Spacecraft Systems Engineer in Alton

BAE Systems Digital Intelligence is home to 4,500 digital, cyber and intelligence experts. We work collaboratively across 10 countries to collect, connect and understand complex data, so that governments, nation states, armed forces and commercial businesses can unlock digital advantage in the most demanding environments.

We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements - please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role.

Salary: Circa TBD depending on skills and experience

Grade: GG11

Who we are: Join BAE Systems and you’ll be part of something bigger. As a valued member of our global colleague network, you’ll bring your unique skills and perspectives to help pioneer progress and protect what matters most. You’ll be trusted to play your part in delivering the advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions of tomorrow, shaping a safer future, for all of us. From the depths of the ocean, to the far reaches of space, there’s no limit to where a career at BAE Systems could take you.

Job Description: In this role, you will contribute to the full lifecycle of space system development: from concept design and requirements definition, through integration, verification, and mission operations. You’ll work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams and play a key role in ensuring technical coherence, system performance, and successful delivery of mission objectives. Whilst the primary responsibilities of the role lie in project delivery, you may get involved in other areas of the business including space technology and/or space mission studies or R&D projects and technical support to bids.

Core Duties:

• Support or lead design and operational activities for small satellite missions
• Support to Spacecraft commissioning activities and Spacecraft anomaly investigation and resolution
• Perform mission needs analysis, trade studies and system architecture development
• Define, manage and validate system-level requirements and interfaces
• Conduct functional analyses, budgets (mass, power, data, thermal) and performance modelling
• Support engagement with external equipment providers
• Produce inputs for internal and customer reviews and present progress to internal stakeholders and external customers

Essential Skills:

• You will have experience in systems engineering within the space sector including hands-on experience with small satellite programmes (Microsats, Cubesats or similar) preferably across the full project lifecycle
• You will have working knowledge of typical spacecraft subsystems (AOCS, Comms, EPS, Payloads, OBC/Software, OBDH)
• You will have working knowledge of spacecraft operations

Desirable Skills:

• You should have experience in defining, managing and verifying system-level requirements
• You should have experience with industry standards (ECSS, NASA or equivalent)

The Space Business Unit comprises ~150 people all with a passion for Space! The BU hub is in Alton, Hampshire, where the spacecraft assembly and test facilities and spacecraft operations centre are located. The team are working on a range of spacecraft missions and concepts and we launched our first mission, Azalea, in December 2026.

Why BAE Systems?

Here you’ll build a career with purpose and limitless possibilities. With lifelong learning and meaningful work, this is a place where you can grow your career with confidence and be empowered to be your best. You’ll be recognised for your contribution and enjoy rewards tailored to what’s most important to you and your family, support for your financial and personal wellbeing, as well as a balanced lifestyle. In an environment embracing sustainable ways of working and with a strong sense of shared purpose, our supportive culture is a place you can feel you belong and proud of the difference you make.

A place where everyone can thrive: We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We know that a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences strengthens our teams and is vital to the work we do. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified people, who are BAE Systems employees and have been in their current role for 12 months or longer.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Life at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence: We are embracing Hybrid Working. This means you and your colleagues may be working in different locations, such as from home, another BAE Systems office or client site, some or all of the time, and work might be going on at different times of the day. By embracing technology, we can interact, collaborate and create together, even when we’re working remotely from one another. Hybrid Working allows for increased flexibility in when and where we work, helping us to balance our work and personal life more effectively, and enhance well-being.

Diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of BAE Systems Digital Intelligence. We are proud to have an organisational culture where employees with varying perspectives, skills, life experiences and backgrounds – the best and brightest minds – can work together to achieve excellence and realise individual and organisational potential.