Job Description:

An innovative space technology organisation is looking for an experienced Senior Payload Systems Engineer – Robotics to join its growing engineering team.

This is an exciting opportunity to work on highly complex robotic systems for next-generation spacecraft, taking technical ownership across design, development, testing, integration and operations.

The Role

As a senior member of the payload engineering team, you will provide technical expertise across robotic capture systems, working closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams and external suppliers.

You will:

• Define and review robotics system requirements and verification strategies.
• Lead technical discussions with robotics suppliers and assess solutions against mission requirements.
• Collaborate with mechanical, thermal, electrical, software and systems engineering teams.
• Support robotics hardware through spacecraft design, integration, testing and launch campaigns.
• Work with AIV teams to ensure designs are suitable for manufacture, assembly, integration and test.
• Produce and maintain technical documentation, specifications, ICDs, procedures and design reports.
• Provide technical input to key project reviews including PDR and CDR.
• Support procurement, supplier engagement and manufacturing activities.
• Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership across robotics activities.

About You

We're looking for an experienced robotics engineer with a strong background in complex, safety-critical systems.

Essential experience:

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Robotics, Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or a related discipline.
• 5+ years' robotics engineering experience.
• Experience taking complex robotic/mechanism designs through concept, analysis, design, testing and operations.
• Commercial experience in robotics analysis, design, procurement and testing.
• Strong understanding of robotics kinematics, dynamics, sensors and actuators.
• Experience with robotics analysis/design tools such as ROS/ROS2.
• Understanding of robotics design trade-offs and operation within challenging environments.
• Experience managing requirements throughout the full project lifecycle.
• Good understanding of spacecraft or similarly complex engineering development programmes and lifecycle reviews.
• Experience developing innovative hardware or mechanical solutions to complex problems.

Desirable Experience

• Robotics experience within the space sector.
• Knowledge of robotic manipulation and capture technologies.
• Experience with magnetic systems or magnetic properties in capture mechanisms.
• SolidWorks or other CAD packages such as CATIA, NX or Creo.
• PDM experience.
• Multi-body dynamics modelling tools such as HyperWorks.
• Kinematic and robotics modelling/simulation.
• Python or VBA for engineering data processing and automation.

What’s on Offer

• Hybrid working and 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.
• Opportunity to work on highly innovative robotic and spacecraft technologies.

TT