Engineer the Quantum RevolutionYour expertise can help us shape the future of quantum computing at Oxford Ionics.

View Open Roles

Technical Specialist - Aerospace / Systems Engineering

Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA)
London
4 weeks ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Regional SCADA Engineer

Senior SOC Analyst (Team Leader)

Product Engineer (Aerospace)

ICA (instrumentation, control & automation) Technician

Lead Stress Engineer

Senior Stress Engineer

Technical Specialist - Aerospace / Systems Engineering

Join to apply for theTechnical Specialist - Aerospace / Systems Engineeringrole atAdvanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA)

Technical Specialist - Aerospace / Systems Engineering

Join to apply for theTechnical Specialist - Aerospace / Systems Engineeringrole atAdvanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA)

Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) provided pay range

This range is provided by Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA). Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

Direct message the job poster from Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA)

Salary Levels:c.£68,000, c.£85,000, c.£99,000 (eventual offers will be based on benchmarked experience levels in combination with our selection criteria)

Location:Kings X, London; Tues - Thurs (3 days) at HQ, Monday + Friday, anywhere

Employment Type:Full-time

Contract:3 years fixed-term (with the possibility for extension)

Closing Date:12.08.25

About ARIA

ARIA is a new kind of R&D funding agency. We fund scientists and engineers to pursue research at the edge of the possible. From climate change to AI, society faces enormous challenges and opportunities that can be uniquely addressed by science and technology. ARIA was created to activate the UK’s world-class R&D in new ways, so we can meet these head on.

We are growing our team to develop bold new approaches that can scale – from programmes to systems, processes and everything in between. If that sounds fun, come and build ARIA with us.

Learn more about how we work here.

Role Summary

As an ARIA Technical Specialist, you will have the rare chance to catalyse breakthroughs that could change the world. You'll sit alongside Programme Director Rico Chandra and their Programme Specialist on a programme emerging from ARIA's Scoping Our Planet Opportunity Space. You’ll be exposed to every aspect of the programme's technical management from design through approval, project selection, and delivery.

We’re looking for an adaptable technical professional who’s strongly motivated by the opportunity to catalyse a technological step change. You’ll be working in a bold, talented & agile team, funding projects across the entire R&D ecosystem, from startups to universities, in the pursuit of groundbreaking advancements that will shape the future of science & technology.

Rico Chandra is a member of ARIA’s second cohort of Programme Directors. Rico is an entrepreneur and competitive cross-country paraglider pilot with a PhD in physics. He has co-founded hardware startups, worked on several DARPA Programs and worked closely with Venture Capitals.

Rico is developing an ARIA programme to develop the capability and use cases for atmospherically powered, long endurance aircraft.

Find out more about what they’re working onhere.

“I’m definitely more of a hardware than software person. I have a decent understanding of weather and of aerodynamics. I’m looking for a leader with a broad technical reach, especially in areas like mesh communication, satellite payloads, positioning navigation & timing, and the software relevant to this ambitious programme. Join me for what may be the most exciting years of your career.”

What you'll do

The scope of the role will evolve as ARIA continues to grow, but will broadly involve the following:

Technical Programme Advisory and Support

  • Act as the technical lead, with the Programme Director and their Programme Specialist, to shape and deliver a bold programme of research aimed at developing the capability and use cases for atmospherically powered, long-endurance flight.
  • Review project proposals, grant applications, assess technical milestones, and stay close to the ground on what’s being built and tested by Creator teams.
  • Plan, lead, and contribute to technical discussions in project meetings, workshops, and formal reviews, bringing depth, challenge, and direction to every interaction.
  • Provide evidence-based technical insight to the Programme Director and the ARIA team to support high-quality decisions and sharpen the programme’s strategic direction.
  • Confidently communicate complex scientific ideas surrounding the programme to stakeholders, from government and funders to key players across the ecosystem.
  • Identify emerging trends and surface the most promising technologies, people, and ideas across the programme and its surrounding opportunity space.
  • Co-author white papers, open calls, and technical reviews that articulate the ambition of the programme and set a clear, compelling vision for external communities.
  • Work closely with the Programme Specialist and Creator teams to drive project delivery, tracking against ambitious technical milestones, benchmarking progress against the state of the art, and spotting opportunities for research cross-pollination to sustain momentum.
  • Be the technical bridge between the Programme Director and functional teams, ensuring execution aligns with the needs of the ecosystem's understanding of the programme.

Connecting the Programme to the Ecosystem

  • Represent the programme, often on behalf of the Programme Director, at events, workshops and talks.
  • Build trusted relationships with world-class researchers, labs, and founders working at the forefront of the programme’s focus area.
  • Work closely with ARIA’s Activation Partners to ensure Creator teams can access the right tools, platforms, and networks to accelerate translation and achieve impact beyond ARIA’s direct reach.

Define and Cultivate ARIA’s Technical Culture

  • Collaborate across ARIA on funding models, budgets, tooling, and operational mechanisms to support effective, flexible funding and programme delivery.
  • Contribute as a member of ARIA’s team of Technical Specialists (‘T-Specs’), sharing best practices and learnings between programmes to strengthen ARIA’s portfolio of work.
  • Help build and sustain ARIA’s scientific and operational culture.

Who you are

  • You have first-hand exposure to developing commercially viable, multidisciplinary high tech systems at the edge of what’s technologically possible in the domains of aerospace, communication, or earth observation.
  • You possess a significant understanding and experience of air vehicle performance (aerodynamics).
  • You excel in grasping and navigating diverse technical projects.
  • You excel at translating complex technical concepts and timelines to diverse stakeholders, effectively bridging gaps between diverse teams and perspectives.
  • You are willing to ask questions and can rapidly learn and adapt to new scientific areas, comprehending key components of new technical disciplines.
  • You can uncover non-obvious opportunities and risks, connecting teams, ideas, and research threads in novel ways that drive adoption and translation.
  • You comprehend and articulate complex concepts clearly and with conviction, think and communicate with structure, and interrogate ideas effectively.
  • Highly adaptable, you are okay with uncertainty and a fast-paced environment.
  • You have worked with airborne platforms or satellites and their sensors, payloads, and communications systems.
  • You have worked in industry, in an organisation with exceptionally ambitious technological development (including curing edge hardware development).
  • You have strong demonstrable experience of engineering trade-space analysis in the aerospace sector.
  • You have a good understanding of sensing modalities (especially electro-optical sensors) and/or knowledge of space-borne systems.
  • You have successfully performed technical assignments that require unconventional or novel approaches.
  • You are skilled in identifying technical bottlenecks, risk analysis and resolution, tracking technical milestones, and reporting on complex technical projects.
  • You have a strong working knowledge of the UK R&D ecosystem.

Qualifications

You have a Scientific qualification, with a preference for PhD or other deeper technical experience in one of the listed areas of interest, or similar; physics, electrical and electronic engineering, aerospace engineering, photonics or optical engineering, remote sensing, GNC (Guidance, Navigation and Control), artificial intelligence.

  • 27 days annual leave provision, with the option to buy/sell additional days
  • Hybrid working arrangements; 60% in office / 40% at home
  • Supportive environment for learning and development opportunities
  • Enhanced family leave arrangements
  • A free and confidential 24/7 employee assistance programme
  • 5% defined contribution pension scheme with Smart Pension
  • Cycle to Work scheme
  • An excellent office location in Kings X, London

Not sure you meet 100% of our criteria? Don’t worry. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We want to attract the broadest array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to this, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar.Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interests and what you hope to bring to this role.

If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please notify us and we will make every effort to accommodate you. Disclosing any requests are intended to provide ARIA with the best opportunity to support candidates and will have no negative impact on your recruitment process.

ARIA adopts a highly considered approach to ethical and social responsibility. You can read our policy here. Our research and development activity will abide by the 3Rs principle. You can read about those here.

Seniority level

  • Seniority levelMid-Senior level

Employment type

  • Employment typeContract

Job function

  • Job functionProject Management and Other
  • IndustriesResearch Services

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) by 2x

Get notified about new Technical Specialist jobs inLondon Area, United Kingdom.

