Mission Operations Engineer

Spacecraft Systems Engineer Alton. 3 days a week - Hampshire £(Apply online only) per day (Inside IR35) Defence and Space 6 months initial term Join our client and you'll be part of something bigger. As a valued member…

Inside IR35 Public Sector
Pay rate £60 – £65/hour
Contract type Contract
Posted 18 September 2026

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About this contract

Spacecraft Systems Engineer

Alton. 3 days a week - Hampshire

£(Apply online only) per day (Inside IR35)

Defence and Space

6 months initial term

Join our client and you'll be part of something bigger. As a valued member of our global colleague network, you'll bring your unique skills and perspectives to help pioneer progress and protect what matters most. You'll be trusted to play your part in delivering the advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions of tomorrow, shaping a safer future, for all of us.

Job Description:

In this role, you will contribute to the full lifecycle of space system development: from concept design and requirements definition, through integration, verification, and mission operations. You'll work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams and play a key role in ensuring technical coherence, system performance, and successful delivery of mission objectives. Whilst the primary responsibilities of the role lie in project delivery, you may get involved in other areas of the business including space technology and/or space mission studies or R&D projects and technical support to bids.

Core Duties:

· Support or lead design and operational activities for small satellite missions

· Support to Spacecraft commissioning activities and Spacecraft anomaly investigation and resolution

· Perform mission needs analysis, trade studies and system architecture development

· Define, manage and validate system-level requirements and interfaces

· Conduct functional analyses, budgets (mass, power, data, thermal) and performance modelling

· Support engagement with external equipment providers

Produce inputs for internal and customer reviews and present progress to internal stakeholder and external customers

Essential Skills:

You will have experience in systems engineering within the space sector including hands-on experience with small satellite programmes (Microsats, Cubesats or similar) preferably across the full project lifecycle
You will have working knowledge of typical spacecraft subsystems (AOCS, Comms, EPS, Payloads, OBC/Software, OBDH)
You will have working knowledge of spacecraft operationsDesirable Skills:

You should have experience in defining, managing and verifying system-level requirements
You should have experience with industry standards (ECSS, NASA or equivalent)

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