Senior AIT On-Board Processor Engineer

Harwell or Stevenage | 4 days on-site

A leading organisation within the space sector is seeking an AIT On-Board Processor Engineer to support the development and delivery of advanced space systems.

Working as part of a growing engineering team, you will play a key role in ensuring digital processing payloads and flight hardware meet stringent quality and reliability requirements throughout the entire development lifecycle. You will work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Test, and Project teams to drive digital electronics integration, high-speed interface testing, and embedded hardware verification through to final delivery.

• Responsible for the electrical integration, functional verification, and testing of digital processing flight hardware and embedded systems
• Verify high-speed data interfaces, FPGA-based architectures, digital signal processing routines, and power distribution across payload units
• Operate laboratory test equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analysers, spectrum analysers, signal generators) for electrical characterisation and root cause analysis
• Develop and execute automated test scripts using Python on Linux and Windows environments for data analysis and issue tracking
• Present technical data clearly to senior leadership and external customers/agencies (e.g. ESA, UK Space Agency), while proactively supporting junior engineers
• Collaborate cross-functionally across software, systems, and hardware teams to ensure complete verification coverage across all test phases

• 4+ years of experience in AIT, verification, or systems integration on space flight hardware or complex electronics
• Strong understanding of digital electronics, embedded systems, high-speed data interfaces, FPGA-based systems, power systems, and electrical integration
• Hands-on experience with test equipment including oscilloscopes, spectrum analysers, logic analysers, and signal generators
• Proficiency using both Linux and Windows environments, alongside Python for automated test scripting and data analysis
• Solid knowledge of digital signal processing (DSP) concepts
• Excellent communication skills with a proven ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority
• Experience across GEO, MEO, or LEO satellite programmes or spacecraft-level AIT campaigns
• Exposure to digital transparent processors (DTP), regenerative payloads, or software-defined payload architectures
• Familiarity with Ka-band, Ku-band, or X-band payloads
• Knowledge of or familiarity with space industry standards such as ECSS is advantageous

Compliance:
Please note successful candidates will be required to undergo BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard) screening, including right-to-work, identity, criminal record, and a minimum of 3 years of employment history checks, as part of the onboarding process.