AOCS Engineer Jobs in UK 2026 (GBP 60,000 to 70,000)
Space engineering and satellite technology roles continue to expand as companies accelerate the development of advanced spacecraft platforms and next-generation space systems. This AOCS Engineer opportunity is designed for engineers with expertise in spacecraft attitude and orbit control systems who can contribute across the full mission lifecycle, from architecture and algorithm development to integration, validation, and on-orbit operations.
About the Role
An innovative and fast-growing space technology company is seeking an AOCS Engineer to support the design, development, integration, and operation of advanced spacecraft platforms. This position offers the opportunity to work across the complete satellite lifecycle, contributing to spacecraft architecture, control algorithm development, hardware integration, system validation, and mission operations. The successful candidate will operate in a high-ownership engineering environment while helping deliver reliable and high-performance space systems.
About the Hiring Organisation
The hiring organisation operates within the space technology sector, focusing on the development of advanced spacecraft platforms and satellite capabilities. The company supports innovation across spacecraft engineering by combining system architecture, software, hardware integration, and mission operations to deliver high-performance solutions for modern space missions.
Job Duties
- Lead the development and evolution of spacecraft AOCS architecture.
- Design and integrate sensors, actuators, reaction wheels, magnetorquers, and control algorithms.
- Ensure system performance aligns with mission-level pointing and stability requirements.
- Design and implement advanced attitude determination and control algorithms.
- Support multiple pointing modes and operational control scenarios.
- Optimise system performance for accuracy and robustness.
- Develop modelling and simulation environments for spacecraft validation.
- Characterise sensors and actuators through analysis and simulation.
- Conduct trade-off studies to improve AOCS performance.
- Specify, evaluate, and select AOCS hardware components.
- Support hardware integration and system verification activities.
- Develop and execute hardware-in-the-loop testing.
- Support commissioning, calibration, manoeuvre planning, and mission operations.
- Troubleshoot integration and performance-related issues.
Job Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Master’s degree is preferred.
- Two to five or more years of experience in spacecraft AOCS, ADCS, or GNC.
- Strong understanding of closed-loop control systems.
- Knowledge of spacecraft dynamics and orbital mechanics.
- Experience working with sensors including IMUs, magnetometers, star trackers, and sun sensors.
- Experience with actuators including reaction wheels and magnetorquers.
- Proficiency in C/C++ for embedded system development.
- Experience using MATLAB and/or Python for simulation and modelling.
- Experience in hardware integration, testing, and system validation.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting spacecraft commissioning and on-orbit operations.
- Exposure to system-level verification and mission assurance activities.
- Experience developing simulation environments for spacecraft systems.
- Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
- Interest in working across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
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Conclusion
This AOCS Engineer opportunity offers space engineering professionals the chance to work across the complete spacecraft lifecycle within a fast-growing technology environment. The role combines spacecraft architecture, control systems, simulation, hardware integration, and mission operations while offering competitive compensation, equity participation, relocation support, and visa sponsorship for qualified candidates.
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