Position: Senior Mechanical Engineer for Space Systems
The Role:
You will work alongside other senior space engineers and programme managers and supervise junior staff, reviewing space payload design concepts and elaborating detailed solutions to meet project requirements, primarily (but not only) in the field of life-science applications in biology and medicine. You will be responsible for overseeing the mechanical design of space hardware range of tasks throughout the entire project cycle considering in particular the safety guidelines associated with manned spaceflight missions. In addition to payload design work, you will be involved in overseeing the production of mechanical parts, interfacing with our supply chain by means of preparing manufacturing specifications and purchasing orders, supporting the quality assurance through the inspection/assessment of workshops, manufactured products, acceptance tests and final product approval. You will be the author of engineering documentation, such as payload specifications, design reports, technical procedures, verification and test reports.
A good understanding of basic laboratory equipment and practices is essential. Laboratory duties will also require the operation, maintenance and upgrade of measurement and test equipment when needed, as well as input into any required safety documentation. The job will normally be performed at facilities on the Harwell Campus and occasionally at university partners’ laboratories throughout the UK, with overseas travel expected at certain stages of a project, including supporting payload integration activities at the launch site.
Essential Skills and Experience:
- Master’s degree in Space Systems / Mechanical / Aerospace Engineering or other relevant subjects.
- At least 5 years’ experience working on complex space systems.
- Ability to liaise with clients/academic partners.
- Demonstrated ability to successfully deliver a project from conception through to launch/operation.
- Understanding of the systems engineering approach with experience in trade-offs and managing design budgets.
- Excellent CAD skills (preferably with Autodesk Inventor) with the ability to review 2D manufacturing drawings.
- Excellent hand to eye coordination with the ability to assemble payloads smaller than 1U and understanding of general laboratory practices and equipment.
- Fluency in speaking, reading and writing in the English language is mandatory.
- Holding a valid passport with no restriction to travel to the United States.
Other Skills and Personal Traits:
- A strong engineering mindset for design and troubleshooting with acute attention to detail.
- Keen interest in space science missions and the space industry in general and a basic understanding of the microgravity environment and its design challenges.
- Self-motivated and capable of unsupervised working, able to switch between different tasks
- Excellent team working and communication skills.
Please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining how you fulfil the role specified along with your motivation to join the company to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with subject “Application to the position of Senior Mechanical Engineer for Space Systems”. Your data will be treated according to the Data Protection Act 2018.