Apprentice Technician

Foundational; Greater London; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EMI share options (UK employees)

25 Days Annual Leave + Bank Holidays

Cycle to work schemes

Offices in central London

Job summary

Foundational in London is seeking an Apprentice Technician to join an early-stage spacetech team. The role offers hands-on space hardware experience and progression toward a recognised engineering qualification.

You will learn mechanical, electrical and optical assembly, work on real station hardware, rotate through disciplines, and study with a college alongside your job.

Qualifications

• GCSEs in maths and English; science helps.
• Care, reliability and a willingness to ask questions.
• No previous experience needed.

Responsibilities

• Learn machining, assembly and wiring in workshop.
• Help build and test real station hardware.
• Rotate through mechanical, electrical and optical work.
• Study with a college or training provider alongside your job.

Skills

Curiosity

Practical mindset

Questioning attitude

Education

GCSEs in maths and English

Job description

Apprentice Technician

This is a future role. We're building a shortlist now and will contact you when it opens.

About us

Foundational is building the most precise picture of Earth and orbit, using lasers fired from the ground. We call it ground truth for orbit.

We design and run low-cost, autonomous satellite laser ranging stations. They measure the distance to satellites with extreme precision, day and night. Our data platform turns those measurements into tracking data and orbit products for satellite operators, space agencies and governments. We also build our own flight-proven laser retroreflector arrays, so any satellite can be tracked.

Our station network is expanding across Europe, South America, Africa and Australia. The data supports resilient navigation, Earth observation and the safe, sustainable use of space.

We're a small, fast-moving team of engineers, scientists and operators in London. We're backed by venture investors and supported by ESA, the UK Space Agency, Innovate UK and the European Innovation Council.

Position Overview

London - On-site

This is an apprenticeship building space hardware. You'll learn mechanical, electrical and optical assembly alongside our engineers, and work towards a recognised engineering qualification.

What you'll do

• Learn machining, assembly and wiring in our workshop
• Help build and test real station hardware
• Rotate through mechanical, electrical and optical work
• Study with a college or training provider alongside your job

What you'll bring

• Curiosity about how things work, and enjoyment of practical work
• GCSEs (or equivalent) in maths and English; science helps
• Care, reliability and a willingness to ask questions
• No previous experience needed

Nice to have

• Hobby projects: electronics, bikes, cars, 3D printing, telescopes, anything you've built or fixed

What We Offer

• A high-impact role with real ownership at an early-stage, venture-backed spacetech company
• EMI share options (UK employees)
• 25 Days Annual Leave + Bank Holidays
• Enhanced Parental Leave
• Cycle to work schemes
• Work alongside engineers and scientists across optics, lasers, software and astrodynamics
• Offices in central London, with snacks, tea, coffee and regular socials

We actively champion underrepresented groups and seek to bridge gaps in our workforce. Building the best team is our priority.