Space AIT On-Board Processor Engineer - FPGA/DSP

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

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.