Chief Engineer – Satellite Communications Systems
Location: UK (Hybrid working)
Salary: Executive-level package + Benefits
Sector: Space & Satellite Communications
**Must be able to get SC clearance**
We’re partnering with a high-growth space technology company developing next-generation satellite communications systems for commercial and government markets. They are seeking a Chief Engineer to own the technical vision, architecture, and delivery of complex satcom systems across space, ground, and user segments.
This is a senior, hands-on leadership role for someone who can set direction at system level, challenge assumptions, and ensure that ambitious mission concepts become robust, fielded reality. You’ll be the technical authority across programmes—shaping architecture, de-risking delivery, and mentoring the engineering organisation.
What You’ll Do
- Own the end-to-end technical architecture for satellite communications systems
- Translate mission and business objectives into coherent, executable system designs
- Act as technical authority across space segment, ground segment, and user terminals
- Lead system trade studies across orbit, frequency band, topology, and payload concepts
- Define and govern requirements, interfaces, and verification strategies
- Chair and drive system design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR)
- Identify cross-program technical risk and shape mitigation at portfolio level
- Partner with product, commercial, and operations teams to align capability with roadmap
- Mentor senior engineers and establish best practice in systems engineering
What We’re Looking For
- Deep experience in satellite communications systems (space, ground, or network level)
- Proven ownership of complex, multi-domain architectures
- Strong understanding of RF systems, link budgets, modulation, coding, and spectrum constraints
- Track record in systems engineering leadership: requirements, architecture, interfaces, V&V
- Experience across LEO/MEO/GEO systems and modern networked satcom architectures
- Ability to balance performance, cost, schedule, and risk at programme and portfolio level
- Credibility with customers, partners, and internal engineering teams
Nice to Have
- Ku / Ka-band system leadership
- Experience with high-throughput or software-defined payloads
- Regulatory or spectrum coordination exposure
- MATLAB / Python for system modelling
- Background in both development and operational environments
Why This Role?
This is a true “own the system” position. You’ll define how a new generation of satellite communications products are conceived, built, and deployed. The company is scaling rapidly, with real flight hardware and operational networks—not paper studies.
If you’re motivated by shaping technical direction, influencing strategy, and seeing complex systems fly, this is a rare opportunity to operate at the top of the engineering function in modern satcom.
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