Electronics Engineer

Breath HR; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Space Solar in the UK is seeking an Electronics Engineer to own the full hardware development lifecycle. You will design analogue and mixed-signal PCBs, integrate microcontrollers, and lead bench testing and validation of power delivery hardware for in-space beaming technology.

The role emphasizes hands-on prototyping, rapid iteration, and collaboration with systems, mechanical and software teams. Hybrid work at the Harwell site is expected.

Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of analogue, digital and power electronics.
• Track record in designing and testing mixed-signal PCBs.
• Hands-on prototyping and bench validation in lab environments.

Responsibilities

• Own analogue circuit architecture from requirements to schematics.
• Drive full lifecycle of analogue and digital boards from design to manufacturing.
• Prototype, test and iterate hardware in lab settings to prove concepts.

Skills

Mixed-signal PCB design

Analogue design

Power regulation

Microcontroller integration

Bench testing

Soldering & debugging

Tools

Oscilloscope

Logic analyser

PCB layout tools

Job description

Space Solar is a UK deep-tech company developing space-based solar power (SBSP), based at the Harwell Space Cluster in Oxfordshire. We are building a system that collects solar energy continuously in orbit and beams it to Earth as clean, controllable power. No weather dependency, no night-time downtime, no geographic constraint. The engineering challenge is one of the most ambitious in the industry, and we are tackling it with a small, technically exceptional team.

Role Value and Responsibility

As an Electronics Engineer at Space Solar, you are a hands‑on builder at the core of our hardware development. We are looking for inquisitive doers: engineers who thrive on owning the full product development lifecycle, from understanding complex system requirements and generating specifications, through circuit architecture and analogue design, PCB layout, prototyping and bench testing, to delivering working, tested and robust physical hardware. This is a practical, delivery‑focused role where theory takes a back seat to tangible creation.

We're specifically looking for someone with strong analogue design fundamentals, mixed signal design experience, and the hands‑on prototyping experience to back it up, capable of owning end‑to‑end development of PCBs that drive our core wireless power beaming and in‑space autonomous assembly technologies.

One near‑term area of focus is the electronics underpinning our wireless power beaming programme: hardware that manage DC power from distributed sources, integrate analogue sensing and digital control, and operate reliably under demanding real‑world conditions. This is first‑of‑a‑kind work with no off‑the‑shelf solution, spanning terrestrial demonstrators and in‑space hardware. Alongside this you will contribute across the broader Space‑Based Solar Power programme wherever strong mixed‑signal electronics capability is needed.

We value rigour at the right time: keeping early prototypes agile and iterative while scaling up precision and documentation as hardware moves towards production and deployment. Whether your background is in academic engineering, an apprenticeship, or years of practical industry experience, if you can build hardware that works under real conditions, we want you.

What You Will Be Doing

• Analogue Circuit Design – Owning analogue circuit architecture from requirements through to schematic, including sensing, signal conditioning, and power regulation circuitry, with a strong grasp of mismatch, noise, stability, and other real‑world analogue design considerations.
• Mixed Signal PCB Design - Driving the complete lifecycle of analogue and digital boards, from schematic capture and layout through to manufacturing coordination and hands‑on commissioning.
• Hardware Realisation - Transforming concepts into physical reality by building and modifying hardware directly in the lab to prove concepts quickly before committing to extensive production runs.
• Power Regulation - Integrating off‑the‑shelf and standard power components, demonstrating a solid understanding of power regulation, distribution, and general DC‑to‑DC integration within your board designs.
• Bench Testing and Validation - Operating bench test setups to characterise board performance, debug complex mixed‑signal interactions, and resolve hardware faults using oscilloscopes and logic analysers.
• Microcontroller Integration - Embedding microcontrollers into mixed‑signal environments, writing basic test scripts for board bring‑up, and collaborating closely with embedded software teams to ensure seamless system communication.
• Cross‑Disciplinary Collaboration - Working seamlessly with systems, mechanical, and software teams to ensure your electronics integrate flawlessly into the wider technical architecture.

What You Will Bring to the Team

The Builder Mindset: We are looking for creators over theorists. Whether your background is rooted in academic engineering, an apprenticeship, or years of practical industry experience, your ability to build functional hardware is what matters. We value a “can‑do” attitude, adaptability, and a relentless focus on delivery.

• Electronics Foundation: a thorough understanding of analogue, digital and power electronics.
• Analogue Design Expertise: a proven track record in analogue circuit design, from requirements and specification through to schematic and architecture decisions, including sensing, signal conditioning, or power regulation circuits.
• Electronic Hardware Prototyping and Development: a proven track record in designing, building, and testing mixed‑signal PCBs across both analogue and digital domains.
• The Do‑er Spirit: a proactive, lab‑first mentality with deep comfort in soldering, component‑level debugging, and resolving hardware faults on the bench.
• Practical Systems Experience: familiarity with power regulation basics and comfort writing simple bring‑up scripts or working alongside firmware engineers to test microcontroller integration.
• Adaptive Delivery: the capacity to match the fast‑paced, iterative needs of early R&D while maintaining the discipline required for reliable, scalable systems.
• Open Background: a degree in Electronics Engineering is welcome, but equally valued is equivalent practical experience gained through alternative career paths or self‑driven project portfolios.

Success Factors

• You have successfully delivered working mixed‑signal prototypes that seamlessly integrate analogue sensing with digital processing and stable power delivery.
• Colleagues across the business actively seek your expertise when they need complex hardware built properly and tested rigorously.
• Your bench measurements and fault‑finding documentation have directly accelerated system iteration and improved final design stability.

Applying

Location: Harwell, Oxfordshire (hybrid, minimum 2 days per week in office)
Right to work: Applicants must have the right to work in the UK without visa sponsorship. We are unable to consider candidates who require sponsorship now or in the future.
Cover Letter: Please include a Cover Letter as an attachment to your application.
CV: Please include a CV as an attachment to your application.