Mission Manager - In-Space Manufacturing

Mission Manager - In-Space Manufacturing Satellite Applications Catapult

Employment Type

Full time

Location Hybrid
· Didcot, UK Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire (onsite 2 days per week)

Team Missions

Seniority Mid-level, Senior

• Closing:5:00pm, 6th Mar 2026 GMT

Work from home option

Life Insurance

Wellness programs

Employee Assistance Programme

Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

Sabbatical Opportunities

Salary sacrifice

Team social events

Extracurricular clubs

Cycle to work scheme

Mission Manager, In-Space Manufacturing (ISM):
Permanent

Reporting to:
Mission Lead

The Challenge:

The Satellite Applications Catapult (Catapult) is at the forefront of the burgeoning UK Space Industry and focused on driving the sector’s commercial growth. Our work is organised around three missions – Beyond Earth, Autonomous and Connected Earth, and Resilient Earth – that concentrate our activities on the areas where we can deliver greatest impact. We help businesses realise their potential, those developing and providing space infrastructure, and those developing applications that rely on it.

The Catapult has a dual role, operating as a neutral convener bringing projects, programmes and commercial opportunities to companies in the space sector and showcasing space companies and capabilities to the attention of funders and commercial partners. We also use our expertise to deliver programmes where we see a clear role for us to play.

Reporting into our Beyond Earth Mission Lead, you will manage a portfolio of activities that collectively deliver on a key objective of the mission (an intervention). Specifically, you will be responsible for the In-Space Manufacturing and R&D intervention which seeks to advance microgravity R&D and manufacturing of advanced materials and biopharma applications
. You will support the growth of UK companies seeking to develop in-space infrastructure to support microgravity manufacturing and R&D as well as those seeking to deliver end products produced in the microgravity environment. In addition, you will assess commercially viable use cases for microgravity manufacturing and R&D and encourage growth and adoption of these use cases.

The role requires a strong understanding of microgravity research and/or in-space manufacturing (ISM), knowledge of applications such as advanced materials R&D (e.g. composites, semiconductors, alloys) or biopharma R&D (e.g. protein crystallisation, organoids, stem cells), an understanding of how microgravity impacts materials science or biological systems, and familiarity with orbital platforms (LEO infrastructure, commercial stations, return logistics).

You will be accountable for Intervention performance (impact, delivery and commercial outcomes), working through Business Development and delivery teams. This is a highly networked role that requires an ability to work under pressure, to challenging deadlines in an organised and collaborative way.

This role requires onsite presence in our Harwell offices at least 2 days per week and regular travel to our Westcott facility in Buckinghamshire.

As the Mission Manager you will:

Lead an Intervention portfolio – You will own the direction, delivery plan and performance of the In-Space Manufacturing and R&D Intervention within the Beyond Earth Mission, ensuring activities are prioritised and aligned to mission objectives and organisational strategy.

Drive commercial outcomes through others – You will be accountable for ensuring industry opportunities progress into funded programmes and contracted delivery, working through Business Development and delivery teams. You will maintain focus on conversion, pace and value created for industry.

Mobilise cross-functional delivery – You will bring together the right expertise from across the Catapult (technical, commercial, programme delivery, business growth, Partnerships, Policy and Place, and operations) to execute the Intervention plan at pace, ensuring the organisation delivers as one team.

Hold stakeholders to account – You will lead through influence, setting clear expectations, success measures and timelines across the matrix team. You will ensure progress is…