Mission Concept Engineer

Open Cosmos Ltd; East Hagbourne; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Open Cosmos Ltd in the United Kingdom is seeking a Mission Concept Engineer to shape client needs into technically robust, commercially viable space mission proposals.

You will lead or contribute to satellite mission concepts, working closely with internal teams and external partners to build end-to-end architectures across space, ground, and launch. This role sits in a fast‑moving CRO environment with opportunities to influence roadmap and proposals.

Qualifications

• Sound understanding of space mission design principles.
• Strong mathematical and analytical capability.
• Experience with modelling and simulation tools.

Responsibilities

• Define and develop mission concepts for space, ground, and launch segments.
• Perform orbital, power, and link-budget analyses and feasibility trades.
• Support proposal prep and bid writing with technical accuracy.
• Collaborate with systems engineering, PM, and supply chain teams.
• Develop tools, models, and frameworks for cost estimation and risk.
• Gather technical and market intelligence to inform concept design.
• Standardise templates, tools, and analysis methods for processes.
• Engage with customers and partners on technical discussions.

Skills

Mission concept design

Analytical calculations

Modelling & simulation

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical writing

Tools

MATLAB

Python

STK

Job description

Aim high, go beyond!

At Open Cosmos we are solving the world’s biggest challenges from space, providing businesses, governments and researchers access to more readily available information than ever before - ready for the challenge? Then read on…

Working in our Chief Revenue Office (CRO)

Our CRO division drives the commercial growth of Open Cosmos. The team works across business development, marketing, and customer success to connect with partners worldwide, understand their needs, and turn opportunities into space missions. Their work expands our reach and ensures we deliver meaningful impact for customers and end users.

The Growth team acts as the powerhouse of the company, ensuring the immediate needs of the customers are swiftly met and the future ones are translated into a product roadmap and deliverable projects. Each member of the team combines a mix of programmatic, system engineering, and commercial skills with specific strengths.

What will you be doing?

As a Mission Concept Engineer, you will support the definition and development of advanced space mission concepts, from early customer discussions through to fully developed proposals.

You will play a central role in shaping missions with customers, translating their needs into technically robust and commercially viable solutions. This includes leading or contributing to satellite mission proposals, working closely with internal teams and external partners to build compelling, end-to-end mission architectures.

You will:

• Define and develop mission concepts for commercial and institutional opportunities, covering space, ground, and launch segments

• Conduct orbital, power, and link budget analyses, performing trade-offs to assess technical feasibility and mission performance

• Support proposal preparation and bid writing, ensuring technical accuracy, coherence, and compliance with customer needs

• Collaborate with systems engineering, project management, and supply chain teams to validate assumptions and ensure deliverability

• Develop and maintain tools, models, and analytical frameworks to support mission definition, cost estimation, risk assessment, and performance modelling

• Gather and analyse technical and market intelligence, benchmarking comparable missions and technologies to inform concept design

• Contribute to internal process improvement, standardising templates, tools, and analysis methods

• Engage with customers, suppliers, and partners under guidance, contributing to technical discussions and reviews

What You’ll bring

• Sound understanding of space mission design principles, including orbit mechanics, payload definition, and system trade-offs

• Strong mathematical and analytical capability, with ability to perform calculations such as power, delta‑V, coverage, or link budgets

• Confidence in using modelling and simulation tools (e.g. MATLAB, Python, STK)

• Familiarity with systems engineering processes and cross‑segment mission integration

• Understanding of proposal development, technical writing, and documentation standards, with a strong ability to structure complex ideas clearly and communicate them concisely in writing

• Knowledge of remote sensing, telecommunications, or in‑orbit services missions is desirable

For this role you can be based in any of our locations.

Why Open Cosmos?

• Work at the cutting edge of space technology with customers around the globe

• A mission‑driven company making space accessible to help solve real‑world challenges

• A diverse, ambitious, and supportive team

Equal opportunity employer

At Open Cosmos, we are dedicated to fostering a workplace built on respect, dignity, and belonging. As an equal opportunity employer, we actively challenge bias to ensure every candidate and employee feels truly welcome. We celebrate diversity in all its forms and are committed to maintaining an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.