senior Satellite Systems Engineer Northern Italy Hybrid working A growing space engineering organisation is hiring a Senior Satellite Systems Engineer to support the development of satellite missions. The business operates an end-to-end engineering model, covering design, development, integration, verification, and operational support within one organisation. You will join a systems team working on complex satellite programmes in a collaborative, engineering-led...
Cubiq Recruitment
Turin
Lead Space Systems Engineer: AOCS & Thermal (Hybrid)
A leading aerospace company in Guildford is seeking a Systems Engineer to lead space missions from initial concept to operational life. This role requires a degree in Engineering, Physics, or Maths, and experience as a technical lead in space mission projects. The company offers a flexible hybrid working model and a comprehensive benefits package, including 32 days holiday, pension scheme,...
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL)
Guildford
Senior Space Systems Engineer - AOCS & Thermal
A leading aerospace company is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to lead space missions from LEO to GEO. You will be responsible for system-level designs, mentoring junior engineers, and managing project documentation. The ideal candidate will have over 7 years of experience in spacecraft systems engineering and possess a good degree in Engineering, Physics, or Maths. This role supports hybrid...
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL)
Guildford
RF Systems Engineer
RF Engineering & Verification We are seeking a highly skilled RF Engineering to lead the design, procurement, and verification of robust communication platforms for satellite missions. You will be responsible for the electrical and RF architecture that enables reliable Ground-to-Space and inter-satellite communication. The Role Technical Definition: Specifying TM&TC Transponders, Data Transmission systems, Modulators, and RF Amplifiers. Infrastructure Oversight: Managing...
UK space careers can look intimidating from the outside. Job adverts mention “systems engineering” “mission assurance” “GN&C” “RF” “payloads” “flight dynamics” “verification” “ECSS” & suddenly you’re wondering if you need a maths degree just to apply.
You don’t.
For most UK space jobs, the maths you actually use clusters into a handful of practical topics that map directly to real work across satellites, launch, ground segment, downstream data, mission ops & space software.
This article strips it down to what matters most for job readiness plus a 6-week learning plan, portfolio projects & a resources section you can use immediately.
UK space is also actively focused on growth & skills. The government’s National Space Strategy sets ambitions to grow the UK’s space ecosystem & spread employment across the UK.
The Space Sector Skills Survey 2023 highlights recruitment challenges plus the importance of new skills & technologies including AI & ML.
Recent industry reporting also estimates UK space industry employment at 55,550 FTEs plus wider supply-chain jobs.
So learning the right maths is not an academic exercise. It’s a practical way to widen the roles you can credibly target.
The UK space sector has quietly become one of the most exciting places to build a career. From small satellites & launch services to Earth observation, navigation, in-orbit servicing & space data startups, the industry needs people who can solve hard problems in smart ways.
Those people are not all “typical” engineers or scientists – and that’s a strength, not a weakness.
If you live with ADHD, autism or dyslexia, you may have been told your brain is “too distracted”, “too literal” or “too disorganised” for precision work in the space sector. In reality, many of the traits that made school or previous jobs difficult can be major assets in space engineering, mission operations & space data roles.
This guide is written for neurodivergent job seekers exploring UK space careers. We’ll look at:
What neurodiversity means in a space industry context
How ADHD, autism & dyslexia strengths map to common space roles
Practical workplace adjustments you can request under UK law
How to talk about neurodivergence in applications & interviews
By the end, you’ll have a clearer sense of where you might thrive in the UK space sector – & how to turn “different thinking” into a genuine superpower.
The UK space sector is no longer a niche curiosity. It is now a strategic industry worth billions, employing tens of thousands of people across nearly 2,000 organisations – and it has been growing faster than the wider UK economy for years. At the same time, employers report serious skills shortages, especially in software, data and systems engineering, with recruitment and retention now cited as key barriers to growth.
For job seekers, this is encouraging – but it does not mean every space application is an easy win. For recruiters, competing for talent with tech, defence, energy and finance is only getting harder.
This article, written for www.ukspacejobs.co.uk
, explores the space sector hiring trends to watch in 2026, aimed at both:
Job seekers searching for terms like “space jobs in the UK”, “satellite jobs UK”, or “space engineer roles”; and
Recruiters and hiring managers interested in “space sector hiring trends” and “space recruitment UK”.
The UK Space Sector: Your Next Frontier
Your Launchpad for UK Space Careers
Connecting talent with leading UK space organisations, fostering collaboration and innovation.
Job Seekers:
Discover diverse UK space jobs across engineering, science, technology, and business. Find your next role in aerospace, satellite technology, space research, and more.
Precise Talent Acquisition:
Reach a targeted audience of UK space professionals with specialised skills and experience within the UK Space sector. Post your UK Space jobs with us.
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