Space Jobs UK 2025: 50 Companies Hiring Now
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The UK’s £15 billion Space Sector Plan, three licensed spaceports and a spike in commercial satellite demand have ignited hiring in 2025. Employers need spacecraft systems engineers, propulsion specialists, mission operators, Earth‑observation data scientists, ground‑segment software developers & regulatory experts right now.
Below are 50 organisations that have advertised UK‑based space vacancies or formally announced head‑count growth in the past eight weeks. They’re grouped into five quick‑scan categories so you can jump straight to the kind of employer – and mission – that excites you. For every company you’ll see:
Main UK hub
Example live or recent vacancy
Why it’s worth a look – tech focus, culture, mission
Search any employer on UKSpaceJobs.co.uk to view real‑time ads, or set a free alert so brand‑new openings land straight in your inbox.
1. Spacecraft & Satellite Manufacturers (1–10)
Airbus Defence & Space – Stevenage
Vacancy: AIT Systems Engineer – Eurostar Neo Platforms
Why: UK’s largest spacecraft factory; moon return lander work under way.
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) – Guildford
Vacancy: Mission Analyst – Optical EO Constellation
Why: Twenty‑satellite programme; agile flight heritage.
OneWeb Satellites UK – White City, London
Vacancy: Payload Integration Engineer – Ku‑Band User Terminals
Why: Constellation entering Gen 2; UK‑designed payloads.
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.
AAC Clyde Space – Glasgow
Vacancy: Power Systems Engineer – Nano‑sat Buses
Why: Scotland’s “Space Valley”; flexible hours & share options.
Thales Alenia Space UK – Bristol
Vacancy: GNSS Payload Architect – Galileo Second Gen
Why: Multi‑hundred‑million ESA contract; hybrid working.
Orbital Micro Systems – Edinburgh
Vacancy: Thermal Engineer – Nano‑sat Microwave Radiometers
Why: Rapidly growing weather‑data constellations.
Lúnasa Space – Belfast
Vacancy: Structural Analyst – Deployable Solar Arrays
Why: Northern Ireland’s first space hardware plant; equity offered.
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.
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)
Skyrora – Edinburgh & Cumbernauld
Vacancy: Avionics Firmware Developer – XL Orbital Launcher
Why: Skyrora XL maiden flight NET Q4 2025; vertical integration.
Orbex – Forres, Moray
Vacancy: Propulsion Test Engineer – Methane/LOX Stage
Why: Sutherland Spaceport launch window confirmed; reusable stage tech.
Space Forge – Cardiff
Vacancy: Thermal Protection Materials Scientist – Pridwen Re‑entry Shield
Why: In‑orbit manufacturing & return; £54 m Series B closed.
Reaction Engines – Culham
Vacancy: Heat‑Exchanger CFD Specialist – SABRE Precooler
Why: Hypersonic propulsion; hybrid 9‑day fortnight.
Pulsar Fusion – Bletchley
Vacancy: Plasma Propulsion Physicist – Hall‑Effect Thrusters
Why: Nuclear‑fusion space drive R&D; startup equity.
Astraius – Prestwick
Vacancy: Air‑Launch Flight Safety Manager – C‑17 Orbital System
Why: Horizontal launch from Scotland; CAA licensing phase.
Satellite Applications Catapult: I‑Space Logistics – Harwell
Vacancy: In‑Space Servicing Analyst – On‑Orbit Refuelling Markets
Why: National study team, secondments to start‑ups.
Nebula Propulsion Systems – Leeds
Vacancy: Green Propellant Chemist – ADN‑based Hybrid
Why: UKRI grants; flexible 4‑day week option.
Blue Skies Space – London
Vacancy: Mission Manager – Twinkle Exoplanet Telescope
Why: First commercial deep‑space science mission.
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)
Goonhilly Earth Station – Cornwall
Vacancy: Deep‑Space Antenna Operator – Artemis Relay
Why: First private deep‑space dish; lunar and Mars links.
Astroscale UK – Harwell
Vacancy: Guidance & Control Engineer – Debris Removal Chaser
Why: Active Debris Removal (ADR) demo in 2025; ESG‑driven mission.
ClearSpace UK – London
Vacancy: Compliance Specialist – ADR Licencing & Insurance
Why: ESA ClearSpace‑1 partner; hybrid legal/tech role.
D‑Orbit UK – Farnborough
Vacancy: Satellite Logistics Planner – ION In‑Orbit Transfer Vehicle
Why: Monthly rideshares; rapid mission cadence.
Northumbria Space Systems – Newcastle
Vacancy: Space Weather Modeller – Solar‑Storm Forecasting
Why: UKRI Space Weather Hub funding.
