UK Space Jobs

• 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

• Oxfordshire
• Hybrid
• £40,000 – £85,000 pa
• Mid-level

Develops trajectory planning and optimisation capabilities, building algorithms, models and software tools for spacecraft mission design, orbit determination, manoeuvre planning and collision avoidance. Works across orbital regimes and the full mission lifecycle, including real-time operations, alongside multidisciplinary teams and external contractors.

Python · Linux · MATLAB

• Didcot
• Hybrid
• Permanent

Design, develop, verify and deploy GNC algorithms and high-fidelity simulation environments for spacecraft, covering rendezvous and proximity operations, autonomous navigation, relative pose estimation and control. Work spans the full lifecycle from concept through simulation, testing, integration and on-orbit operations, collaborating with Systems, CV and Flight Dynamics teams.

MATLAB · Simulink · Python +3

• Didcot
• Hybrid
• Mid-level
• Permanent

Develops and maintains flight dynamics models, algorithms, simulations and software tools for mission design, orbit determination, manoeuvre planning and collision avoidance. Works across orbital regimes and the full operational lifecycle, including rendezvous, docking and separation, supporting real-time mission operations with global teams.

MATLAB

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

Lead the Guidance, Navigation and Control architecture for a space mission, defining subsystem requirements, simulator and test specifications, and managing the GNC engineering team. The role involves fault-tolerant algorithm design, rendezvous and pose estimation sensors, trajectory design and hardware integration, interfacing with system and robotic architects. Distinct for its focus on in-orbit servicing and space debris removal.

MATLAB · Simulink · Python +1

• Rowstock
• On-site
• £54 – £100 ph
• Mid-level
• Permanent

Systems engineer role within a space propulsion centre of excellence, owning propulsion subsystem and equipment activities across Phase A-E for satellite programmes. Acts as primary technical lead for the subsystem in MAIT and architecture, managing work packages, requirements baselines, design reviews and non-conformances while interfacing with customers, PMO, AIT and suppliers. Involves analysis tooling in EcosimPro, MATLAB, Python and Excel, with occasional UK/Europe travel.

EcosimPro · MATLAB · Python +1

• Didcot

Supports the definition and development of advanced space mission concepts, from early customer discussions through to fully developed proposals. Leads or contributes to satellite mission proposals, performing orbital, power and link budget analyses and trade-offs across space, ground and launch segments. Works with systems engineering, project management and supply chain teams, building models and tools for cost estimation, risk assessment and performance modelling.

MATLAB · Python · STK

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

Oversees the technical execution, cost, budget and delivery of mechanisms project solutions, ensuring adherence to risk profiles and design policies. Leads a team of electro-mechanical engineers, managing work packages, resource conflicts and capability development while collaborating with Mechanism Experts and Project Managers. Includes hands-on support for debugging mechanism hardware and some project and design work.

SolidWorks · Ansys · MATLAB +1

• Oxfordshire
• Hybrid
• £40,000 – £85,000 pa
• Senior

Design, develop and validate flight dynamics software for defence and space missions, covering orbital mechanics, trajectory design and mission analysis. The role blends algorithm development in Python and MATLAB with requirements capture, verification and Agile Scrum delivery, acting as technical interface with suppliers and operations teams.

MATLAB · Python · Linux +2

• Edinburgh

Hands-on role in a small Edinburgh silicon team developing high-value ASIC and SoC designs for a space-based mobile broadband network. Involves micro-architecture specification, high-quality RTL development in SystemVerilog, SoC integration and subsystem work, collaborating with architecture, verification and software teams from concept through tape-out.

SystemVerilog · Python · MATLAB

• Edinburgh

Drive architectural definition of complex SoCs for satellite communications platforms, translating system and product requirements into specifications and guiding trade-offs across performance, power, area and security. Work cross-functionally with hardware, software, verification and systems teams, and support silicon bring-up and debug. The Edinburgh silicon team is a small, hands-on group building next-generation silicon for a space-based mobile broadband network.

MATLAB

• Milton Keynes
• On-site
• Senior
• Permanent

Designs and implements high-speed DSP algorithms for satellite and aerospace communication systems, including filters, equalisers, timing/carrier recovery loops and FFT engines. Builds floating- and fixed-point models in MATLAB or Python to verify VHDL hardware realisations, modelling channel impairments such as noise, Doppler and multipath.

MATLAB · Python · VHDL +3

• Forfar
• Hybrid
• Senior

Design, simulate and integrate 5G NTN RAN architecture, evaluating algorithms, scheduling, QoS and mobility to optimise network performance. Work with RAN vendors and subcontractors through co-engineering and integration, connecting the satellite access network and SMO with the 5G Core, transport, payload and mission operations.

5G Core · NG-RAN · O-RAN +6

• Cambridge
• On-site
• Senior
• Permanent

Owns board-level RF hardware for satellite and aerospace phased array systems, covering schematic design, PCB layout, simulation and lab validation. Works across the full lifecycle from concept and part selection through manufacturing, qualification and in-orbit support, presenting design reviews and contributing to proposals.

CST · ADS · Altium +5

• 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