Senior Systems Engineer

Location: Oxfordshire

Archangel Lightworks is a laser communications company building wireless technology. Founded in 2017, we believe that laser communications to and from satellites is a key component of next-generation infrastructure. Our core product, the TERRA-M, is a deployable optical ground station with proven capability for space – ground data transfer.

Our team develops and operates products that advance the security and resilience of critical national infrastructure. We value compassion, resilience, curiosity, ownership and integrity. Our start-up is a fast-paced and supportive environment, where you can contribute to novel technology with meaningful applications like reducing the Digital Divide.

Archangel Lightworks recently closed over £10 million of investment in an oversubscribed Series A funding round. Our company is also supported by the UK Space Agency, the UK’s Department of Science and Technology (DSIT) and the UK Ministry of Defence.

About the job
As a Senior Systems Engineer, you will play a critical role in the specification, design, integration, and test of our Optical Ground Stations and other products. This role involves working closely with internal engineering teams, external partners, and customers to ensure the systems support our operational needs and enables smooth integration with partner systems.

You will be responsible for defining system and sub-system requirements, designing architecture, ensuring robust integration, and supporting the deployment and maintenance of ground stations. Additionally, you may be responsible for leading a small team, planning sprints, and coordinating activities to ensure timely and successful project delivery. This is a cross-functional role that bridges systems engineering and other engineering disciplines, and operational workflows.

Your responsibilities will include:

* Own systems or subsystems as required, leading specification and verification activities, and serving as the primary technical point of contact for external partners related to these systems

* Actively identify and address risks and issues within the allocated systems

* Drive communications within the product teams, producing accurate requirements, designs, models and documents, ensuring performance , consistency and coherence of the overall design

* Take responsibility for planning and execution of verification, qualification and operational demonstration of designs to the agreed internal and external standards including interoperability

* Develop, maintain, and review system documentation and models, including user manuals and ICDs, operational procedures, and technical budgets

* As needed, lead sprint planning, manage Agile workflows, and ensure timely delivery of team tasks including day to day coordination of subsystem developments and technical supplier/subcontract management

* Contribute to continual improvement of AL systems engineering processes including model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and tool support, and advocate this process within the engineering team.

As a senior engineer within Archangel Lightworks, you will;

* Lead significant projects/developments/parts of the system (e.g., major subsystem for satellite link, ground station integration)

* Demonstrate strong architecture/design skills; tackles ambiguous technical challenges

* Mentor mid-level/junior engineers; influences technical decisions and best practices

* Communicate effectively with leadership and external stakeholders

* Proactively seek opportunities for growth, staying abreast of the state-of-the-art, driving innovation based on new developments and embodying the value of curiosity

* Support deployment and operation of the system

* Generate and capture intellectual property

Requirements:

* Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace engineering or a related engineering field, with a strong theoretical background

* 5+ years of experience in systems engineering of comparable systems such as complex communications, electro-optical, electro-mechanical or embedded software systems

* Demonstrable ‘hands-on’ practical skills, willing and able to directly operate the system to run tests, perform operational…