UK Space Jobs

• London
• On-site
• Permanent

Operationally responsive member of the Astrodynamics team, monitoring orbit determination and prediction pipelines, identifying failure cases and improving them. Produces white papers and conference papers demonstrating SLR accuracy, supports customers with operational issues, and acts as key contact for ground station teams. Requires Python tooling for rigorous analysis of tracking data.

Python

• 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

• Didcot
• Mid-level

Adapts ground-based image processing algorithms to run on Nvidia Jetson computers aboard satellites, optimising for tight power, memory and heat limits. Involves GPU acceleration, profiling on ARM/GPU hardware, building data pipelines with quality checks and metadata standards, and collaborating with ground data, flight software and payload teams.

Nvidia Jetson · ARM · CUDA +5

• London
• On-site
• Permanent

Owns the full lifecycle of Satellite Laser Ranging and Space Debris Laser Ranging systems, from radiometric link-budget modelling and optical bench assembly to time-of-flight data processing and ground station deployment. Acts as laser safety subject matter expert and works across optical design, hardware integration and Python-based instrument control in a small startup team.

NumPy · SciPy · Pandas +7

• 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.

• Chelmsford
• On-site
• Mid-level · manages people
• Permanent

Lead strategic R&D and customer-funded projects in an advanced engineering and manufacturing environment, delivering imaging sensors and subsystems for space science, Earth observation and high-energy physics. Manage cross-functional teams of over ten engineers, owning schedules, budgets, phase-gate reviews and customer relationships, with a strong emphasis on production delivery and financial performance.

Microsoft Project · MS Project Server · SAP

• Stevenage
• Hybrid
• Entry level
• Permanent

Entry-level role in the Functional Verification Team, executing the full testing cycle on simulated and hybrid hardware benches. You'll validate spacecraft functional chains such as GNC and DHS, write automated test procedures, analyse data and investigate anomalies, supporting missions like ExoMars and Solar Orbiter.

Hardware Test Benches · Numerical Simulation

• Exeter
• £21,805 pa
• Entry level
• Contract

Develops a multi-mission InSAR framework combining Sentinel-1 C-band and NISAR L-band observations to measure three-dimensional ground deformation in Arctic permafrost. The work involves joint inversion methods, large Earth observation datasets, high-performance computing with COMET-LiCSAR and JASMIN, and collaboration with Montana State University.

Sentinel-1 · NISAR · COMET-LiCSAR +1

• Portsmouth
• Hybrid
• Mid-level
• Permanent

Lead microwave instrument technical proposals and studies, focusing on Synthetic Aperture Radar for Earth observation and planetary missions. Analyse, design and develop instrument systems, monitor study progress, resolve technical issues and manage change with customers. Work with universities, small companies and agencies like ESA in a small team within the Microwave Department.

Synthetic Aperture Radar

• Reading
• Hybrid
• Mid-level
• Permanent

Own the spacecraft thermal control system end to end, running steady-state and transient analyses across launch, orbit and end-of-life phases. Design MLI, radiators, heaters and coatings, and support TVAC test procedures and hardware validation alongside mechanical, propulsion and electronics teams.

Systema · Thermal Desktop · ESATAN +2

• Reading
• Hybrid
• Lead · manages people
• Permanent

Lead a team building the on-board flight-software stack for very low Earth orbit satellites, covering real-time control flows, autonomy, mode management and FDIR. You'll design and test deterministic C/C++ services on RTOS or Embedded Linux, integrate subsystems over I2C/SPI/CAN/SpaceWire, and take software from simulation through launch to on-orbit operations with over-the-air updates.

RTOS · Embedded Linux · I2C +7

• Oxford
• Senior

Lead product and quality assurance for units, subsystems and procured hardware across UK space operations, cascading quality requirements to suppliers and supporting manufacturing and AIT teams. Coordinate RAMS, radiation, EEE parts and materials specialists, run internal and external audits, and shape quality approaches for bids. Acts as the interface with project teams, ESA/UK MoD representatives and commercial customers.

ESA · UK MoD

• London
• Director · manages people

Leadership role providing independent Technical Authority governance across the deployed LEO satellite constellation end-to-end system, managing two teams (GN-SAE and C-SAE) led by Technical Leaders. Sets architecture principles, approves baselines and requirements, chairs lifecycle reviews, and acts as final escalation point for cross-segment technical disputes.

LEO Satellite Constellation · GEO-LEO · Space Segment +5

• London
• On-site
• Senior · manages people
• Permanent

Hands-on product and quality assurance role supporting space missions across all programme phases, from design collaboration and risk assessment to AIV reviews. Maintains the Quality Management System, applies internal and international standards (ISO9001, EN9100, ECSS), runs audits and inspections, and represents PA/QA in project and customer meetings.

ISO 9001 · EN9100 · ECSS

• Norwich
• On-site
• £20,409 pa
• Entry level
• Contract

Develops heat-transfer science for passive phase-change thermal control of perovskite solar cells in space. Builds and validates transient models of PSC-PCM stacks, formulates high-conductivity PCM composites with industry partners, and applies machine-learning surrogate optimisation. Prototypes are tested in vacuum and climatic chambers under simulated solar load.

Phase Change Materials · Perovskite Solar Cells · Multi-Layer Insulation +4