Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Space Engineering in Manchester

UNSW Canberra is seeking a Lecturer (Level B) or Senior Lecturer (Level C) in Space Engineering to join a high-impact team delivering real missions, operating nationally significant research infrastructure, and shaping Australia’s future space workforce.

About UNSW Canberra:

• The School of Engineering and Technology is the biggest school at UNSW Canberra, consisting of Aeronautical, Mechanical, Civil and Electrical Engineering disciplines as well as including Space.
• UNSW Canberra distinguishes itself by its commitment to being thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all endeavours.

Why Your Role Matters:

• UNSW Canberra Space is Australia’s leading university-based space engineering research centre.
• Since 2014, we have designed, built, launched, and operated five satellites across four missions, secured more than $30M in funding, and established one of the nation’s most advanced Space Domain Awareness (SDA) research capabilities.

The successful candidate will join a centre with:

• On-orbit satellite heritage including proximity operations and formation flying.
• Australia’s largest university-led Space Domain Awareness sensor network, incorporating optical, passive RF, and international partner nodes.
• Australia’s first experimental Space Domain Awareness Operations Centre, supporting real-time tracking, analysis and mission support.
• The Australian National Concurrent Design Facility (ANCDF) — Australia’s premier rapid space mission design capability.
• World-leading plasma and electric propulsion research, advancing next-generation in-space manoeuvrability, formation flying, and sustainable orbital operations.

About The Role:

The appointee will contribute to teaching and research within the School of Engineering & Technology while leveraging the infrastructure, partnerships and mission heritage of UNSW Canberra Space. We welcome applicants with expertise aligned to one or more of the Centre’s strategic focus areas:

• Space Domain Awareness and Space Traffic Management.
• Satellite systems, formation flying and on-orbit operations.
• Plasma and electric propulsion systems.
• Mission design and systems engineering (including ANCDF participation).
• Cyber resilience for space systems.
• Space environment modelling and mitigation.
• AI/ML for low-SWaP space systems and large constellations.

Who You Are (skills And Experience):

• A PhD in Space Engineering or a related discipline.
• A profound understanding of space engineering principles, methodologies, and best practices.
• An independent research portfolio or the potential to develop one.
• Evidence of teaching and supporting students.

Benefits And Culture:

• Flexible working options (work from home, flexible hours etc).
• Additional three days leave during December festive period.
• Career development opportunities.
• Up to 50% discount on UNSW courses.
• Flexible 17% superannuation contributions, additional leave-loading payments and salary sacrifice.
• Free gym access.
• UNSW-wide strategy to focus on Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Healthy Places and Healthy Culture.

Eligibility:

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Candidates must hold full rights to work in Australia to be considered for this position.

Pre-Employment Checks:

• National and International Criminal history checks.
• Entitlement to work and ID checks.
• Working With Children Checks.
• Completion of a Gender-Based Violence Prevention Declaration.
• Verification of relevant qualifications.
• Verification of relevant professional membership.
• Employment history and reference checks.
• Financial responsibility assessments/checks.
• Medical Checks and Assessments.

Compliance with the necessary combination of these checks is a condition of employment at UNSW.

How To Apply:

Submit your application online before Tuesday 10 March 2026, at 11:30pm, including your CV and a 1–2-page cover letter addressing the required skills and experience outlined in the position description.

For role-related queries please contact: Melrose Brown - Director UNSW Can Space melrose.brown@unsw.edu.au

For Recruitment Process-related Queries Please Contact Holly Whale – Talent Acquisition Consultant h.whale@unsw.edu.au

UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged.