Mechanical Design and Test Engineer for Space Systems in Harwell

Contract: 6 months (With possibility of extension)

Kayser Space Ltd. is a UK-based SME located at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire and forms part of the Kayser Space Group, whose parent company is headquartered in Livorno, Italy. Established in the UK in 2015, the company draws upon over 40 years of group heritage in the field of space systems and microgravity research.

Kayser Space specialises in the design, manufacture, and verification of payloads and systems for microgravity research and human space exploration in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). To date, the group has successfully delivered and operated more than 133 payloads aboard the International Space Station (ISS), supporting a wide range of scientific and technological missions.

The company provides both technical and managerial expertise to assess feasibility and support the development and implementation of bioprocessing and life-science systems capable of operating within the constraints of the space environment. All activities are conducted in compliance with stringent product assurance, safety, and regulatory requirements applicable to crewed missions and launch vehicles, while also addressing the operational and logistical aspects of spaceflight.

Kayser is a regular contractor to ESA and the UK Space Agency on life-science and exploration programmes, and has supported multiple UK-led experiments successfully flown to the ISS. The company continues to grow, with a strong pipeline of new and innovative projects.

You will work under the supervision of senior engineering staff, reviewing space payload design concepts and elaborating detailed solutions to meet project requirements, primarily in the field of life-science applications in biology and medicine. As befits the work environment of an SME, you will gradually assume responsibility for a range of tasks throughout the entire project cycle, to be accomplished timely and with discipline.

In addition to payload design work, you will be involved in prototyping and manufacturing of mechanical parts, interfacing with our supply chain by means of preparing manufacturing specifications and purchasing orders, supporting the quality assurance through the inspection/assessment of workshops, manufactured products, acceptance tests and final product approval. You will spend part of your time in the company’s mechanical laboratory supporting payload assembly, integration and test, therefore you are expected to have excellent hand-to-eye coordination, be proficient in the use of small hand tools and be able to develop a good understanding of basic laboratory equipment and practices. Laboratory duties will also require the operation, maintenance and upgrade of measurement and test equipment. These activities are normally performed at facilities on the Harwell Campus and at partner laboratories throughout the UK. Travel overseas may be required at certain stages of a project, including supporting payload integration activities at the launch site.

All of these activities are underpinned by engineering documentation that undergoes rigorous scrutiny, review, and final approval by organisations such as ESA, NASA, and UKSA, ensuring compliance with safety standards, launch vehicle requirements, and broader regulatory frameworks. Therefore, the ideal candidate must demonstrate strong proficiency in producing clear, accurate, and high-quality technical documentation.

• BEng/MEng/ MSc in Space Systems, Mechanical, Aerospace, Biomedical Engineering, or a related discipline
• Strong CAD proficiency (preferably Autodesk Inventor), including the ability to produce detailed 2D manufacturing drawings
• Excellent manual dexterity and hand–eye coordination, with the ability to assemble small-scale payloads
• Fluency in spoken and written English is essential
• Understanding of material properties and systems design methodology
• Ability to obtain a valid passport with no restrictions on travel to the United States