Systems Engineer | Payload Integration - Earth Observation

NewOrbit Space Ltd; Reading; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in space technology is seeking an Earth-Observation Payload Integration & Systems Engineer to integrate state-of-the-art EO payloads into satellites. This role involves collaborating with various teams, extensive AIT leadership, and offers significant ownership and impact on pioneering space technology.

Benefits

Equity in company

Comprehensive benefits package

Private health insurance

Qualifications

• 1+ years experience with optical or imaging payloads on satellites.
• Experience planning and executing AIT in clean-room environments.
• Comfortable writing interface and performance documentation.

Responsibilities

• Translate customer imaging objectives into satellite requirements.
• Lead integration and testing from requirements capture to launch.
• Serve as technical point of contact for customer and supplier.

Skills

Integration of optical or imaging payloads

Communication

Education

Degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Optical Engineering, or Physics

Job description

At NewOrbit Space, our mission it to engineer the lowest orbiting satellites on Earth to rapidly advance global connectivity and insight.

We are currently building satellites that can breathe air and operate at an altitude of just 200 km - one-third that of conventional satellites. Thanks to our proprietary propulsion system we can compensate for the atmospheric drag at ultra low altitudes using the air as propellant.

Please note that as we prepare for our maiden satellite mission, we are in a critical growth phase. Our roles will often require extended hours and are not typical 9-to-6 positions.

Your Role

We're looking for an Earth-Observation (EO) Payload Integration & Systems Engineer to lead the integration of customer-supplied EO payloads into our satellites. You'll act as the technical bridge between the payload provider, our internal spacecraft teams, and the launch/operations chain.

Key Responsibilities

• Mission-needs translation - Turn customer imaging objectives into clear, traceable satellite requirements.
• AIT leadership - Plan and run functional, environmental, and end-to-end tests.
• System-level analysis - Quantify payload impacts on power, thermal, jitter, mass-properties, and data-down-link budgets.
• Customer & supplier interface - Serve as the technical point of contact, providing regular status, risk, and issue reports while explaining design-trade impacts.
• Own the payload-to-bus interface - Lead integration from requirements capture through launch-site processing and commissioning, maintaining Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and Verification Matrices.
• Launch & early-orbit support - Oversee fit-checks, launch-vehicle integration, anomaly resolution, and long-term on-orbit performance trending.
• Continuous improvement - Capture lessons learned and refine tools and processes to boost team velocity on future missions.

Fundamental Requirements

• 1 + years hands-on experience integrating optical or imaging payloads on small-/medium-class satellites, through launch or on-orbit delivery.
• Solid grasp of EO payload subsystems (optics, detectors, mechanisms, calibration) and how they interact with the spacecraft bus.
• Proven background planning and executing AIT in clean-room environment.
• Comfortable writing and maintaining interface/verification documentation and performance budgets (tool choice is yours).
• Clear communicator who can bridge optics, avionics, software and operations in a fast-moving setting.
• Degree (or equivalent practical expertise) in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Optical Engineering, Physics or related field.

If you meet most - but not all - of the above, we'd still like to hear from you.
Why NewOrbit Space?

• Pioneering Space Technology - You'll contribute to launching groundbreaking technology into space. Your work on our revolutionary air-breathing ion propulsion system will redefine satellite operations in ultra-low Earth orbits.
• Unmatched Ownership and Impact -You'll experience a level of ownership that's rare in the space industry. You will participate in the full lifecycle of satellite technology.
• Equity and Competitive Salary - You'll receive not just a competitive salary but also company ownership stakes. Your dedication and hard work are rewarded with a share in the technology you help build, ensuring you're a part of our collective success.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package -Including private health insurance with dental and optical coverage, annual healthcare check-ups etc.