Graduate Mechanical Design Engineer (Satellite)

Location: Reading, UK; hybrid working with one dedicated remote day per week

Company

hirify.global builds very low Earth orbit satellites operating below 300 km and develops electric propulsion systems, including AURA RF gridded ion thrusters for its NEO-1 satellite and other operators.

What you will do

• Design mechanical satellite hardware such as brackets, panels, component mounts, thermal-control hardware, and cable and harness routing.
• Maintain the satellite’s large 3D CAD assembly, including interfaces, configurations, revisions, digital mock-ups, and clash checks.
• Support PLM data, bills of materials, engineering change control, design reviews, qualification, and collaboration with structural and thermal engineers.
• Produce manufacturing-ready drawings using GD&T and work with manufacturers and suppliers to balance buildability, cost, mass, and reliability.
• Support prototype builds, satellite integration, environmental testing, and design iteration based on test results.
• Collaborate with electrical, software, systems, and thermal engineers to integrate mechanical components into the satellite platform.

Requirements

• Completed or soon-to-be-completed bachelor’s or master’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or a related engineering discipline. Final-year students graduating in summer 2027 or later are not considered.
• Hands-on 3D CAD experience from university projects, a placement, or an internship; SolidWorks is preferred, with CATIA, NX, or Creo also considered.
• Working knowledge of GD&T and experience producing engineering drawings, including through coursework or a team project.
• Solid grounding in mechanical design principles, materials, and thermal management, with a working understanding of structural mechanics.
• Evidence of designing, building, and testing a real product or system, including troubleshooting and iteration.
• Clear communication skills, including the ability to explain and defend design decisions and respond to feedback and challenge.

Nice to have

• Placement, internship, or year-in-industry experience in aerospace, space, motorsport, or another high-reliability field.
• Experience with several people working in one CAD assembly and controlling files and revisions.
• Exposure to PLM or PDM systems such as 3DEXPERIENCE, Windchill, Teamcenter, ENOVIA, or SolidWorks PDM, or to ECO, ECR, or ECN processes.
• Experience with design reviews, documented requirements, and standards.
• Satellite, CubeSat, or rocketry project experience, including hardware that has launched.
• Basic FEA familiarity and exposure to manufacturing processes.

Culture & Benefits

• Work on RF gridded ion thrusters and a very low Earth orbit satellite platform across the full lifecycle of satellite technology.
• Take ownership of real mechanical parts early while working in a small, multidisciplinary team with guidance from the lead designer.
• Receive 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 hirify.global.

Hiring process

• The role is hiring as soon as possible and is intended for candidates who have already graduated or will complete their degree in time to start very soon.