Senior Payload Systems Engineer - Robotics

Holt Executive; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Private healthcare

Life insurance

Relocation support

Job summary

Holt Executive is seeking a Senior Payload Systems Engineer – Robotics to lead the development of complex robotic systems for next-generation spacecraft. The role spans design, development, testing, integration and operations with technical ownership across the payload engineering domain.

The candidate will mentor engineers, drive robotics hardware through design to launch, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and suppliers to meet mission requirements.

Qualifications

• Degree in Robotics, Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or related discipline.
• 5+ years of robotics engineering experience.
• Experience taking complex robotic designs through concept, analysis, design, testing and operations.
• Experience with robotics analysis, design, procurement and testing.
• Strong understanding of robotics kinematics, dynamics, sensors and actuators.
• Experience with ROS/ROS2.
• Experience managing requirements across the full project lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Define and review robotics system requirements and verification strategies.
• Lead technical discussions with robotics suppliers and assess solutions against mission requirements.
• Collaborate with mechanical, thermal, electrical, software and systems engineering teams.
• Support robotics hardware through spacecraft design, integration, testing and launch campaigns.
• Work with AIV teams to ensure designs are suitable for manufacture, assembly, integration and test.
• Produce and maintain technical documentation, specifications, ICDs, procedures and design reports.
• Provide technical input to key project reviews including PDR and CDR.
• Support procurement, supplier engagement and manufacturing activities.
• Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership across robotics activities.

Skills

Robotics engineering

ROS/ROS2

Requirements management

Leadership / mentoring

Education

Robotics/Systems/ Aerospace Engineering degree

Tools

SolidWorks

CATIA/NX/Creo

PDM

HyperWorks

Job description

An innovative space technology organisation is looking for an experienced Senior Payload Systems Engineer – Robotics to join its growing engineering team.

This is an exciting opportunity to work on highly complex robotic systems for next-generation spacecraft, taking technical ownership across design, development, testing, integration and operations.

The Role

As a senior member of the payload engineering team, you will provide technical expertise across robotic capture systems, working closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams and external suppliers.

• Define and review robotics system requirements and verification strategies.
• Lead technical discussions with robotics suppliers and assess solutions against mission requirements.
• Collaborate with mechanical, thermal, electrical, software and systems engineering teams.
• Support robotics hardware through spacecraft design, integration, testing and launch campaigns.
• Work with AIV teams to ensure designs are suitable for manufacture, assembly, integration and test.
• Produce and maintain technical documentation, specifications, ICDs, procedures and design reports.
• Provide technical input to key project reviews including PDR and CDR.
• Support procurement, supplier engagement and manufacturing activities.
• Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership across robotics activities.

About You

We're looking for an experienced robotics engineer with a strong background in complex, safety-critical systems.

Essential experience

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Robotics, Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or a related discipline.
• 5+ years' robotics engineering experience.
• Experience taking complex robotic/mechanism designs through concept, analysis, design, testing and operations.
• Commercial experience in robotics analysis, design, procurement and testing.
• Strong understanding of robotics kinematics, dynamics, sensors and actuators.
• Experience with robotics analysis/design tools such as ROS/ROS2.
• Understanding of robotics design trade-offs and operation within challenging environments.
• Experience managing requirements throughout the full project lifecycle.
• Good understanding of spacecraft or similarly complex engineering development programmes and lifecycle reviews.
• Experience developing innovative hardware or mechanical solutions to complex problems.

Desirable Experience

• Robotics experience within the space sector.
• Knowledge of robotic manipulation and capture technologies.
• Experience with magnetic systems or magnetic properties in capture mechanisms.
• SolidWorks or other CAD packages such as CATIA, NX or Creo.
• PDM experience.
• Multi-body dynamics modelling tools such as HyperWorks.
• Kinematic and robotics modelling/simulation.
• Python or VBA for engineering data processing and automation.

What’s on Offer

• Hybrid working and flexible core hours.
• Optional compressed working pattern.
• 25 days' holiday, increasing to 28 with service, plus Bank Holidays.
• Private healthcare, life insurance and long-term sick pay.
• Relocation support may be available.
• Modern engineering and cleanroom facilities.
• Regular social and team events.
• Opportunity to work on highly innovative robotic and spacecraft technologies.

TT