Senior Systems Engineer

Job Description

[Employer hidden — view at passion-project.co.uk] UK is currently developing key propulsion technologies and subsystems to offer flexible and smart solutions for the complex future in-orbit servicing market. We work with major industrial partners and on challenging new projects. Programmes at [Employer hidden] cover a range of applications across a range of technology readiness levels - from mission studies, new technology prototyping (TRL2-4), all the way up to development and qualification of full systems for space.

The Senior Systems Engineer will be leading the development and qualification of [Employer hidden]’s propulsion products. They will get involved in all aspects and phases of the propulsion programmes, defining the technical context and leading the implementation. The systems engineer will be working together with other disciplines and coordinating with project managers to ensure the successful technical outcome.

We are looking for a versatile engineer who understands how to approach engineering problems, and who can deliver solutions through excellent organization skills combined with strong technical competencies. We offer a stimulating multi-disciplinary environment and interesting projects to grow your career while contributing to the future of space industry.

Experience & Qualifications Required

• Minimum of 4+ years of experience in the space sector.
• An understanding of all critical subsystems that make up a propulsion system.
• Experience performing trade-off analysis.
• Experience generating and maintaining the requirements and associated design & verification compliance of a system.
• Experience coordinating with the subsystem leads to understand risks.
• Authoring and maintaining system level documents e.g. CONOPS, System test plans.
• Experience defining Development, Validation & Verification Plans for space systems.
• Excellent technical communication and presentation skills (written/verbal).
• Experience with requirements management.
• Understanding of space mission operations.
• Understanding of satellite level AIT.
• Familiarity with ECSS processes and developing technologies across TRL2 – TRL9.
• Familiarity with QA processes such as inspection, discrepancy reports, traceability etc.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a larger multi-disciplinary engineering team.
• Experience in managing work packages, budgets and reporting progress to project management within the company.

Additional Skills and Experience

Stronger candidates will be able to demonstrate experience across at least one of the following areas of expertise:

Thermal & Structural Analysis

• Experience in structural analysis (pressure, vibration, quasi-static, shock) and modelling of components and subsystems.
• Understanding of fundamental thermal principles and the ability to model thermal systems, including transient processes.
• Experience using analysis software such as ANSYS, Nastran or ESATAN etc.
• Experience in the design of thermal control systems applied to space subsystems.
• Experience performing trade-offs and thermal architecture definition, including specification of thermal instrumentation.
• Experience specifying mechanical tests (Vibration, shock) and thermal tests (TVAC, Thermal ambient, thermal balance, etc.) for characterisation, acceptance and/or qualification of components for space missions.

Fluidic/Propulsion System Analysis

• Good understanding of thermodynamics and thermal transfer mechanisms applied to liquids, gases, and their containing structures.
• Good knowledge of liquid propulsion components: tanks, valves, pressure transducers, pipework, thrusters etc.
• Experience with producing conceptual designs, trade-offs, system sizing, propellant selection, analysis, and performance evaluation of propulsion subsystems.
• Understanding of chemical propulsion systems for space applications - how to design them, how to analyse them and how to build and test them of a given application.
• Exposure to manufacturing, assembly, and integration of a propulsion subsystem including an understanding of design for manufacturing, welding processes, cleanliness control plan, etc.