At a Glance
- Tasks: Define and oversee spacecraft architecture for major missions in the space sector.
- Company: ALTEN, a global engineering consultancy driving technological advancement.
- Benefits: Personalised career path, private medical insurance, flexible working, and team-building events.
- Other info: Diverse projects, ongoing learning, and commitment to inclusivity.
- Why this job: Join a passionate team and shape the future of technology and sustainability.
- Qualifications: Experience in spacecraft architecture and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
ALTEN is a global engineering and technology consultancy operating across over 35 countries worldwide. We partner with industry leaders across sectors including Aeronautics, Aerospace, Defence, Naval, Automotive, Energy, Rail, IT and many more to deliver innovative engineering solutions that drive technological advancement and support sustainable transformation.
We are seeking an experienced System Architect to join our team in London to define and oversee the technical architecture of a major spacecraft mission within the space sector. You will shape the end-to-end system design, ensuring that all subsystems integrate seamlessly into a coherent, reliable, and mission-ready spacecraft platform.
Location: London
On Site: 1-2x a month
Clearance: Clearable
Experience Level: Mid Level - Senior
Key Responsibilities:
- Define the overall spacecraft architecture, ensuring alignment with mission objectives, constraints, and performance requirements.
- Lead the development of system-level concepts, including functional breakdowns, subsystem interactions, and high-level design flows.
- Own and maintain the technical baseline, ensuring consistency across electrical, mechanical, RF, software, thermal, and payload domains.
- Produce and manage system specifications, architectural documentation, and interface definitions.
- Drive trade-off analyses, evaluating design options across performance, reliability, mass, power, and cost.
- Support risk identification, mitigation strategies, and architectural decisions that impact mission reliability.
- Oversee system-level verification and validation, ensuring the architecture is fully testable and compliant.
- Collaborate with AIT, mission operations, and engineering teams to ensure architectural consistency throughout development and testing.
- Provide senior technical leadership, mentoring engineers and influencing long-term architectural strategy.
Qualifications
Required Skills:
- Mandatory Space industry experience — direct involvement in spacecraft architecture, satellite systems, or mission-critical space hardware.
- Proven experience defining system architectures for complex aerospace or space platforms.
- Strong understanding of subsystem domains (electrical, mechanical, RF, software, thermal, payload).
- Skilled in producing system-level documentation, specifications, and architectural models.
- Strong analytical skills for trade studies, risk analysis, and architectural decision-making.
- Ability to coordinate across multidisciplinary engineering teams and drive system-level coherence.
- Experience supporting system-level verification, validation, and design reviews.
Required Qualifications:
- A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, or equivalent military experience.
Desirable Skills:
- Knowledge of ECSS or similar space-industry standards.
- Experience with MBSE tools or model-based architectural frameworks.
- Familiarity with spacecraft AIT workflows and system-level testing.
- Understanding of mission analysis, operations concepts, and spacecraft behaviour modelling.
- Exposure to configuration control, change management, and baseline evolution.
- Experience contributing to long-term architectural roadmaps or multi-mission system strategies.
Additional Information
We bring together entrepreneurial, tech-driven people to deliver innovative solutions for leading companies. At ALTEN, you’ll work on exciting projects, supported by ongoing learning, mentoring, and clear career development tailored to your goals.
In short you get:
- A personalised career path and a rewarding management style
- A huge diversity of engineering projects and industries
- Private Medical Insurance
- Cycle & Tech Scheme
- 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 and 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.
Systems Architect in London employer: ALTEN
ALTEN is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration, providing engineers with the opportunity to work on groundbreaking projects in the space sector. Located in London, employees benefit from a personalised career path, ongoing learning, and a supportive environment that values diversity and inclusion. With flexible working arrangements and a strong commitment to employee well-being, ALTEN empowers its team to shape the future of technology while enjoying a vibrant social atmosphere.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Systems Architect in London
✨Join Aerospace Forums and Groups
Get involved in aerospace engineering forums and online communities, like the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics). It's a great way to meet industry peers and stay updated on job openings and trends in the field.
✨Attend Industry Conferences
Keep an eye on upcoming aerospace conferences and events where you can network with professionals and showcase your interest. Events like the Farnborough International Airshow are not just about flying machines; they're a goldmine for connections and potential job leads.
✨Spotlight Your Projects
Make sure to highlight any hands-on experience or projects on your portfolio that showcase your skills in aerospace engineering. Employers love seeing practical applications of theoretical knowledge. Show us what you've got!
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
When you find companies you want to work for, head straight to their careers page to apply for full-time roles, like the one with ALTEN for a Systems Architect. This often puts your application in front of the right people faster than just waiting for job boards!
We think you need these skills to ace Systems Architect in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for the aerospace engineering role at ALTEN, make sure to highlight your technical expertise. Include specific software skills, like CAD tools or simulation software, and any relevant engineering projects you’ve worked on. This is your chance to really shine and showcase your engineering toolkit!
Don't Skip Your Projects!:Include a section in your CV dedicated to projects that demonstrate your problem-solving abilities in aerospace engineering. Whether it's a university project, an internship, or personal work, we love seeing how you’ve applied your skills in real-world scenarios. Make it clear what your role was and the impact of the project.
Show Your Passion in Your Cover Letter:At ALTEN, we're not just looking for skills – we want to know why you’re passionate about aerospace engineering. Use your cover letter to express what excites you about aviation technology and your career goals. Share any relevant experiences or inspirations that have led you to apply for this full-time position.
Tailor Your CV for Aerospace:Make sure your CV is specifically tailored to aerospace engineering. Focus on your education, any certifications, and your work experience, ensuring you highlight aspects that relate directly to the role. Don’t forget to mention any internships or apprenticeships that have given you hands-on experience.
How to prepare for a job interview at ALTEN
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Knowledge
Aerospace engineering is all about technical precision, so make sure you’re comfortable with key concepts like aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials science. We recommend going through any relevant coursework or projects you’ve worked on – these real-world examples can illustrate your understanding during the interview with ALTEN.
✨Showcase Your Projects with Confidence
Make sure to have a portfolio ready that details any significant projects you've worked on, whether it’s a group assignment or a personal endeavour. Be prepared to discuss the challenges you faced, the tools you used, like CAD software, and what you learned from the experience, as this will show your problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Technical Interviews
Expect some technical questions or even problem-solving exercises during your interview with ALTEN. Get familiar with design challenges or theoretical problems related to aerospace; this can range from calculating lift and drag forces to materials selection under stress. Practising these can help you feel more at ease when faced with tricky questions.
✨Emphasise Your Passion and Teamwork Skills
As a full-time candidate, it’s crucial to convey your passion for aerospace engineering and your ability to work in teams. Highlight any group projects or internships you've done, focusing on how you collaborated with others to achieve a goal. Companies like ALTEN love seeing candidates who not only have technical skills but also fit well within their team culture.
