Electric Propulsion Test Engineer

NewOrbit Space; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Hybrid working

Visa sponsorship

Relocation support

Private health insurance

Job summary

NewOrbit Space in Reading, UK, is seeking an Electric Propulsion Test Engineer to run the test programme for our RF gridded ion thruster and NEO-1 thrust systems.

You will design, build and operate vacuum test rigs, collect data, analyse results and provide traceable evidence for flight readiness, working closely with propulsion engineers to iterate designs.

Hybrid working includes one remote day per week and visa sponsorship/relocation support for new hires.

Qualifications

• Practical electric propulsion testing experience with RF generators and HV supplies.
• Experience with vacuum systems and data acquisition.
• Knowledge of RF gridded ion thrusters and plasma diagnostics.
• Rigorous test planning, data quality and documentation.
• Willingness to work extended hours on-site.

Responsibilities

• Plan and own propulsion test campaigns to support NEO-1 and customer thruster deliveries.
• Design and implement test rigs and equipment for propulsion testing.
• Assemble and maintain test hardware, electronics and vacuum facilities.
• Operate vacuum system, RF generators, HV supplies, gas feed and thrust balance during tests.
• Run plasma diagnostics and data acquisition, then analyse results.
• Provide traceable evidence to drive design iterations.

Skills

Electrical propulsion testing

RF generators

Vacuum systems

Power supplies

Data acquisition

Plasma physics

Instrumentation & diagnostics

Test planning

Python

MATLAB

Job description

Company

NewOrbit builds satellites that fly in very low Earth orbit, below 300 km, along with the electric propulsion that keeps them there.

Flying closer to Earth means sharper imagery from smaller optics, and an orbit that cleans itself: our satellites de-orbit within a month at end of life, leaving no debris.

Our AURA family of RF gridded ion thrusters powers our own NEO-1 satellite, with first flight planned for Q3 2028, and is also offered to other operators.

Electric propulsion is what lets our satellites hold very low orbits, and our AURA RF gridded ion thruster is at the centre of it.

Role

Electric propulsion is what lets our satellites hold very low orbits, and someone has to prove that our AURA RF gridded ion thruster does its job.

As Electric Propulsion Test Engineer, you run the test programme that turns designs into verified, flight-ready hardware, using NewOrbit's own vacuum facilities.

You work shoulder to shoulder with our propulsion engineers. You build the rigs, run the campaigns, find what fails and give the evidence that drives the next design.

Responsibilities

Plan and build

• Plan and own the propulsion test campaigns that support NEO-1 and our customer thruster deliveries.

• Design and implement test rigs and equipment for propulsion testing.

• Assemble and maintain test hardware, electronics and vacuum facilities.

Test and analyse

• Operate the vacuum system, RF generators, high-voltage supplies, gas feed and thrust balance during electric propulsion tests.

• Run plasma diagnostics and data acquisition, then analyse the results.

• Feed findings back to the design team quickly so each iteration improves on the last.

Verify and document

• Keep clear records of every test configuration and result, giving traceable evidence for system verification and qualification.

• Work with mechanical, electrical and control engineers to integrate and test each new iteration of the ion propulsion system.

Requirements

Essential

• Practical electric propulsion testing experience, ideally with RF generators, high-voltage power supplies and thrust balances.

• Experience with vacuum systems (pumps, gauges, valves), power supplies, fluid management (high-pressure gas tanks, mass flow controllers) and data acquisition systems.

• Working knowledge of RF gridded ion thrusters and of plasma physics, diagnostics and ionisation processes.

• A rigorous approach to test planning, data quality and documentation.

• Willingness to work extended hours on-site.

Nice to have

• Experience with plasma diagnostics such as Langmuir probes or retarding potential analysers.

• Scripting for data analysis and test automation (Python or MATLAB).

• Experience with test rig design or hardware verification for flight programmes.

We are recruiting across propulsion design and test.

Why NewOrbit Space?

• Pioneering space technology - Your work on our RF gridded ion thrusters and VLEO satellite platform will redefine satellite operations and challenge traditional LEO.

• Ownership and impact - You'll have a level of ownership that's rare in the space industry, and you'll take part in the full lifecycle of satellite technology.

• Equity and competitive salary - Alongside a competitive salary you receive a company ownership stake, so you share in the technology you help build and in our collective success.

• Comprehensive benefits - Private health insurance with dental and optical cover, and annual health check-ups.

• Hybrid working - One dedicated remote day per week.

• Visa sponsorship and relocation support - We sponsor visas and provide relocation support for candidates moving to join us.