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Space Engineering Technician

Developing, manufacturing, assembling and testing equipment to support the UK's growing space sector

How this role makes a difference

Space manufacturing includes the design and production of satellites, as well as the components and subsystems that are used within them. This area of manufacturing is growing in the UK and more specialist engineers are needed to work in UK spaceports, new satellite launch sites and testing facilities.

As a space engineering technician, you’ll be involved in the development, manufacture, assembly, integration, and testing of complex, high-value space hardware and ground-based equipment. Every component helps to enable important things like in-space power generation, altitude control, rocket propulsion, and space communication. You could be the technician who helps space exploration to happen without a hitch and communications to be maintained.

The kind of work you’ll do

  • Build and test precision components
  • Plan and carry out component assembly
  • Inspect components and find the source of any faults
  • Carry out integration and testing activity
  • Operate equipment and analysis tools
  • Complete documentation for each stage of activity
  • Present test results
  • Find ways to improve processes and procedures
Useful skills
Critical thinking
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Decisive
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Instructing others
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Precise
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Technologically minded
Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the role

A fascination with space travel and exploration.

An interest in engineering and how things are made.

The confidence to work with high tech equipment and computer software.

An enjoyment and aptitude for working with your hands.

A responsible approach to carrying out your work accurately, with great attention to detail.

A natural ability to assess available options and find the correct solution quickly.

A knack for teaching other people how to do things and for putting into practice what you learn.

An interest in thinking through challenges from different angles.

This role could also be right for you if you have any of the following interests:

- science

- building, making and fixing things

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per year *
£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

Future career opportunities

Once you’ve built your knowledge about a range of components, you may decide to specialise in a particular kind, or focus your career on the research and development of new components.

Senior space engineering roles include responsibility for managing and training other people, project management, and liaising with international space partners.

How to get into this role

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:  

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

You will contribute to inspection and testing activities for mission-critical satellites and support the integration of technology at space centres and launch sites in other countries. Your range of customers will include space agencies and satellite operators and you will interact with international organisations responsible for space technology standardisation and quality.

Other job titles...

This role can also be known by some other job titles including:

Advanced Manufacturing Technician
Assembly
Control and Instrumentation Engineering Technician
Electrical Engineering Technician
Integration and Test Technician
Materials and Chemical Engineering Technician
Quality and Product Assurance Technician
Satellite Manufacturing
Spacecraft Mechanical Engineering Technician
Spacecraft Propulsion Engineering Technician

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