UK Space Jobs

• Southampton
• On-site
• £36,636 – £44,746 pa
• Entry level
• Contract

Lead a research area within the five-year STFC TRANSCEND collaboration, using Vera Rubin/LSST transient data and the 4MOST TiDES survey to study supernovae, host galaxies, black hole growth and Dark Energy. The role involves scientific programming in Python, collaboration visits across QUB, Lancaster, Oxford and Southampton, and contributing to TiDES infrastructure work.

Vera Rubin · LSST · 4MOST +2

• Leicester
• On-site
• £40,704 pa
• Entry level
• Contract

Undertake a funded research project in international space law, focusing on the responsibility of private actors for activities in outer space, including environmental protection, resource utilisation and property rights. Based at Space Park Leicester within an interdisciplinary centre, you will collect and analyse data, publish findings and engage with academic, industry and government stakeholders.

• Manchester
• Hybrid
• £37,694 – £42,254 pa
• Entry level
• Contract

Lead the development of guidance for socially responsible Earth Observation-based agricultural mapping in smallholder farming systems across Sub-Saharan Africa. Catalogue existing ethical frameworks and conduct document-based and qualitative interview research on risks to farmers, then devise strategies with project partners including the World Bank and Gates Foundation.

Satellite-based Irrigation Mapping Tools

• Leicester
• £40,704 – £46,970 pa
• Entry level
• Contract

Postdoctoral role analysing JWST, ground-based and Juno infrared and microwave observations of the four giant planets, inverting spectra with radiative transfer and retrieval tools such as NEMESIS to derive temperatures, winds, composition and clouds. Based in the Planetary Science Group under Professor Leigh Fletcher, funded by an ERC Advanced Grant preparing the team for ELT and JUICE data in the 2030s.

JWST · NEMESIS · Juno +2

• Oxford
• On-site
• £40,178 – £48,700 pa
• Entry level
• Contract

Lead analysis of Vera Rubin/LSST transient data and the 4MOST TiDES survey, working on SNe Ia cosmology groundwork or follow-up and modelling of rare transients. Based in the Denys Wilkinson Building as part of the five-year STFC-funded TRANSCEND collaboration with Lancaster, Southampton and Queen's Belfast, with an opportunity to teach.

Vera Rubin Observatory · LSST · 4MOST +2

• Didcot

Own the end-to-end development of optical payloads for Earth observation missions, from requirements and concept definition through design, testing, launch and in-orbit commissioning. Act as technical authority for payload work packages, performing mission analysis, system design and image quality budgeting (MTF, SNR, resolution, detectors) while coordinating across engineering teams, partners and suppliers.

• Didcot
• Senior

Lead the definition and development of advanced space mission concepts, from early customer discussions through to fully developed proposals. Define mission architectures across space, ground and launch segments, engage institutional and commercial customers, and drive proposal development with technical credibility and cost realism. Also mentor others and build tools to assess mission performance, risk, cost and schedule.

Mission Control Systems

• Canterbury
• £40,704 – £45,641 pa
• Mid-level
• Contract

Deliver research-led undergraduate teaching across Physics, Astronomy and Space Science while pursuing independent research and supporting grant applications. The role sits in the School of Engineering, Mathematics and Physics, with particular interest in spacecraft design and operations, space utilisation or space exploration, plus assessment, feedback and pastoral support for students.

• 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

• Aylesbury
• £60,000 – £65,000 pa

Design and integrate terrestrial and satellite communication networks, covering 5G, 6G and satellite-enabled connectivity. The role involves embedding telecoms components into hardware platforms, contributing to technical proposals, and collaborating with external businesses, universities and research organisations.

Linux · 5G · 6G

• Aylesbury
• On-site
• £65,000 – £70,000 pa
• Senior
• Permanent

Lead technical delivery of satellite and terrestrial communication projects, designing end-to-end cellular and satellite systems and developing practical solutions for end users. The role combines hands-on system integration, hardware setup and coding with technical consultancy, working alongside businesses, universities and research partners on emerging 5G, 6G and IoT technologies.

• Oxfordshire
• Hybrid
• £40,000 – £70,000 pa
• Mid-level

Contribute across the GNC development lifecycle for complex satellite missions, from requirements, architectures and FDIR to V&V strategies. Involves integrating GNC algorithms, computer vision and hardware, plus flight software architecture, trade-offs and on-orbit operations support. Distinct for its focus on rendezvous, proximity operations and spacecraft capture systems.

MATLAB · Simulink · C/C++

• Chelmsford
• On-site
• Entry level
• Shift work

Assembly and Test Operator ensuring timely throughput of imaging devices while meeting quality requirements. Duties include microscope inspection, setting up and running tools, maintaining production records and reporting progress to the Line Manager, working in a cleanroom on alternating double day shifts.

• Chelmsford

Hands-on role spanning clean-room and office work, owning verification and test across Space and Science imaging detector projects. You define test flows, commission OGSE/EGSE/MGSE equipment with scripting and coding, run functional, electrical, mechanical and environmental tests, and train operations staff, working closely with project teams and manufacturing to ECSS standards.

MATLAB · Python · Microsoft Excel +6

• Stevenage
• Hybrid
• Mid-level
• Permanent

Design, provision and maintain Linux systems and engineering hardware underpinning a defence and space development environment, with a focus on Red Hat Enterprise Linux. The role provides technical leadership across projects, using Ansible and scripting (Python, BASH, PERL or PowerShell) to automate and improve infrastructure, while working with security teams on compliance.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux · Ansible · Python +3