Types of career

Job Title
Space Systems Engineer

Brief Description
To look at the entire space system as a whole, work together with stakeholders (internal and external) to manage requirements, interfaces. They then work with all the different teams to make sure all the various components fit together and operate properly to create the final result.

Key Skills

• Teamwork and communication
• Problem-solving
• Time management
  

Entry Routes
Generally a degree in a STEM subject. Many employers have graduate trainee programmes to recruit people directly from university and on the job training is provided.

An alternative is to start off as an engineering technician by completing an HNC/HND or foundation degree in an engineering subject.

Another alternative is to join a company on their apprenticeships scheme, where you will learn and work at the same time. Provides a varied entry into multiple roles.

Job Title
Launch Systems Engineer

Function
Launch Systems Engineers sit within the CSP – Space regulation under Engineering Division and will contribute experts on technical aspects in the launch, spaceport and range licence process as well as provide support to Orbital licensing where appropriate.

Brief Description
The generic role of a launch system engineer is to understand all the sub system operations involved with launch, spaceport and range. It is more common for them to specialise in several areas of expertise usually developed through industry experience or training. The full team compliment then results in full coverage of the required expertise and allows for redundancy in roles.

These skills and expertise are then used to assess the suitability of applications for launch, spaceport and range licenses.

Key Skills

• System Engineering – understanding how all the major sub systems of launch vehicles and ground systems work.
• Teamworking
• Problem Solving
• Basic principles analysis of design and budget assessments

Entry Routes
Generally, a degree in a STEM subject. Many employers have graduate trainee programmes to recruit people directly from university and on the job, training is provided. Internships with any space industry while in university. Master thesis conducted on subjected related to space.

Or
Accredited apprenticeship within the space industry.

Relevant skills and experience to allow entry to the job can come through the academic route or on the job learning in apprenticeships

Day in the Life
Developing the process to assess licence applications considering the technical topics and analysis needed as well as the policy and regulatory scope.

Using the process to assess applications, reviewing evidence, drawing conclusions of it and where necessary engaging with the applicant for further evidence/explanation.

Report writing, meetings to discuss policy and approach and engagement with industry and other government agencies.

Fun Fact
Sitting in this role you can expect to be trained in very niche skills and practices. You may be sent on site visits or even see a rocket launch!

Job Title
Propulsion Engineer

Brief Description
Propulsion engineers are involved in the specification, design, development, qualification, manufacture, integration and testing of propulsion systems and/or components of launch vehicles (rocket propulsion) or spacecraft (in-space propulsion). Propulsion systems can either be ‘chemical propulsion systems’, which create thrust by reacting liquid and/or gaseous propellants to produce hot gasses that are accelerated out of a rocket nozzle, or ‘electric propulsion systems’ which produce thrust by electrostatic or electromagnetic discharge of mass (usually a plasma). Propulsion system components typically consist of tanks, thrusters, valves, pumps, pressure regulators, pipework, sensors and electronics.

Key Skills
Physics, Mechanical engineering, thermodynamics, systems engineering, manufacturing technologies, design/analytical skills, communication, problem-solving, time management.

Entry Routes
Generally a degree in a STEM subject. There are now many universities that offer degree and MSc courses in Aeronautics/Astronautics engineering and/or Space Science with students and staff that are actively engaged in space propulsion-related R&D projects that have strong links to industrial partners in the UK space sector. Employers in the space industry tend to look towards these universities for eligible graduates to recruit given the opportunities that are offered for students to gain valuable space/propulsion experience, some of which can be quite “hands-on”, from the variety of final year research projects and PhDs now available.  Many employers also have their own graduate trainee programmes to recruit people directly from university and on the job training can be provided.

Job Title
Space Programme

Function
The UK Space Regulation team has been built in the CAA alongside the development of a scalable target operating model which implements the Space Industry Regulations 2021

Brief Description
The modern and innovative new legislation enabling exciting new space activities to operate from within the UK.  The experience of the existing satellite licencing team from the UK Space Agency has also joined the CAA to provide consistency and their highly respected and globally recognised expertise to the new regulator.

Key Skills
The multi-disciplinary team contains a wide range of experiences, including outcome focused regulation across hazardous sectors, space and aerospace engineering specialists, environment experts and regulatory officers.  The team is also supported by many other areas in the CAA (such as Airspace change) which are directly relevant to ensuring safe operation of space activities. The key regulated elements include launch operators, spaceport operators, range operators and satellite/in orbit operators.

