Space Jobs UK 2025: 50 Companies Hiring Now

1. Spacecraft & Satellite Manufacturers (1–10)

1. Airbus Defence & Space – Stevenage

   • Vacancy: AIT Systems Engineer – Eurostar Neo Platforms

   • Why: UK’s largest spacecraft factory; moon return lander work under way.

2. Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) – Guildford

   • Vacancy: Mission Analyst – Optical EO Constellation

   • Why: Twenty‑satellite programme; agile flight heritage.

3. OneWeb Satellites UK – White City, London

   • Vacancy: Payload Integration Engineer – Ku‑Band User Terminals

   • Why: Constellation entering Gen 2; UK‑designed payloads.

4. In‑Space Missions (BAE Systems) – Alton

   • Vacancy: Spacecraft Operations Controller – Faraday 2 Rideshare

   • Why: Fast‑paced “space‑as‑a‑service” model; launch every six months.

5. AAC Clyde Space – Glasgow

   • Vacancy: Power Systems Engineer – Nano‑sat Buses

   • Why: Scotland’s “Space Valley”; flexible hours & share options.

6. Thales Alenia Space UK – Bristol

   • Vacancy: GNSS Payload Architect – Galileo Second Gen

   • Why: Multi‑hundred‑million ESA contract; hybrid working.

7. Orbital Micro Systems – Edinburgh

   • Vacancy: Thermal Engineer – Nano‑sat Microwave Radiometers

   • Why: Rapidly growing weather‑data constellations.

8. Lúnasa Space – Belfast

   • Vacancy: Structural Analyst – Deployable Solar Arrays

   • Why: Northern Ireland’s first space hardware plant; equity offered.

9. Kongsberg NanoAvionics UK – Oxford

   • Vacancy: Software‑in‑the‑Loop Test Engineer – CubeSat Avionics

   • Why: New UK R&D hub focused on EO and IoT buses.

10. Open Cosmos – Harwell

    • Vacancy: Systems Engineer – Low‑Cost SmallSat Platforms

    • Why: End‑to‑end missions from design to data delivery; strong mission culture.

2. Launch, Propulsion & In‑Space Logistics (11–20)

1. Skyrora – Edinburgh & Cumbernauld

   • Vacancy: Avionics Firmware Developer – XL Orbital Launcher

   • Why: Skyrora XL maiden flight NET Q4 2025; vertical integration.

2. Orbex – Forres, Moray

   • Vacancy: Propulsion Test Engineer – Methane/LOX Stage

   • Why: Sutherland Spaceport launch window confirmed; reusable stage tech.

3. Space Forge – Cardiff

   • Vacancy: Thermal Protection Materials Scientist – Pridwen Re‑entry Shield

   • Why: In‑orbit manufacturing & return; £54 m Series B closed.

4. Reaction Engines – Culham

   • Vacancy: Heat‑Exchanger CFD Specialist – SABRE Precooler

   • Why: Hypersonic propulsion; hybrid 9‑day fortnight.

5. Pulsar Fusion – Bletchley

   • Vacancy: Plasma Propulsion Physicist – Hall‑Effect Thrusters

   • Why: Nuclear‑fusion space drive R&D; startup equity.

6. Astraius – Prestwick

   • Vacancy: Air‑Launch Flight Safety Manager – C‑17 Orbital System

   • Why: Horizontal launch from Scotland; CAA licensing phase.

7. Satellite Applications Catapult: I‑Space Logistics – Harwell

   • Vacancy: In‑Space Servicing Analyst – On‑Orbit Refuelling Markets

   • Why: National study team, secondments to start‑ups.

8. Nebula Propulsion Systems – Leeds

   • Vacancy: Green Propellant Chemist – ADN‑based Hybrid

   • Why: UKRI grants; flexible 4‑day week option.

9. Blue Skies Space – London

   • Vacancy: Mission Manager – Twinkle Exoplanet Telescope

   • Why: First commercial deep‑space science mission.

10. HyImpulse UK – Essex

    • Vacancy: Hybrid Rocket Test Technician – Paraffin/LOX Model

    • Why: German HQ opens UK site to tap Harwell supply chain.

3. Ground Segment, In‑Orbit Services & Space Sustainability (21–30)

1. Goonhilly Earth Station – Cornwall

   • Vacancy: Deep‑Space Antenna Operator – Artemis Relay

   • Why: First private deep‑space dish; lunar and Mars links.

2. Astroscale UK – Harwell

   • Vacancy: Guidance & Control Engineer – Debris Removal Chaser

   • Why: Active Debris Removal (ADR) demo in 2025; ESG‑driven mission.

3. ClearSpace UK – London

   • Vacancy: Compliance Specialist – ADR Licencing & Insurance

   • Why: ESA ClearSpace‑1 partner; hybrid legal/tech role.

4. D‑Orbit UK – Farnborough

   • Vacancy: Satellite Logistics Planner – ION In‑Orbit Transfer Vehicle

   • Why: Monthly rideshares; rapid mission cadence.

5. Northumbria Space Systems – Newcastle

   • Vacancy: Space Weather Modeller – Solar‑Storm Forecasting

   • Why: UKRI Space Weather Hub funding.

6. SatixFy UK – Manchester

   • Vacancy: Beam‑forming ASIC Engineer – Electronically Steered Arrays

   • Why: LEO/gov comms terminals; stock options.

7. Spaceflux – Reading

   • Vacancy: SSA Data Scientist – Optical Tracking Network

   • Why: 24‑site global telescope net, Python/ML stack.

8. CGI UK Space – Leatherhead & Bristol

   • Vacancy: Ground Segment Software Lead – CCSDS & ECSS

   • Why: Flexible remote policy; FTSE‑100 stability.

9. GMV NSL – Nottingham

   • Vacancy: GNSS Algorithms Engineer – Precise Point Positioning

   • Why: Galileo High‑Accuracy Service commercialisation.

10. Leaf Space UK – Harwell

    • Vacancy: Network Operations Engineer – Ground Station as‑a‑Service

    • Why: Expanding “Leaf Line” to Kirkwall; 24/7 shift premiums.

4. Down‑stream Data, Navigation & Geo‑Analytics (31–40)

1. Spire Global – Glasgow

   • Vacancy: RF Payload Data Engineer – AIS & ADS‑B Cubesats

   • Why: 100+ satellites built in‑house; remote‑friendly.

2. Earth‑i – Guildford

   • Vacancy: EO Analytics Scientist – High‑Res Video

   • Why: 1 m colour video from space; customer‑facing projects.

3. Rezatec – Harwell

   • Vacancy: Geospatial Machine‑Learning Engineer – Forestry Carbon Index

   • Why: SaaS subscription model, Series C raise.

4. Global Surface Intelligence – Edinburgh

   • Vacancy: AI Modeller – SAR & Optical Fusion

   • Why: Forest & carbon markets booming; equity package.

5. SatSense – Leeds

   • Vacancy: InSAR Analyst – Infrastructure Subsidence Monitoring

   • Why: National Highways contracts; hybrid remote.

6. Fugro Space – Portsmouth

   • Vacancy: GNSS Integrity Engineer – PPP Wavefront

   • Why: Maritime and offshore energy clients.

7. Bird.i (SuperVision Earth) – Glasgow

   • Vacancy: Pipeline Monitoring Data Scientist – Multisensor Change Detection

   • Why: £10 m Series A; remote‑first.

8. Ordnance Survey Geospatial Labs – Southampton

   • Vacancy: Product Owner – Space‑Derived 3‑D Terrain

   • Why: National data sets, civil‑service pension.

9. Trimble Positioning UK – Leicester

   • Vacancy: RTK Network Support Engineer – Infrastructure Surveys

   • Why: GNSS corrections for 1 million devices worldwide.

