At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead spacecraft assembly, integration, and testing for exciting space missions.
- Company: Join a pioneering company in the space sector based in London.
- Benefits: Enjoy private medical insurance, flexible working, and a supportive team culture.
- Other info: Diverse projects, inclusive workplace, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on groundbreaking space projects and advance your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in spacecraft AIT and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Seeking an experienced AIT Manager to join our team in London to lead Assembly, Integration & Test activities for a major spacecraft mission within the space sector. You will oversee the full AIT lifecycle, ensuring that all flight hardware is integrated, tested, and validated to the highest reliability standards required for orbital operations.
Location: London
On Site: 1-2x a month
Experience Level: Mid - Senior
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and coordinate all AIT activities across spacecraft subsystems, from initial assembly through final acceptance testing.
- Define and maintain the AIT strategy, workflows, schedules, and resource planning for the mission.
- Manage a team of AIT Technicians and Engineers, providing daily direction, task allocation, and technical oversight.
- Ensure all integration and test activities follow high‑reliability space standards, cleanroom protocols, and mission‑specific requirements.
- Oversee functional testing, electrical verification, mechanical integration, and subsystem‑level validation.
- Drive test campaign planning, including vibration, thermal‑vacuum, EMC, and environmental qualification activities.
- Review and approve test procedures, integration plans, NCRs, and technical documentation.
- Act as the primary interface between AIT, systems engineering, avionics, mechanical engineering, and project management teams.
- Ensure smooth hardware flow, from incoming inspection through integration, testing, and final delivery.
Qualifications Required Skills:
- Mandatory Space industry experience — direct involvement in spacecraft AIT, satellite assembly, or high‑reliability space hardware integration.
- Proven experience leading AIT teams or supervising integration activities.
- Strong understanding of spacecraft electrical, mechanical, and harness interfaces.
- Hands‑on experience with functional testing, environmental testing, and subsystem validation.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, ICDs, wiring diagrams, and test procedures.
- Experience managing NCRs, test reports, and integration documentation.
- Excellent coordination skills across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Strong awareness of cleanroom practices, contamination control, and flight hardware handling.
Required Qualifications:
- A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, or equivalent military experience.
- Experience planning and executing full spacecraft‑level test campaigns.
- Exposure to spacecraft AIT scheduling, risk management, and configuration control.
- Understanding of system‑level verification, acceptance criteria, and mission readiness processes.
- Experience supporting launch‑site AIT or final spacecraft checkout activities.
Additional Information:
- A personalised career path and a rewarding management style.
- A huge diversity of engineering projects and industries.
- Private Medical Insurance.
- Employee assistance programme.
- Life insurance & Pension Scheme.
- Social atmosphere, regular gatherings & team buildings.
- Flexible way of working (role dependent).
We are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant & actively encourage applications from members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, reservists, service leavers, and military spouses/partners. We recognise the value of military skills and experience and are committed to ensuring that no applicant is unfairly disadvantaged during our recruitment and selection processes. ALTEN is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and values the strength that comes from a global mix of backgrounds and perspectives. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of background or protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. This role may require you to have or be willing to go through Security Clearance. As part of the onboarding process candidates will be asked to complete a Baseline Personnel Security Standard; details of the evidence required to apply may be found on the government website Gov.UK. If you are unable to meet this and any associated criteria, then your employment may be delayed, or rejected. Details of this will be discussed with you at interview.
AIT Spacecraft Manager employer: ALTEN
ALTEN is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, where passionate engineers collaborate on innovative projects that shape the future of technology and sustainability. Located in Broughton, employees benefit from a personalised career path, ongoing learning opportunities, and a supportive environment that values diversity and encourages growth. With a range of benefits including private medical insurance, flexible working arrangements, and a strong commitment to the Armed Forces community, ALTEN is dedicated to creating a rewarding and meaningful workplace for all its team members.
