Thales Alenia Space Jobs in 2025: Your Complete UK Guide to Building Europe’s Next‑Generation Satellites & Lunar Gateways
From pressurised modules orbiting the Moon to broadband mega‑constellations 1,200 km above Earth, Thales Alenia Space (TAS) sits at the heart of Europe’s space ambitions. A joint venture between Thales (67 %) and Leonardo (33 %), TAS employs more than 8,500 people across 17 sites—with growing hubs in Bristol and the Harwell Space Cluster. The firm is lead contractor for Europe’s IRIS² secure‑connect constellation (green‑lit in 2024) and supplies modules for NASA/ESA’s Lunar Gateway. Unsurprisingly, TAS has ramped up hiring: a quick scan of the Thales Alenia Space careers portal shows vacancies in systems engineering, RF payloads, AIT and mission operations.
Whether you are a UK graduate dreaming of building communications payloads, a thermal engineer keen to keep lunar habitats at room temperature, or a programme manager itching to deliver the next Copernicus Earth‑observation satellite, this guide explains how to land a Thales Alenia Space job in 2025.
Why Thales Alenia Space Is a Top Employer for UK Space Talent in 2025
1. Portfolio Spanning Low‑Earth Orbit to Deep Space
TAS designs everything from geostationary telecom satellites (SpaceBus Neo) to pressurised modules like HALO for Gateway. Projects launching in 2025–2028 include IRIS², ExoMars rover rebuild, and Copernicus CIMR. The breadth creates career variety few UK employers can match.
2. Investment in the UK Space Economy
Since 2014 TAS has invested £50 m+ in its UK subsidiaries. The Bristol site leads satellite avionics & power subsystems, while Harwell focuses on payload processing, digital twins and optical comms. A planned expansion announced in October 2024 will double clean‑room capacity at Harwell by 2026.
3. Strong Links to ESA & UKSA
Thales Alenia Space UK regularly wins European Space Agency (ESA) contracts—most recently a £38 m frame for EL3 lunar logistics lander studies. Engineers gain direct exposure to ESA standards (ECSS) and international partners.
4. People‑Centric Culture & Flexible Working
Thales’ Smart Working Charter offers up to two remote days per week, 37‑hour contracts with flexitime, a £600 personal learning wallet, plus the Thales share‑match scheme.
2025 Hiring Outlook: Steady Growth Across Early‑Career and Specialist Roles
TAS UK’s order book grew 14 % in FY 2024, driven by IRIS² and export GEO payloads. HR forecasts 150 new UK positions in 2025—split 40 % graduate/apprentice, 60 % experienced. Recent adverts include:
Satellite Systems Engineer – Harwell
RF Payload Architect – Bristol (Hybrid)
Thermal Analysis Engineer – Harwell
Project Controller (Space) – Belfast or Remote‑UK
Recruiters highlight shortages in digital‑payload design and model‑based systems engineering (MBSE), with signing bonuses for seasoned RF and FPGA specialists.
Hot‑Demand Skills for 2025
Digital IF & regenerative payload architectures (VHDL, FPGA, SoC)
Ka‑/Q‑/V‑band RF design & link budgets
Model‑Based Systems Engineering (SysML, Capella, Cameo)
Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) of flight hardware (ECSS‑Q‑ST‑20)
Structural & thermal analysis (ANSYS, ESATAN‑TMS)
Guidance, Navigation & Control (AOCS) for small‑sat swarms
Space debris mitigation & sustainable design (ESA ecoDesign)
Key UK & European Sites and What Happens There
Bristol, Filton – Avionics, power conditioning & propulsion subsystems. Roles: electronics, propulsion, AIT.
Harwell, Oxfordshire – Digital payloads, mission‑systems engineering, thermal & structural analysis. Roles: systems, thermal, RF, digital.
Cannes, France – Prime AIT centre for SpaceBus Neo; UK engineers often rotate here for campaigns.
Turin, Italy – Pressurised modules, ExoMars; opportunities for secondments in human‑spaceflight programmes.
Madrid & Charleroi – Solar arrays & power electronics; collaboration for IRIS² supply chain.
Core Job Families Explained
Below is a whistle‑stop tour of the job families most often advertised—and the ATS‑friendly keywords to weave into your CV.
1. Systems & Mission Engineering
Keywords: MBSE, SysML, ECSS‑E‑ST‑10, CONOPS, Requirement Flow‑Down
You’ll translate customer needs into satellite architectures, run trade studies and manage verification matrices.
2. RF & Digital Payload Engineering
Keywords: VHDL, FPGA, Digital Beamforming, DVB‑S2X, GaN, MMIC
Engineers design high‑throughput payloads using on‑board processors and active antennas; Bristol leads FPGA firmware.
3. AIT (Assembly, Integration & Test)
Keywords: Clean‑Room, Vibration, TVAC, EGSE, ECSS‑Q‑ST‑20
AIT teams build flight hardware, run environmental campaigns and support launch campaigns at Kourou or Cape Canaveral.
