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Featured Jobs
Satellite AIT Engineer
Satellite AIT EGSE Engineer Pushing the boundaries of space technology - one test rack at a time. £45 per hour Inside IR35 Location: Stevenage Type: long term contract role About the Role We're looking for a Satellite AIT EGSE Engineer to take the reins on specifying, procuring, maintaining, and troubleshooting the electrical test racks (EGSE) that bring spacecraft from blueprint...
Stevenage
Electric Propulsion Engineer
Join to apply for the Electric Propulsion Engineer role at NewOrbit Space 1 day ago Be among the first 25 applicants Join to apply for the Electric Propulsion Engineer role at NewOrbit Space At NewOrbit Space, our mission it to engineer the lowest orbiting satellites on Earth to rapidly advance global connectivity and insight.We are currently building satellites that can...
NewOrbit Space
Reading
Propulsion Technical & Product Strategy Lead
Propulsion Technical & Product Strategy Lead Join to apply for the Propulsion Technical & Product Strategy Lead role at ThalesPropulsion Technical & Product Strategy Lead 3 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants Join to apply for the Propulsion Technical & Product Strategy Lead role at Thales Direct message the job poster from ThalesTalent Acquisition Partner at Thales Alenia...
*This role sits inside IR35* Reports to Mechanical Design & Analysis Functional Manager Responsible For SSTL are looking for motivated and dynamic Mechanical Analyst to support current and future flight spacecraft projects. You will support the analysis and testing of new structural developments for both qualification and flight hardware. The role will involve structural analysis and test activities. You will...
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.
East Horsley
Systems Engineer
Contract Opportunity - Electrical Systems Engineer (Spacecraft/Satellites) We're looking for an experienced Electrical Systems Engineer to join a major satellite programme in Stevenage. This is a 6-month rolling contract, Outside IR35, with flexible rates. Key details: Sole British National (commercial & military project) Writing & debugging test sequences for spacecraft and test benches Knowledge of environmental compliance in space engineering...
Stevenage
Maritime Service Engineer - Satcoms, IT & Navigation Systems
We’re seeking skilled Maritime Service Engineer to deliver world-class solutions across satellite communications, IT infrastructure, and navigation systems. Whether working independently or as part of a collaborative team, you’ll benefit from continuous training, expert technical support, and clear paths for career progression. Responsibilities Perform VDR Annual Performance Tests (APTs) and radio surveys to ensure regulatory compliance and operational reliability. Install,...
The space sector is experiencing a dramatic transformation. Once dominated by government agencies such as NASA, ESA, and the Russian Space Agency, space has become a global commercial marketplace. Start-ups, private investors, and international partnerships are fuelling a new “space race” that is not only about exploration but also about economic growth, defence, climate science, and connectivity.
The global space economy was valued at over $500 billion in 2023, with forecasts predicting it could surpass $1 trillion by 2040. The UK has its own ambitious target: capturing 10% of the global market by 2030, representing an industry worth £40 billion annually and supporting more than 100,000 jobs.
UK contributions to the sector already include:
Satellite leadership: Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) pioneered small satellites.
Telecommunications: Inmarsat and OneWeb are global leaders in satellite connectivity.
Launch capacity: Spaceport Cornwall and proposed Scottish spaceports place the UK on the map for satellite launches.
Science & exploration: British scientists have contributed to missions like Mars Rovers and the James Webb Space Telescope.
But the future of space goes far beyond satellites and rockets. As space technology converges with AI, robotics, quantum computing, materials science, and biotechnology, entirely new careers are emerging. Many of the most impactful space jobs of the next 20 years don’t exist yet.
This article explores:
Why new space jobs are inevitable
The future careers most likely to appear
How today’s roles will evolve
Why the UK is uniquely positioned to lead
How professionals can prepare now
The UK's space industry has emerged as one of Europe's most strategically vital and technologically advanced sectors, with roles spanning from junior satellite engineers to principal spacecraft scientists and heads of space systems development. With space positions commanding salaries from £32,000 for graduate aerospace engineers to £135,000+ for senior space systems architects, understanding when organisations actively recruit can dramatically accelerate your career progression in this extraordinary and rapidly evolving field.
Unlike traditional aerospace roles, space industry hiring follows distinct patterns influenced by launch windows, government space initiatives, and satellite constellation deployment schedules. The sector's unique combination of advanced aerospace engineering, orbital mechanics, and space systems integration creates predictable hiring windows that strategic professionals can leverage to advance their careers in building tomorrow's spacecraft and satellite technologies.