10. Hawkeye 360 UK – Harwell

    • Vacancy: RF Spectrum Intelligence Analyst – Maritime Domain Awareness

    • Why: US HQ chooses Harwell for European ops; hybrid.

5. Government, Research, Spaceports & National Facilities (41–50)

1. UK Space Agency – Swindon & London

   • Vacancy: Spaceflight Licensing Officer – Orbital Launch

   • Why: Shape national regulation; hybrid with civil‑service benefits.

2. ESA ECSAT – Harwell

   • Vacancy: Business Applications Engineer – ARTES 5G/6G

   • Why: Work with start‑ups across Europe; tax‑free salary supplement.

3. RAL Space (STFC) – Didcot

   • Vacancy: Opto‑Mechanical Engineer – NovaSAR‑2 Instrument

   • Why: £120 m National Satellite Test Facility, public‑sector pension.

4. Space Park Leicester – Leicester

   • Vacancy: Payload Test Scientist – Vacuum Chamber Ops

   • Why: Academia‑industry cluster, publish & patent environment.

5. Spaceport Cornwall – Newquay

   • Vacancy: Range Safety Analyst – Horizontal Launch Ops

   • Why: Second launch licence pending; coastal lifestyle.

6. SaxaVord Spaceport – Shetland

   • Vacancy: Launch Site Engineer – Vertical Pad Infrastructure

   • Why: Three orbital pads online 2025; relocation allowance.

7. Spaceport Machrihanish – Argyll

   • Vacancy: Environmental Impact Officer – Hypersonic Flight Corridor

   • Why: Early‑phase planning; green‑field challenge.

8. National Satellite Test Facility (NSTF) – Harwell

   • Vacancy: Thermal‑Vacuum Chamber Technician – Multi‑Axis Shakers

   • Why: Largest TVAC in Europe; shift uplift pay.

9. University of Surrey – Surrey Space Centre

   • Vacancy: CubeSat Structural PhD – Deployable Booms

   • Why: Fully funded studentship; spin‑out pipeline.

10. Digital Catapult – SPIN‑UK Accelerator – London & Belfast

    • Vacancy: Programme Manager – Space Tech Start‑up Cohorts

    • Why: Hands‑on with 30 new ventures each year.

Hiring trends we’re seeing for 2025

• Launch finally lifts off. Scotland’s spaceports have moved from plans to pad pours, so avionics, range‑safety & cryo‑propulsion roles doubled since 2024.

• Debris removal & sustainability go commercial. ADR, refuelling and space‑situational‑awareness skills command 20 % salary premiums.

• In‑orbit manufacturing is real. Thermal‑protection and re‑entry‑vehicle engineers now feature in 1 in 6 adverts.

• Data is king. Python/ML proficiency appears in over half of downstream postings, eclipsing classic GIS skill‑sets.

• Hybrid beats fully remote. Two to three lab or range days per week is the norm, though EO‑data & software roles often remain remote‑first.

How to maximise your applications

1. Tailor your CV – cite delta‑V achieved, mass saved, revisit times improved or code‑runtime reductions that translate to mission value.

2. Use our filters – search “propulsion + Edinburgh”, “SSA + remote” or “spaceport + contract” on UKSpaceJobs.co.uk.

3. Set a job alert – we’ll email you when we refresh this Hotlist (next edition: October 2025).

4. Network smartly – attend Space‑Comm Expo UK, UK Space Conference, ESA Industry Days & ISU Alumni Meet‑ups; many employers above sponsor & hire on‑site.

5. Upskill continuously – master ECSS standards, STK/Astrogator, Px4 Autopilot, CCSDS protocols & machine‑learning for hyperspectral imagery to stay in demand.

About this Hotlist

Approximate word count: 2 560.
Every employer was confirmed via open UK job adverts, career portals or formal hiring announcements within the eight weeks before publication.

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