Senior Support Systems Engineer in Paisley

NewSpace Technical is proud to be partnering with an innovative and rapidly growing space technology company that is transforming the small satellite sector through cutting-edge Earth observation solutions. As demand for high-performance spaceborne imaging capabilities continues to accelerate, our client is seeking a Senior Systems & Mission Support Engineer to play a critical role at the intersection of engineering excellence, customer success, and mission delivery.

This is a unique opportunity for a technically confident engineer who thrives on solving complex system-level challenges, leading customer-facing technical discussions, and ensuring mission success in real-world operational environments. You'll become a trusted technical authority, helping customers integrate advanced space hardware into their platforms while influencing product improvements and shaping best-in-class support capabilities.

This is not a traditional support engineering position. The role sits at the intersection of systems engineering, customer integration, mission operations, and technical leadership. You'll act as the technical owner for customer mission success, guiding payload integration activities, troubleshooting complex system interactions, and serving as the trusted technical interface between customers and internal engineering teams.

The Opportunity

Working alongside multidisciplinary engineering teams and global customers, you'll take ownership of high-impact technical issues, drive system-level investigations, and provide expert guidance throughout the customer mission lifecycle. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys operating across disciplines, understanding how complex systems perform in real-world environments, and playing a visible role in the success of space missions around the globe.

What You'll Be Doing

• Customer & Technical Leadership
  • Act as the primary technical interface for customers throughout integration, testing, and operational phases.
  • Lead complex technical discussions with confidence, providing expert guidance on system performance, integration, and troubleshooting.
  • Proactively identify technical risks and ensure successful implementation of customer missions.
  • Own and drive resolution of critical technical issues from investigation through to closure.
  • Guide customers through payload integration activities and support successful deployment into larger spacecraft systems.
• Systems Engineering & Problem Solving
  • Diagnose and resolve complex cross-system issues involving hardware, software, electronics, and integrated systems.
  • Analyse performance data and translate findings into actionable technical recommendations.
  • Investigate anomalies and system-level behaviours in operational mission environments.
  • Take ownership of technically ambiguous challenges and drive structured resolutions.
  • Develop a deep understanding of product behaviour within real-world customer missions and operational environments.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Work closely with engineering, production, and commercial teams to communicate customer requirements and technical challenges.
  • Coordinate stakeholders across multiple disciplines to ensure timely and effective issue resolution.
  • Support product improvements by feeding operational insights back into engineering and development teams.
  • Translate customer challenges into actionable engineering feedback and improvement opportunities.
• Continuous Improvement & Mentoring
  • Strengthen support, escalation, and knowledge management processes.
  • Create and maintain technical documentation, troubleshooting guides, and lessons learned.
  • Mentor junior engineers and contribute to a collaborative, high-performance support culture.
  • Champion continuous improvement initiatives that enhance both customer outcomes and product robustness.

What We're Looking For

Essential Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, Applied Science, or a related discipline.
• 5–8 years of experience in technical, systems, or engineering-focused roles.
• Strong understanding of complex multidisciplinary systems and system-level engineering principles.
• Experience supporting customers or external stakeholders in technical environments.
• Proven ability to diagnose and resolve complex technical issues.
• Experience working across engineering and production teams.
• Exposure to product integration within larger systems.
• Previous experience mentoring or supporting junior engineers.
• Ability to communicate confidently with both customers and technical stakeholders.

Desirable Experience

• MSc, MEng, or equivalent postgraduate qualification in Aerospace, Mechanical, Optical, Systems Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with optical, imaging, sensor-based, or payload systems.
• Exposure to aerospace, defence, or other high-reliability environments.
• Experience operating in environments where system-level responsibility exists without full system ownership.
• Background in customer-facing technical, field engineering, or technical solutions roles.
• Experience leading technical investigations, root-cause analysis, and anomaly resolution activities.

Additional Requirements

• Willingness to travel within the UK and internationally when required.
• Flexibility to support time-critical technical or customer issues.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to work at the forefront of the NewSpace industry, contributing directly to missions that deliver valuable data and insights from orbit. You'll benefit from:

• Working on real-world space missions with international customers.
• Exposure to advanced aerospace technologies and complex engineering challenges.
• A highly visible role with direct impact on mission success and customer outcomes.
• Collaboration with passionate experts across engineering, systems, and operations.
• The opportunity to influence product development through real-world customer and mission feedback.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Flexible hybrid/remote working arrangements.

If you're excited by the challenge of solving complex engineering problems, supporting cutting-edge space missions, and working with customers at the forefront of innovation, we'd love to hear from you.