AIT Systems Integration Engineer (Satellite)

Location: Reading, UK; hybrid working with one dedicated remote day per week. Occasional travel and flexible work during test and launch campaigns are required.

Company

hirify.global develops very-low-Earth-orbit satellites below 300 km and AURA RF gridded ion thrusters for electric propulsion.

What you will do

• Own spacecraft functional and system-level testing from unit acceptance and subsystem integration through end-to-end testing.
• Write, review, and execute test specifications and procedures, including FDIR, mission simulations, environmental campaign testing, and test readiness activities.
• Lead test reviews, diagnose anomalies, track NCRs, and drive root-cause investigations with subsystem engineers.
• Own the verification matrix, map requirements to verification methods, collect evidence, and prepare data packages for design, qualification, acceptance, and launch reviews.
• Specify, integrate, validate, calibrate, and configuration-control electrical GSE, checkout software, and ground-segment interfaces.
• Support subsystem and payload integration, launch-site checkout, launch-vehicle interface testing, cleanroom operations, ESD compliance, and lessons learned.

Requirements

• Degree in Aerospace, Electronic, Electrical, or Systems Engineering, Physics, or equivalent experience.
• Typically 3+ years in spacecraft AIT, systems integration, or test engineering, including hands-on functional and system-level testing of satellites or space subsystems.
• Experience with SmallSat development approaches, including agile and rapid iteration, protoflight models, and pragmatic use of COTS components.
• Working knowledge of EPS, OBC/C&DH, ADCS, communications and RF payloads, propulsion, thermal, structures, and payloads.
• Experience setting up and using GSE, EGSE, checkout systems, RF test equipment, and laboratory equipment such as oscilloscopes, power supplies, multimeters, spectrum analysers, and logic analysers.
• Experience with requirements verification and maintaining a verification matrix through close-out; clear technical writing for procedures, test reports, and NCRs.
• Familiarity with CAN, I2C, SPI, RS-422, SpaceWire, CCSDS, or comparable spacecraft interfaces and protocols.
• Ownership, methodical attention to detail, flight-hardware safety awareness, structured anomaly solving, and clear cross-disciplinary communication.
• Eligibility for UK security clearance, or the ability to obtain it, if required by the programme.

Nice to have

• End-to-end involvement in at least one satellite mission that reached launch.
• Test automation and scripting in Python or similar, plus spacecraft control or checkout software such as OpenC3/COSMOS, Yamcs, or SCOS-2000.
• Experience planning or supporting vibration, TVAC, or EMC campaigns and launch-site activities.
• Knowledge of ECSS verification and testing standards or NASA equivalents.
• Experience with DOORS, Jama, Polarion, Valispace, or similar requirements management tools.
• Cleanroom and ESD-certified flight-hardware handling.

Culture & Benefits

• Work on VLEO satellite technology and RF gridded ion thrusters across the full satellite lifecycle.
• High ownership and direct impact on spacecraft technology development.
• Company equity alongside a competitive salary.
• Private health insurance with dental and optical cover, plus annual health check-ups.
• Visa sponsorship and relocation support are available for candidates moving to join the company.