Payload Engineer

Gravitilab Aerospace Services is based near Norwich, with collaborations and operations with launch partners in Scotland. An exciting, fast-growing start-up and industry pathfinder for microgravity testing services and aiding UK space science goals. With decades of experience in rocket technology, we are now seeking a new member of the team to work on the development of suborbital payloads and product design.

Job Description

Initially your work shall be R&D/development focused on product design helping the team deliver a unique proprietary payload module for Gravitilab’s suborbital launch vehicle. The role also includes systems engineering and technical analysis support for our customers with development of payloads.

Responsibilities

  • Deliver highly reliable and robust payload designs for low-risk suborbital flights
  • Assist in the delivery of electro-mechanical systems
  • Work through Gravitilab’s ECSS derived engineering methodology
  • Responsible for design work packages and equipment across the company as required
  • To help manage electronic design projects and equipment across the company
  • Be involved in the ideation, planning, and strategy of upcoming projects
  • Take responsibility for each work package undertaken and, depending on experience, leading how the development is run and who is involved in it

Qualifications and Experience

Essential:

  • Degree in engineering or relevant field • Demonstrated first principles thinking
  • Proficiency in Solidworks
  • Understanding of the aerospace laboratory environment including cleanliness, ESD precautions, and flight hardware handling and tracking
  • A strong understanding of space missions from conception through flight
  • Understanding of hardware requirements from mission ConOps down to MIL-STD and other specifications
  • Proficient in design for manufacture
  • Experience in developing system requirements and subsystem architectural design
  • Demonstrated ability to self-manage and self-motivate work on open-ended projects to produce tangible, incremental results
  • Demonstrated aptitude for rapid hardware development and a hands-on approach to design, build and fly space hardware
  • Demonstrated ability to independently research, communicate, and recommend key design decisions to stakeholders
  • 2+ years’ experience in the field of product design or similar field

Preferred: 

  • Awareness of ECSS standards, and experience of projects through Phase 0/A to D/E
  • Experience with analysis software Ansys
  • Knowledge of composites and advanced materials for aerospace applications
  • Demonstrated experience in Python or other languages in an aerospace context
  • Familiarity with electrical interfaces and connection methods

Desirable Skills and Qualities:

  • Open minded and willing to engage with a variety of tasks/duties
  • Spaceflight project or work experience including SmallSats, particularly CubeSats
  • Experience across multiple architectures of spacecraft or multiple architectures of a single
    subsystem or component
  • Hands-on experience with spacecraft instrumentation, subsystems, and test labs
  • Good Microsoft Office skills, Word, Excel and SharePoint
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Positive and proactive ‘can-do’ attitude and ability to understand a ‘new space’ start-up environment
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team

Why Gravitilab?

  • Our workshop and office are open plan meaning that you’re only ever a few meters away from every other technical team member supporting creative, interdisciplinary and out-of-the-box
    discussions.
  • Have real responsibility for technical subsystems as every person has an important role in our rapidly growing start-up.
  • Develop new skills and competencies fast through on-the-job training
  • Work with an enthusiastic and energetic technical team

Salary: Dependent on experience

Process

Send a cover letter and C.V. to [email protected]