UK - Fluid Systems Engineer

Orbit Fab; Oxford; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Orbit Fab in the UK is seeking a Fluid Systems Engineer to advance in-orbit refuelling technologies. You will develop fluidic components, subsystems, and propulsion interfaces, delivering robust hardware for space missions at pace.

Based at Harwell Campus, you will collaborate across engineering teams and with customers and suppliers to meet demanding schedules and budgets while guiding verification campaigns and flight hardware delivery.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience developing fluid components or subsystems from requirements and concept through design, prototyping, testing, and key milestones.
• Experience collaborating with space systems engineering teams.
• Experience defining verification plans and supporting qualification, acceptance, or performance test campaigns.
• Deep knowledge in fluid systems design and development, fluid components development, or fluidic system analysis.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the definition and development of fluid system architectures for major UK and European in-orbit refuelling missions.
• Develop preliminary and detailed fluid system designs, supported by analysis and modelling.
• Support BD activities from an engineering perspective as required.
• Manage development schedules, systems requirements, and design budgets.
• Guide systems engineering processes and facilitate technical trades across the system.
• Plan, specify and follow up simulations and test campaigns to verify subsystem and components performance and requirements compliance.
• Lead hands-on build and testing of development models of components and subsystems.
• Identify technical issues and implement resolutions to mitigate schedule and cost impacts.
• Identify suppliers and oversee component selection.
• Provide technical mentorship to junior team members.

Skills

Fluid systems

Space systems engineering

Component testing

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

BS degree in engineering

MS degree or PhD preferred

Tools

EcosimPro

Thermal Desktop

Dymola

Modelica

Job description

Orbit Fab's mission is to create the foundational infrastructure that will fuel a bustling in-space economy, capable of sustaining permanent jobs in space. Today, satellites cannot be refuelled, which severely constrains their mobility and inhibits the development of economic activities in space.

Orbit Fab breaks the single-use paradigm, pioneering our Gas Stations in Space™ refuelling infrastructure and RAFTI™ technology to deliver propellant in space, enabling lower-cost satellite construction, increased manoeuverability, precise control, and extended lifespans. The possibilities are unprecedented, opening the doors to unimagined operational strategies and business models.

Since our establishment in 2018, we have already achieved the successful launch of three tankers to space. With offices in both the US and UK, we are working in close collaboration with partners and customers across the space industry. Orbit Fab is rapidly ramping up capabilities and requires exceptional talent to tackle important challenges. Our roles offer wide ranging opportunities to have a demonstrable impact and enable a bustling space economy.

ROLE PURPOSE

As a Fluid Systems Engineer, you will contribute to the development of the technologies and fluid systems that enable in-orbit refuelling. This includes fluidic components, subsystems, and the wider fluid and propulsion systems supporting Orbit Fab’s refuelling missions.

You will support early phase work as well as later phase development, integration, and testing through to acceptance and delivery. A strong candidate will call upon a breadth of experience developing components and subsystems in space propulsion and related fields, pursuing a hardware centric iterative approach to deliver on time and on budget.

The successful candidate will bring broad experience in fluid systems, propulsion, or a related engineering discipline, together with a practical, hardware-focused approach to iterative development. You will work closely with engineers across the company and with external customers and suppliers to deliver robust technical solutions to challenging schedules and budgets.

We have described the skills, qualifications, and experience that would be valuable to the team, but you do not need to meet every criterion. Aptitude for solving complex technical problems, combined with practical experience designing, building, and testing hardware, is more important than any specific qualification, software tool, or career path.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Contribute to the definition and development of fluid system architectures for major UK and European in-orbit refuelling missions.

• Develop preliminary and detailed fluid system designs, supported by appropriate analysis and modelling.

• Support BD activities from an engineering perspective as required

• Manage and maintain development schedules, systems requirements, and design budgets

• Guide systems engineering processes and facilitate technical trades across the system

• Support technical reviews and technical decision-making processes and development

• Plan, specify and follow up simulations and test campaigns to verify subsystem and components performance and requirements compliance.

• Lead hands-on build and testing of development models of components and subsystems

• Support flight hardware AIT activities, qualification, acceptance testing, and delivery as required.

• Identify technical issues and proactively implement resolutions to mitigate schedule and cost impacts

• Identify suppliers and oversee component selection

• Provide technical mentorship to more junior team members

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND ATTRIBUTES

• Demonstrated experience developing fluid components or subsystems from requirements and concept through design, prototyping, testing, and key development milestones.

• Demonstrated collaboration with space systems engineering teams

• Experience developing verification plans and supporting or leading qualification, acceptance, or performance test campaigns.

• Deep knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Fluid systems design and development

• Fluid components design and development

• Fluidic system analysis

• Space systems engineering

• Experience defining customer needs and crafting engineering requirements, including a proven ability to successfully push back on unnecessary or mission affecting customer requirements.

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

• BS degree and three years of related engineering experience, or

• MS degree in related field and two years of related engineering experience, or Ph.D. in related field

NICE TO HAVE

• Experience taking components or subsystems through the full development lifecycle, including flight operations.

• Experience with fluid and thermal analysis tools such as EcosimPro, Thermal Desktop, Dymola, Modelica, or equivalent.

• Experience with spacecraft propulsion systems and/or high-pressure fluid systems.

• Understanding of the spacecraft propulsion and fluid component supply chain.

• Experience developing both low-cost technology demonstrators and higher-budget flight systems.

• Experience working in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary hardware development environment.

• Experience working directly with customers, suppliers, and external technical partners.

Research shows that while men apply to jobs where they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other marginalized people tend to only apply when they meet 100% of the qualifications. At Orbit Fab, we value respectful debate and people who aren’t afraid to challenge assumptions. We strongly encourage you to apply if you feel you would succeed in the role above.

SALARY

Competitive salary depending on experience.

LOCATION AND BENEFITS

The UK Orbit Fab office is based at Harwell Campus, the UK’s preeminent gateway to the space industry, and only a short drive from Oxford with convenient access to London.

We offer a range of benefits that can be discussed during the interview process.

ELIGIBILITY

Candidate must have right to work in the UK.

Orbit Fab is an equal opportunity employer, committed to being a diverse and inclusive place in which our talent can thrive. As such, Orbit Fab does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organisation, retaliation, parental status, military service, other non-merit factor or any other protected characteristic or protected category recognised by the law of jurisdictions in which we operate. All hiring and recruitment decisions made at Orbit Fab are subject to Orbit Fab’s compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements.