Chief Engineer - Space

Raytheon UK; Glenrothes; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Raytheon NORSS in the United Kingdom seeks a Space Systems Chief Engineer to act as the technical authority across the space portfolio, guiding multidisciplinary teams and shaping the technical vision, growth, and long‑term success of the space business.

The successful candidate will lead strategic technology direction, with strong background in space systems engineering, SDA/ISR, cloud/data security, and risk management, delivering mission‑critical capabilities and sustaining customer

Qualifications

• 2:1 Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (physics, mathematics, engineering or science).
• Excellent communication skills to articulate complex technical detail to a range of stakeholders.
• Knowledge of Space and Ground Segment architectures.
• Experience of Systems Engineering and full lifecycle development process.
• Experience with software development processes.
• Strong understanding of Space Domain Awareness (SDA) or Space‑based ISR systems.
• Knowledge of secure remote data handling architectures.
• Experience in bid submission and technical bid writing.
• Experience writing technical white papers and studies.
• Engineering team leadership and line management.
• Familiarity with modern digital technologies including cloud platforms, data security and ML.

Skills

Space systems engineering

Engineering leadership

SDA expertise

Bid writing

Technical communication

Cloud platforms

Data security

Machine learning

Software development

Lifecycle development

Orbit knowledge

Education

2:1 Bachelor's degree in physics, mathematics, engineering or science

Tools

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-09-28

Country: United Kingdom

Location: Sedgefield, Durham

Position Role Type: Hybrid

At RTX, the world's largest aerospace and defense company, 185,000 great minds are united by purpose and inspired to make a difference solving the world’s most complex problems. With our three market leading businesses, world-class operations and investments in research and development, we offer capabilities and opportunity no one else can.

Together, we push the boundaries of known science and find new ways to connect and protect our world.

Raytheon brings the strength of more than 100 years of experience and renowned engineering expertise to meet the needs of today’s mission and stay ahead of tomorrow’s threat. We deliver solutions that help our nation and allies defend freedoms and deter aggression, creating a safer, more secure world. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.

Raytheon NORSS is seeking an exceptional Space Systems Chief Engineer to help shape the future of our space business.

As the most senior engineering leader within the NORSS team, you will serve as the organisation’s technical authority, providing strategic direction across our space portfolio and leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative, mission‑critical capabilities. This is a unique opportunity to influence the technical vision, growth, and long‑term success of a rapidly expanding space business.

The ideal candidate will have a background with defence, academia, commercial, and scientific space exposure. You will combine deep expertise in space systems engineering with proven leadership in technology strategy, innovation, investment planning, business growth, and risk management. You will be expected to provide technical leadership at the highest level, shaping both current programmes and future capability development.

We are particularly interested in candidates who have played a leading role in the development and delivery of technologies in Earth Observation, Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Space‑based ISR mission architectures.

Above all, you will be a technical leader with the credibility, vision and drive to inspire engineering teams, engage customers and stakeholders, and ensure the successful delivery of complex space missions that advance both customer objectives and Raytheon NORSS's strategic ambitions.

This Role reports into the Space and ISR Mission Area business lead and the Head of Engineering for Software and Services.

Skills And Experience

• A 2:1 bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (physics, mathematics, engineering or science).
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral), to articulate and communicate technical detail clearly and concisely with colleagues, customers and partner organisations at all levels. Able to prepare detailed reports and present where necessary.
• Knowledge of Space and Ground Segment architectures.
• Experience of Systems Engineering and full lifecycle development process.
• Working understanding and experience of software development process.
• A strong understanding of Space Domain Awareness (SDA) or Space‑based ISR systems.
• Knowledge of secure remote data handling architectures.
• Experience in bid submission, including solution definition, technical bid writing and review.
• Experience writing and reviewing technical white papers and studies.
• Engineering team leadership and line management.
• A working understanding of modern digital technologies and practices, including cloud platforms, data security, and machine learning.

Desirable

• Understanding of orbital mechanics and orbit determination
• Knowledge of space domain awareness software packages and toolsets
• Experience with a variety of ground and space‑based SDA sensors and their use
• Broad understanding of the space environment and spacecraft design and operation
• Familiarity with RF and Optical systems for ground and space‑based SDA missions and operations
• Programme and portfolio management experience
• Agile and waterfall development methodologies
• Engineering team development and supervision through relevant training and mentoring
• ECSS Standards compliance including Software and Systems Engineering
• Familiarity with CCSDS standards for space data and information systems
• Development of Technology Roadmaps for technology maturation from TRL1 to TRL9
• Unit, Subsystem, System and Platform Qualification
• Environmental testing experience
• Working understanding of digital data cloud platforms

RTX adheres to the principles of equal employment. All qualified applications will be given careful consideration without regard to ethnicity, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.