UK Space Jobs

• Portsmouth
• On-site
• Entry level
• Internship

A four-year Level 4 higher technical apprenticeship combining study towards an HNC/HND in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering with hands-on work in one of the UK's largest space cleanrooms. Apprentices rotate across disciplines, building and testing satellite payloads, running vibration, shock, thermal and EMC tests, and supporting design and assembly of electronic hardware, with study time at Havant and Southdowns College.

• Stevenage
• Hybrid
• Mid-level
• Permanent

Designs, builds and deploys complex automated test systems for RF and digital space equipment, writing scalable test automation in Python and Java for instrument control, DUT sequencing and data acquisition. Works in a ~30-person team supporting satellite programmes such as Galileo and OneSat, with a strong focus on test stability, error handling and CI/CD best practice.

MongoDB · Cassandra · CouchBase +1

• Bordon
• On-site
• Permanent

Inspect composite and metallic materials, components and spacecraft hardware against engineering drawings and acceptance criteria, witnessing key inspection points across manufacture and assembly. Raise and control non-conformances, maintain traceability records and support product acceptance, audits and customer inspections alongside Manufacturing, AIT and QA teams.

Power Inspect · CMM Arms · Laser Trackers +2

• Edinburgh
• Hybrid · 3–4 days in office
• Lead · manages people

Lead the architecture and delivery of the BSP ASIC embedded software stack for satellite communication platforms, combining hands-on C and real-time development with mentoring. Work spans ASIC bring-up, drivers, RTOS services, diagnostics and test automation, bridging hardware R&D, systems and payload teams. Based in Edinburgh with 3-4 office days per week.

FreeRTOS · Zephyr · I2C +7

• London
• On-site
• Senior
• Permanent

Supports the technical development of spacecraft data handling and avionics systems, covering architecture, interfaces and system-level integration across the full mission lifecycle from concept and requirements through design, AIT, launch and in-orbit commissioning. Works closely with subsystem, software and systems engineers, and acts as technical point of contact with project teams, customers and subcontractors.

CAN · SpaceWire · Ethernet +4

• London
• On-site
• Senior
• Permanent

Support the technical development of spacecraft across the full mission lifecycle, from concept and requirements definition through design, AIT, launch and in-orbit commissioning. Focus on avionics architecture, interfaces and system-level integration, acting as technical point of contact with customers and subcontractors while maintaining electrical budgets and parametric models.

ECSS · MIL · EMC

• Portsmouth
• Hybrid
• £60,000 – £80,000 pa
• Senior
• Permanent

Consultants work with government and industry clients to analyse problems, capture requirements, create architectures, assess options and make evidence-based recommendations, typically on defence and security research and procurement projects. The role spans the systems engineering lifecycle, from requirements elicitation and V&V to MBSE and trade-off studies, and involves leading technical consulting projects and building client relationships.

Sparx EA · MBSE · DOORS +3

• Chippenham
• Hybrid
• £60,000 – £80,000 pa
• Senior

Consultants work directly within customer teams to analyse problems, capture requirements, create architectures and assess options using systems engineering methods, then present evidence-based recommendations. Projects typically support defence and security research and procurement, with a focus on space, C4ISTAR and satellite systems, and the role also involves leading bids and building client relationships.

Sparx EA · DOORS · STK +2

• London
• On-site
• Permanent

Designs the electronics that run autonomous satellite laser ranging stations, covering control, power and sensing plus interfaces linking lasers, detectors, telescopes and computers. Involves PCB layout and bring-up, power distribution for remote sites, sensor integration, component selection and supplier management, with lab debugging and field support. Part of a small London team spanning optics, lasers, software and astrodynamics.

KiCad · Altium · C +4

• Milton Keynes
• Lead

Owns embedded software across the full development lifecycle, from requirements and block diagrams through coding, testing, qualification and in-orbit support. Works on Linux-based single-board computers and high-reliability microcontroller systems, including low-level drivers, BSPs and FPGA API design, and presents design reviews to customers and executives.

Linux · ARM · FPGA +1

• Milton Keynes
• Senior

Designs and implements embedded software across the full stack, from low-level drivers and board support packages to end-use applications, for Linux-based single-board computers and high-reliability microcontroller systems used in satellites, UAVs and launch vehicles. Involves code review, testing, qualification, in-orbit support and presenting design reviews to customers and executives.

Linux · FPGA · ARM

• London
• Hybrid
• Mid-level

Software engineer joining a satellite operator's engineering team, initially focused on building automated testing frameworks, CI/CD pipelines and validation infrastructure for mission-critical distributed systems. Longer term the role moves toward core development for NOC and SOC platforms covering provisioning, resource management and mission planning, using cloud-native microservices, AWS, Kubernetes and SQL/NoSQL databases.

AWS · Kubernetes · TCP/IP +2

• Edinburgh
• £36 ph
• Senior
• Contract

Design, develop, integrate and qualify advanced RF hardware from UHF to Ka Band for aerospace and space communication systems. The role covers active RF circuit design (LNAs, SSPAs, mixers, PLLs), link budget and line-up analysis, simulation with AWR/ADS/CST/HFSS, and hands-on testing with VNAs and spectrum analysers, including EMI/EMC and thermal vacuum qualification.

AWR Microwave Office · Keysight ADS · CST Studio Suite +7

• Aylesbury

Hands-on role in a Test Group designing, building and maintaining propellant and pressurant feed systems, Ground Support Equipment and Electrical Ground Support Equipment for chemical rocket engines and thrusters. Involves interpreting test plans, running HAZOPs and risk assessments, supporting propulsion testing, analysing data and presenting results to Engineering and customers. Work spans offices, cleanrooms and test facilities, with occasional late shifts, nights and weekends.

• Wolverhampton
• On-site
• Mid-level

Design, develop, commission and support advanced aerospace test rigs, building real-time control solutions and integrating hardware and software across the full lifecycle. Work with LabVIEW, NI platforms, PLCs, Beckhoff, TwinCAT and EtherCAT on hydraulic, electro-mechanical and actuation test equipment, diagnosing faults and improving legacy systems within a multidisciplinary engineering team.

LabVIEW · National Instruments · NI TestStand +5