SatixFy UK – Manchester
Vacancy: Beam‑forming ASIC Engineer – Electronically Steered Arrays
Why: LEO/gov comms terminals; stock options.
Spaceflux – Reading
Vacancy: SSA Data Scientist – Optical Tracking Network
Why: 24‑site global telescope net, Python/ML stack.
CGI UK Space – Leatherhead & Bristol
Vacancy: Ground Segment Software Lead – CCSDS & ECSS
Why: Flexible remote policy; FTSE‑100 stability.
GMV NSL – Nottingham
Vacancy: GNSS Algorithms Engineer – Precise Point Positioning
Why: Galileo High‑Accuracy Service commercialisation.
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)
Spire Global – Glasgow
Vacancy: RF Payload Data Engineer – AIS & ADS‑B Cubesats
Why: 100+ satellites built in‑house; remote‑friendly.
Earth‑i – Guildford
Vacancy: EO Analytics Scientist – High‑Res Video
Why: 1 m colour video from space; customer‑facing projects.
Rezatec – Harwell
Vacancy: Geospatial Machine‑Learning Engineer – Forestry Carbon Index
Why: SaaS subscription model, Series C raise.
Global Surface Intelligence – Edinburgh
Vacancy: AI Modeller – SAR & Optical Fusion
Why: Forest & carbon markets booming; equity package.
SatSense – Leeds
Vacancy: InSAR Analyst – Infrastructure Subsidence Monitoring
Why: National Highways contracts; hybrid remote.
Fugro Space – Portsmouth
Vacancy: GNSS Integrity Engineer – PPP Wavefront
Why: Maritime and offshore energy clients.
Bird.i (SuperVision Earth) – Glasgow
Vacancy: Pipeline Monitoring Data Scientist – Multisensor Change Detection
Why: £10 m Series A; remote‑first.
Ordnance Survey Geospatial Labs – Southampton
Vacancy: Product Owner – Space‑Derived 3‑D Terrain
Why: National data sets, civil‑service pension.
Trimble Positioning UK – Leicester
Vacancy: RTK Network Support Engineer – Infrastructure Surveys
Why: GNSS corrections for 1 million devices worldwide.
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)
UK Space Agency – Swindon & London
Vacancy: Spaceflight Licensing Officer – Orbital Launch
Why: Shape national regulation; hybrid with civil‑service benefits.
ESA ECSAT – Harwell
Vacancy: Business Applications Engineer – ARTES 5G/6G
Why: Work with start‑ups across Europe; tax‑free salary supplement.
RAL Space (STFC) – Didcot
Vacancy: Opto‑Mechanical Engineer – NovaSAR‑2 Instrument
Why: £120 m National Satellite Test Facility, public‑sector pension.
Space Park Leicester – Leicester
Vacancy: Payload Test Scientist – Vacuum Chamber Ops
Why: Academia‑industry cluster, publish & patent environment.
Spaceport Cornwall – Newquay
Vacancy: Range Safety Analyst – Horizontal Launch Ops
Why: Second launch licence pending; coastal lifestyle.
SaxaVord Spaceport – Shetland
Vacancy: Launch Site Engineer – Vertical Pad Infrastructure
Why: Three orbital pads online 2025; relocation allowance.
Spaceport Machrihanish – Argyll
Vacancy: Environmental Impact Officer – Hypersonic Flight Corridor
Why: Early‑phase planning; green‑field challenge.
National Satellite Test Facility (NSTF) – Harwell
Vacancy: Thermal‑Vacuum Chamber Technician – Multi‑Axis Shakers
Why: Largest TVAC in Europe; shift uplift pay.
University of Surrey – Surrey Space Centre
Vacancy: CubeSat Structural PhD – Deployable Booms
Why: Fully funded studentship; spin‑out pipeline.
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
Tailor your CV – cite delta‑V achieved, mass saved, revisit times improved or code‑runtime reductions that translate to mission value.
Use our filters – search “propulsion + Edinburgh”, “SSA + remote” or “spaceport + contract” on UKSpaceJobs.co.uk.
Set a job alert – we’ll email you when we refresh this Hotlist (next edition: October 2025).
Network smartly – attend Space‑Comm Expo UK, UK Space Conference, ESA Industry Days & ISU Alumni Meet‑ups; many employers above sponsor & hire on‑site.
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.
Found it useful? Share on LinkedIn and tag @UK Space Jobs, & help fellow enthusiasts discover fresh opportunities. Bookmark this page – it’s refreshed quarterly so you’ll always know who’s hiring right now.