This comprehensive guide explores the optimal timing for space industry job applications in the UK, examining how national space strategies, academic research cycles, and space technology initiatives influence recruitment patterns, and why strategic timing can determine whether you join a cutting-edge space development team or miss the opportunity to develop the next generation of satellites and space exploration systems.
The space industry represents one of the most strategically significant and technologically advanced sectors in modern aerospace, with space professionals playing crucial roles in developing satellite systems, advancing space exploration technologies, and transforming applications from Earth observation and telecommunications to space manufacturing and planetary exploration. As the space sector experiences unprecedented growth through commercial space ventures and national space programmes, pre-employment screening processes have become increasingly sophisticated and security-focused.
Space careers span diverse environments from satellite manufacturers and launch service providers to space agencies, Earth observation companies, and emerging space tourism operators. Each sector brings unique screening requirements reflecting the strategic sensitivity of space technologies, the mission-critical nature of space systems, and the critical importance of maintaining both national security standards and operational reliability.
Understanding space industry pre-employment screening helps professionals navigate career opportunities effectively whilst enabling employers to identify candidates capable of contributing to space innovation whilst maintaining appropriate security standards, mission assurance protocols, and technical excellence. The screening processes examine not only technical space competencies but also security clearance eligibility, systems engineering capabilities, and ability to work effectively within the highly regulated space ecosystem.
This comprehensive guide examines the full spectrum of pre-employment screening practices across space careers, from basic right-to-work verification through enhanced security clearance processes, technical competency assessment, and industry-specific requirements. Whether pursuing opportunities in satellite engineering, launch systems development, space science research, or space operations management, understanding these screening processes enables space professionals to prepare effectively and advance their careers successfully.
The space sector's unique combination of cutting-edge technology, mission-critical reliability, and strategic importance creates screening requirements that reflect both the technical demands of space systems engineering and the security considerations of nationally strategic technologies. These processes ultimately support the continued advancement of the space industry by ensuring high professional standards and technical competence necessary for successful space missions and responsible space technology development.
The United Kingdom stands at the forefront of a space revolution that's fundamentally transforming how we communicate globally, navigate precisely, monitor our planet's climate, and explore the cosmos beyond Earth. From the advanced satellite technologies developed by British companies powering global communications networks to the revolutionary space propulsion systems enabling deep space missions, the UK's leadership in space technology, satellite manufacturing, and space services has created an unprecedented demand for skilled space professionals that dramatically exceeds the current talent supply.
If you've been seeking a career at the final frontier of human exploration or looking to position yourself in one of the most strategically critical and inspirational sectors of the modern economy, space represents an extraordinary opportunity. The convergence of NewSpace commercialization, satellite mega-constellation deployment, space manufacturing advancement, and interplanetary exploration acceleration has created perfect conditions for space career success.
Space jobs are scattered across satellite manufacturers, payload houses, launch startups, space-data scaleups, national labs and UK public sector frameworks—often buried in ATS portals or duplicated across boards. The smart play isn’t more scrolling; it’s automation. With keyword-rich alerts, RSS feeds and a reusable ChatGPT workflow, you can bring high-signal roles to you, triage them in minutes, and tailor stronger applications without burning your evenings.
This copy-paste playbook is for www.ukspacejobs.co.uk readers. It’s UK-centric, practical, and focused on saving you hours every week.
What You’ll Have Working In 30 Minutes
A role & keyword map covering systems, AOCS/GNC/flight dynamics, RF/TT&C, payloads, avionics/FSW, power/thermal/structures/propulsion, AIT/AIV, ground segment & ops, EO/space data, and mission assurance/QA.
Shareable Boolean searches you can paste into Google & job boards to cut noise.
Always-on alerts & RSS feeds delivering fresh roles daily.
A ChatGPT “Space Job Scout” prompt that deduplicates, scores fit and outputs application actions.
A lightweight pipeline tracker so nothing slips through the cracks.
From satellite systems & launch services to space exploration & downstream applications, the UK’s space sector is scaling fast. Lightcast data shows a +32% YoY rise in UK job ads mentioning “satellite”, “spacecraft”, “payload integration” or “space systems” in Q1 2025. With around 55,550 professionals directly employed (2022/23), demand for specialist skills is high.
This guide lists 10 UK-registered recruitment agencies with a clear focus on space-industry hiring. All agencies have verified websites & active space-sector recruitment.
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