Spacecraft Systems Engineer

Holt Executive; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

25 days holiday

Private healthcare

Life insurance

Relocation support

Modern facilities

Team events

Job summary

Holt Executive is seeking an experienced Spacecraft Systems Engineer to join its engineering team and take a central role in the design and development of complex spacecraft missions. You will work across multiple engineering disciplines to develop robust, achievable technical solutions that meet mission goals and constraints.

The role involves acting as a technical architect across the mission lifecycle, supporting system design, requirements traceability, trade studies, and integration,

Qualifications

• Satellite systems engineering experience and understanding of spacecraft subsystems.
• Ability to derive, verify and trace requirements; perform trade studies.

Responsibilities

• Develop spacecraft mission and system-level designs.
• Derive, allocate, verify and maintain system requirements and traceability.
• Perform system-level trade studies and technical assessments.
• Manage spacecraft budgets including mass, power, data and propellant.
• Produce and maintain CONOPS, V&V plans, ICDs and other documentation.
• Own and manage system-level interfaces, including space-to-ground and TM/TC.
• Support spacecraft testbeds, validation and system-level testing.
• Coordinate engineering activities across subsystem teams.
• Present analyses to internal and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to bids, proposals and early-stage studies.

Skills

Systems engineering

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Tools

Python

MATLAB

GMAT

Orekit

Job description

An innovative space technology organisation is looking for an experienced Spacecraft Systems Engineer to join its growing engineering team.

This is an excellent opportunity to play a central role in the design and development of complex spacecraft missions, working across multiple engineering disciplines to develop robust, achievable technical solutions.

The Role

As a Spacecraft Systems Engineer, you will act as a technical architect across the mission lifecycle, supporting system design, requirements, trade-offs, integration, verification and ultimately spacecraft operations.

• Develop spacecraft mission and system-level designs.
• Derive, allocate, verify and maintain system requirements and traceability.
• Perform system-level trade studies and technical assessments.
• Manage spacecraft budgets including mass, power, data and propellant.
• Produce and maintain CONOPS, V&V plans, ICDs and other systems engineering documentation.
• Own and manage system-level interfaces, including space-to-ground and TM/TC.
• Support spacecraft testbeds, validation and system-level testing.
• Contribute to FDIR, FMECA and fault-tree activities.
• Coordinate engineering activities across multiple subsystem teams.
• Support spacecraft integration, verification and environmental test campaigns.
• Present technical analyses and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to bids, proposals and early-stage mission studies.
• Support key programme reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR and TRR.
• Provide technical support during commissioning and critical in-orbit operations.

About You

We're looking for a systems engineer with experience working on satellite or similarly complex aerospace systems.

Essential experience

• 2+ years' experience in satellite systems engineering.
• Good understanding of the key subsystems that make up a spacecraft.
• Experience with requirements derivation, verification and traceability.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to perform complex technical trade-offs.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Comfortable using Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Desirable Experience

• Understanding of attitude and orbit control systems (AOCS).
• Satellite-level AIT experience.
• Exposure to FFT, STB, TM/TC and MIB activities.
• Mission operations experience.
• Experience with GMAT or Orekit.
• Python, MATLAB or other engineering analysis tools.
• FMECA, FDIR, fault-tree analysis or reliability engineering.
• Experience working on institutional or ESA missions.

What’s on Offer

• Hybrid working with 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.
• The opportunity to work on technically challenging spacecraft and space missions.

TT