Job Title
Orbital Mission Safety Analyst

Function
Mission Safety Analyst sits within the CSP – Space regulation under Engineering Division and will contribute experts on technical aspects in the licence process

Brief Description
Assesses the technical evidence provided as part of licensing applications for UK space missions and will provide their expertise mainly on in-orbit analysis of an orbital licence and will perform several analyses considering safety, security and sustainability aspects of the satellite in orbit.

Some of these analyses include – Lifetime estimation in-orbit, performing probability of collision, financial impact of Collison probability, computing critical number of conjunctions, collision avoidance maneuverers etc. Mission analyst is responsible for identifying any critical risks associated to technical aspects of the space mission that would reject issuing a licence under UK regulations and provide recommendations to other personal in different divisions in space regulation department.

Key Skills
Overall good level of knowledge on Space system engineering, good understanding of general astrodynamics principals, Guidance Navigation Control (GNC), space communication, mission operation, ground system etc.

Other technical non and technical skills: Software skills (e.g. Python, C+, MATLAB, Fortran etc.), project management skills, good team skills, good communication skills, have excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex technical information in a clear and concise manner to a variety of audiences, possess self-drive to keep moving things forward

Entry Routes
Generally, a degree in a STEM subject. Many employers have graduate trainee programmes to recruit people directly from university and on the job, training is provided. Internships with any space industry while in university. Master thesis conducted on subjected related to space.

Or

Accredited apprenticeship within the space industry.

On top of that Data Analysis, software engineering focused courses, sometimes postgraduate studies/PhD in specific aspects relating to overall space mission analysis is beneficial.

Day in the Life
Perform various analysis to identify any critical risks associated to technical part of the licence and to improve understanding and verify applications.
Develop tools to perform technical analysis and to carry out oversight after issuing license.

Develop software that allow CAA to evaluate risks and financial impact of launches from the UK spaceports and on‑orbit space objects launch or operate from UK.

Analyse technical evidence to support policy decisions or direction on topics such as launch vehicle flight and on‑orbit space object safety and space traffic management.

Assess technical content of license applications provided, principally by testing their assumptions using our in‑house tools.

Deliver recommendations on the safety and sustainability of prospective operations.
Providing technical expertise on space missions, space debris and the orbital environment

Job Title
Launch Mission Safety Analyst

Function
Mission Safety Analyst sits within the CSP – Space regulation under Engineering Division and will contribute experts on technical aspects in the licence process

Brief Description
To perform in-depth analysis into launch vehicle trajectories, orbital trajectories by creating representative simulations.

Key Skills
Overall good level of knowledge on Space and launch system engineering, good understanding of general astrodynamics principals, aerodynamics, spacecraft re-entry, Guidance Navigation Control (GNC), space communication, trajectory analysis and optimisation, spacecraft materials.

Other technical non and technical skills: Software skills (e.g. Python, C+, MATLAB, Fortran etc.), project management skills, good team skills, good communication skills, have excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex technical information in a clear and concise manner to a variety of audiences, possess self-drive to keep moving things forward

Entry Routes
Generally, a degree in a STEM subject. Many employers have graduate trainee programmes to recruit people directly from university and on the job, training is provided. Internships with any space industry while in university. Master thesis conducted on subjected related to space.

Or

Accredited apprenticeship within the space industry.

On top of that Data Analysis, software engineering focused courses, sometimes postgraduate studies/PhD in specific aspects relating to overall space mission analysis is beneficial.

Job Title
Policy Specialist

Brief Description 
Policy specialists are involved in the development of new policy or amendment to exiting policy related to any aspect of spaceflight activity. Policy specialists will work alongside Government to develop new regulations or amend existing regulations to support the growing space industry as well as providing detailed guidance material and assessment criteria for both industry and the regulator.

Key Skills
Ideally a policy specialist will be a subject matter expert in one or more key areas of spaceflight activity and have a wide knowledge of the space sector. Suitable policy development experience or an operational background in other sectors of industry would be beneficial. A policy specialist should have a good knowledge of the relevant international and national legislation and regulations that underpin the space industry and a good level of understanding in risk assessment and performance based regulations.

Entry Routes
Experience in policy development and/or background knowledge of the space industry are useful but not required – all specialists will receive extensive on the job training and support.

Job Title
Licensing and Oversight Specialist

Brief Description
Bring together a variety of stakeholders to drive forward the assessment of licence applications; apply the regulatory framework in an appropriate, proportionate and flexible way according to the diverse operators and activity types; and carry out ongoing oversight of operators to assure safe operations are maintained.

Key Skills
Communicating and influencing, problem-solving, ability to interpret complex technical and legal language, planning, prioritising and time management, team work.

Entry Routes
Experience in regulatory or legal frameworks, leading complex multidisciplinary projects and/or background knowledge of the space industry are useful but not essential – all specialists will receive extensive on the job training.