4. Software & Flight Dynamics
Keywords: C++ 17, Python 3.12, Cosmos, GMAT, AOCS, FDIR
Roles range from real‑time FDIR software to mission‑planning tools for constellation operations.
5. Thermal, Mechanical & Structural Analysis
Keywords: ESATAN‑TMS, ANSYS, Nastran, CFRP, PVA, MIL‑HANDBOOK‑5
Analysts ensure satellites survive –180 °C to +120 °C swings and 15 g launch loads.
6. Programme, Bid & Product Management
Keywords: EVM, PDR, CDR, ITT, EC Financial Regulations
PMs shepherd €100 m+ bids through ESA gates and manage multinational work‑shares.
The Thales Alenia Space Hiring Process (UK Focus)
Online Application & CV Screen (5–10 days). HR looks for ECSS experience and security‑clearance eligibility (BPSS as a minimum).
Online Assessment (graduates only) – numerical, logical and situational‑judgement tests.
Technical Interview – may include SysML model reviews, RF link‑budget walk‑throughs or thermal case studies.
Behavioural Interview – structured around Thales’ Leadership Model (Focus on Customer, Perform through Team, Innovate).
Offer & Pre‑Employment Checks – References, BPSS clearance and export‑control compliance.
Tip: Bring examples of cross‑site collaboration (e.g. working with French or Italian suppliers)—global teamwork scores well.
Graduate, Placement & Apprenticeship Routes
Early‑Career Highlights
Thales Graduate Development Programme (GDP) – Two‑year rotation, including a three‑month international secondment. Space grads placed at Bristol and Harwell.
Space Systems Engineering Summer Internship – 10 weeks; work on IRIS² digital twin; includes £3,000 prorated salary.
Degree Apprenticeships – Aerospace BEng via UWE Bristol; four‑year paid scheme combining work and study.
Application Timelines: GDP opens every September; assessment centres run January–March 2025 for September start.
Experienced Hires & Technical Career Ladders
Thales operates a dual ladder: Expert and Management. Technical gurus can reach Level T (Technical Fellow) without formal line reports.
Senior RF Payload Architect – £68k–£80k base + 10 % bonus.
AIT Lead Engineer – £60k–£70k base + overtime uplift for campaigns.
Principal Systems Engineer (Digital Constellations) – £75k–£90k base + car allowance.
Share‑match and bonus plans (~8 %) add to competitiveness.
What Salary & Benefits Can You Expect in 2025?
Graduate Systems Engineer – £35k–£37k base + £2k welcome bonus.
RF Design Engineer II – £48k–£56k base + 8 % bonus.
Software Engineer (Flight Dynamics) – £45k–£52k base + private medical.
Benefits: 37‑hour week, two remote days, 6 % pension match (can trade to salary), private healthcare for family, discounted Thales shares (up to £3,000/year).
Remote, Hybrid & Security Considerations
Hybrid Model – Most design roles: three days on‑site, two remote. AIT & clean‑room roles: 100 % on‑site during campaigns.
Security Clearance – BPSS is minimum; some payload programmes need SC. TAS sponsors clearances; EU/UK nationals preferred.
Visa Sponsorship – TAS UK holds a Skilled‑Worker licence; sponsorship possible for niche RF and software skills.
Stand‑Out Application Tips
Quantify Achievements – “Reduced Ka‑band PA mass by 12 % via GaN redesign.”
Show ECSS Familiarity – cite specific standards (e.g. ECSS‑Q‑ST‑20‑08 cleanliness).
Highlight International Teamwork – demonstrate working across time‑zones or with ESA.
Link to GitHub or conference papers – TAS values evidence of innovation.
How UKSpaceJobs.co.uk Can Help
We index every Thales Alenia Space vacancy daily and tag skills like “RF”, “AIT” or “Thermal” for precision alerts.
Our 2025 UK Space Salary Report benchmarks TAS, Airbus Defence & Space, SSTL and OneWeb.
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FAQ (2025)
Does Thales Alenia Space hire non‑UK nationals?
Yes, for most roles EU/EEA citizens are welcome; SC‑cleared projects may need UK nationality.What software should I master for digital‑payload roles?
VHDL for FPGAs, MATLAB/Simulink for DSP prototyping, and Ansys HFSS for RF simulation.Are there roles in human‑spaceflight programmes?
Yes—Turin and Bristol collaborate on pressurised modules like HALO; UK engineers join via secondments.How long does the TAS hiring process take?
Four to six weeks for non‑cleared roles; add two weeks for SC checks if required.Is French or Italian language mandatory?
No, but basic proficiency can help when working with Cannes or Turin teams.
Conclusion: Launch Your Space Career with Thales Alenia Space
Europe’s next constellation, lunar outpost and deep‑space missions need talent—your talent. Thales Alenia Space offers UK engineers and graduates a front‑row seat on the journey from drawing board to orbit.
Ready for lift‑off? Browse the latest Thales Alenia Space jobs on UKSpaceJobs.co.uk or head straight to TAS’s careers portal (thalesaleniaspace.com/en/talents-careers). Your countdown starts now.
