RF Ion Propulsion Engineer: Design, Build & Test Thrusters

NewOrbit Space; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity stake

Hybrid work (remote day)

Visa sponsorship

Private health insurance

Job summary

NewOrbit Space is seeking an Electric Propulsion Engineer to own the design and testing of RF gridded ion thrusters for the NEO-1 program. You will calculate performance, iterate designs, and validate hardware in our vacuum facilities to feed the next iteration.

You will lead testing campaigns, collaborate with mechanical, electrical and control engineers, and document results to support verification and qualification across flight hardware.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of RF gridded ion thrusters, including RF plasma generation, ion optics and neutralisation.
• Hands-on electric propulsion testing, ideally with RF generators, high-voltage power supplies and thrust balances.
• Experience with vacuum systems (pumps, gauges, valves), power supplies, fluid management and data acquisition.
• Solid grounding in plasma physics, modelling, diagnostics and ionisation processes.
• Willingness to design, build and test your own hardware, and to work extended hours on-site.

Responsibilities

• Own the design of our RF gridded ion thruster and its performance calculations, from concept to flight configuration.
• Iterate rapidly to support NEO-1 and our customer thruster deliveries.
• Work with mechanical, electrical and control engineers on each new iteration of the ion propulsion system.
• Design and build the test rigs and equipment for propulsion testing.
• Assemble and operate test hardware, electronics and vacuum facilities.
• Run electric propulsion tests on your own designs and analyse the results.
• Plan and run the test campaigns for your own designs.
• Turn test results into design changes, then re-test.
• Document every test configuration and result so it gives traceable evidence for system verification and qualification.

Skills

RF gridded ion thrusters

Electric propulsion testing

Vacuum systems & data acquisition

Plasma physics & modelling

Hardware design & testing

Tools

Python or MATLAB

Job description

NewOrbit Space is seeking an Electric Propulsion Engineer to own the design and testing of RF gridded ion thrusters for the NEO-1 program. You will calculate performance, iterate designs, and validate hardware in our vacuum facilities to feed the next iteration.

You will lead testing campaigns, collaborate with mechanical, electrical and control engineers, and document results to support verification and qualification across flight hardware.