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Satellite Autonomy Engineer

Lead / Senior Autonomy Engineer

Satellites fail silently, and the engineers who stop that from happening are among the most critical people in the industry. Our client builds some of the most sophisticated spacecraft in operation and they need a senior autonomy engineer who can architect the fault management systems that keep them alive on orbit. If you have deep experience in onboard FDIR, spacecraft autonomy, and the ability to lead across a full program lifecycle, this role was designed for you.


You will serve as the Autonomy Responsible Engineering Authority on programmes and proposals, owning fault detection, isolation and response architecture end to end. Day to day, that means defining satellite states, modes and transitions; designing and validating onboard fault responses; leading requirements decomposition; and supporting on console operations for on orbit missions. You will work across disciplines, often guiding a multidisciplinary team, and will have real influence on CONOPS and architecture trade studies from early programme phases through to validation and test.


  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field with 5 or more years of satellite design and/or operations experience
  • Hands on experience designing, developing and verifying spacecraft FDIR
  • Experience developing and verifying spacecraft autonomy software or configuration
  • Familiarity with one or more satellite subsystems and/or system level analysis
  • Familiarity with satellite testing and/or on orbit mission operations
  • US Person status required (US Citizenship required for clearance eligibility)
  • 9 or more years of satellite design and/or operations experience, particularly in a mission or systems engineering capacity
  • Experience designing mission CONOPS and deriving fault and autonomy requirements directly from them
  • Technical leadership experience including setting programme direction, building processes and guiding engineering standards
  • Active TS/SCI clearance
  • Background in GNC, systems engineering or ex mission operations is strongly valued

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

Adam Slade

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