Senior Avionics & Robotics Engineer – Space Systems (Contract)

About the role

We are seeking a Senior Avionics & Robotics Engineer to join an agile, multi‑disciplinary team developing next‑generation orbital systems. The role involves full responsibility for the electrical architecture of flight hardware, from concept through to launch readiness, with regular travel across the UK and Europe.

Key responsibilities

• Define and document subsystem interfaces, power distribution, and data architectures for spacecraft and robotic payloads.
• Lead requirements engineering, equipment specification and manage technical relationships with specialist space‑sector subcontractors.
• Support design and build of bespoke electronics boards and define flight/test harness requirements.
• Define EGSE requirements and lead functional testing, commissioning and validation of electrical subsystems (AIV/AIT).
• Act as technical authority on grounding, EMC, and power budgeting, advising internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop and execute verification and validation (V&V) test plans to ensure hardware survivability in space environments.

Required profile

• Minimum 5 + years of experience in space systems or avionics engineering.
• Specialist knowledge of analogue and digital electronics design for space‑segment robotics and motor‑control systems.
• Proficiency with space‑standard communication buses such as SpaceWire, CAN and Ethernet.
• Extensive experience in specification, commissioning and functional testing of flight‑critical hardware.
• Degree (BSc/MSc) in Engineering, Physics or Mathematics with a focus on space applications.

Required skills

• SpaceWire, CAN, Ethernet communication protocols
• Analogue and digital electronics design
• Robotics and motor‑control systems
• Grounding and EMC compliance
• Power budgeting and distribution
• Flight hardware testing and validation (AIV/AIT, V&V)
• Electrical architecture and data architecture design

What we offer

• Competitive daily rate of £500‑£600
• Opportunity to work on cutting‑edge space and robotics projects
• Frequent travel to European integration sites, providing broad industry exposure