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

Core Infrastructure Technical Business Analyst - Contract

London, England, United Kingdom 22 hours ago

St Albans, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 day ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

IT Operations Support Lead - FinTech - £70K

Greater London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

Kickstart Your Dream Career in Tech or Change - Multiple UK Locations

London, England, United Kingdom 3 days ago

Mobile Device Deployment and Management Administrator

London, England, United Kingdom 2 hours ago

Technology Service Lead – London | Global Hedge Fund (Confidential)Technical Manager – Competent Person Scheme

City Of London, England, United Kingdom 22 hours ago

London, England, United Kingdom 6 hours ago

Senior Technical Enablement Manager - London

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

London, England, United Kingdom 5 hours ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 day ago

London, England, United Kingdom 5 days ago

London, England, United Kingdom 5 days ago

London, England, United Kingdom 2 months ago

We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.


#J-18808-Ljbffr

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Seasonal Hiring Peaks for Space Industry Jobs: The Best Months to Apply & Why

The UK's space industry has emerged as one of Europe's most strategically vital and technologically advanced sectors, with roles spanning from junior satellite engineers to principal spacecraft scientists and heads of space systems development. With space positions commanding salaries from £32,000 for graduate aerospace engineers to £135,000+ for senior space systems architects, understanding when organisations actively recruit can dramatically accelerate your career progression in this extraordinary and rapidly evolving field. Unlike traditional aerospace roles, space industry hiring follows distinct patterns influenced by launch windows, government space initiatives, and satellite constellation deployment schedules. The sector's unique combination of advanced aerospace engineering, orbital mechanics, and space systems integration creates predictable hiring windows that strategic professionals can leverage to advance their careers in building tomorrow's spacecraft and satellite technologies. This comprehensive guide explores the optimal timing for space industry job applications in the UK, examining how national space strategies, academic research cycles, and space technology initiatives influence recruitment patterns, and why strategic timing can determine whether you join a cutting-edge space development team or miss the opportunity to develop the next generation of satellites and space exploration systems.

Pre-Employment Checks for UK Space Jobs Jobs: DBS, References & Right-to-Work and more Explained

The space industry represents one of the most strategically significant and technologically advanced sectors in modern aerospace, with space professionals playing crucial roles in developing satellite systems, advancing space exploration technologies, and transforming applications from Earth observation and telecommunications to space manufacturing and planetary exploration. As the space sector experiences unprecedented growth through commercial space ventures and national space programmes, pre-employment screening processes have become increasingly sophisticated and security-focused. Space careers span diverse environments from satellite manufacturers and launch service providers to space agencies, Earth observation companies, and emerging space tourism operators. Each sector brings unique screening requirements reflecting the strategic sensitivity of space technologies, the mission-critical nature of space systems, and the critical importance of maintaining both national security standards and operational reliability. Understanding space industry pre-employment screening helps professionals navigate career opportunities effectively whilst enabling employers to identify candidates capable of contributing to space innovation whilst maintaining appropriate security standards, mission assurance protocols, and technical excellence. The screening processes examine not only technical space competencies but also security clearance eligibility, systems engineering capabilities, and ability to work effectively within the highly regulated space ecosystem. This comprehensive guide examines the full spectrum of pre-employment screening practices across space careers, from basic right-to-work verification through enhanced security clearance processes, technical competency assessment, and industry-specific requirements. Whether pursuing opportunities in satellite engineering, launch systems development, space science research, or space operations management, understanding these screening processes enables space professionals to prepare effectively and advance their careers successfully. The space sector's unique combination of cutting-edge technology, mission-critical reliability, and strategic importance creates screening requirements that reflect both the technical demands of space systems engineering and the security considerations of nationally strategic technologies. These processes ultimately support the continued advancement of the space industry by ensuring high professional standards and technical competence necessary for successful space missions and responsible space technology development.

Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Launch Your Career in Space: The UK's Cosmic Revolution

The United Kingdom stands at the forefront of a space revolution that's fundamentally transforming how we communicate globally, navigate precisely, monitor our planet's climate, and explore the cosmos beyond Earth. From the advanced satellite technologies developed by British companies powering global communications networks to the revolutionary space propulsion systems enabling deep space missions, the UK's leadership in space technology, satellite manufacturing, and space services has created an unprecedented demand for skilled space professionals that dramatically exceeds the current talent supply. If you've been seeking a career at the final frontier of human exploration or looking to position yourself in one of the most strategically critical and inspirational sectors of the modern economy, space represents an extraordinary opportunity. The convergence of NewSpace commercialization, satellite mega-constellation deployment, space manufacturing advancement, and interplanetary exploration acceleration has created perfect conditions for space career success.