Senior AIT On-Board Processor Engineer

Practicus; Harwell; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Practicus seeks an AIT On-Board Processor Engineer to support development and delivery of advanced space systems. You will drive digital processing payloads and flight hardware verification throughout the lifecycle, ensuring quality and reliability.

You will collaborate with software, systems and hardware teams, operate test equipment, and present results to senior leadership and external customers (ESA/UK Space Agency). The role is based on-site at Harwell/Stevenage.

Qualifications

• 4+ years in AIT, verification, or systems integration on space flight hardware.
• Strong understanding of digital electronics, embedded systems, and FPGA-based architectures.
• Experience with test equipment and data analysis using Python.
• Familiarity with space industry standards (ECSS) is advantageous.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Electrical integration, functional verification, and testing of digital processing flight hardware.
• Verify high-speed interfaces, DSP routines, and power distribution across payload units.
• Operate lab test equipment for electrical characterization and root cause analysis.
• Develop automated test scripts using Python on Linux and Windows.
• Present technical data to senior leadership and external customers.
• Collaborate across software, systems, and hardware teams for full verification.

Skills

Digital electronics

Embedded systems

FPGA-based systems

High-speed data interfaces

Python

DSP concepts

Linux

Windows

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Logic analysers

Spectrum analysers

Signal generators

Job description

Harwell or Stevenage | 4 days on-site

The Role

A leading organisation within the space sector is seeking an AIT On-Board Processor Engineer to support the development and delivery of advanced space systems.

Working as part of a growing engineering team, you will play a key role in ensuring digital processing payloads and flight hardware meet stringent quality and reliability requirements throughout the entire development lifecycle. You will work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Test, and Project teams to drive digital electronics integration, high-speed interface testing, and embedded hardware verification through to final delivery.

• Responsible for the electrical integration, functional verification, and testing of digital processing flight hardware and embedded systems
• Verify high-speed data interfaces, FPGA-based architectures, digital signal processing routines, and power distribution across payload units
• Operate laboratory test equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analysers, spectrum analysers, signal generators) for electrical characterisation and root cause analysis
• Develop and execute automated test scripts using Python on Linux and Windows environments for data analysis and issue tracking
• Present technical data clearly to senior leadership and external customers/agencies (e.g. ESA, UK Space Agency), while proactively supporting junior engineers
• Collaborate cross-functionally across software, systems, and hardware teams to ensure complete verification coverage across all test phases

What We're Looking For

• 4+ years of experiencein AIT, verification, or systems integration on space flight hardware or complex electronics
• Strong understanding of digital electronics, embedded systems, high-speed data interfaces, FPGA-based systems, power systems, and electrical integration
• Hands-on experience with test equipment including oscilloscopes, spectrum analysers, logic analysers, and signal generators
• Proficiency using both Linux and Windows environments, alongside Python for automated test scripting and data analysis
• Solid knowledge of digital signal processing (DSP) concepts
• Excellent communication skills with a proven ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority
• Experience across GEO, MEO, or LEO satellite programmes or spacecraft-level AIT campaigns
• Exposure to digital transparent processors (DTP), regenerative payloads, or software-defined payload architectures
• Familiarity with Ka-band, Ku-band, or X-band payloads
• Knowledge of or familiarity with space industry standards such as ECSS is advantageous

Compliance: Please note successful candidates will be required to undergo BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard) screening, including right-to-work, identity, criminal record, and a minimum of 3 years of employment history checks, as part of the onboarding process.