Avionics Engineer Job at NewOrbit Space (Reading (London))

Job Description

At NewOrbit Space, our mission is to engineer the lowest orbiting satellites on Earth to rapidly advance global connectivity and insight. We are currently building satellites that can operate at an altitude of just 200 km - one-third that of conventional satellites. Thanks to our propulsion system AURA, we can compensate for the atmospheric drag at ultra-low altitudes. Your Role: You’ll own the spacecraft’s avionics integration: the electrical architecture, harnessing and interfaces that connect OBC, EPS, radios, ADCS, payload, and sensors/actuators into a coherent, testable system. You’ll take COTS subsystems and make them work together reliably in a harsh VLEO environment—defining ICDs, managing power and data paths, building EGSE/flatsat test setups, and driving bring-up through qualification, launch, and on-orbit support.

Job Responsibility

Own the avionics architecture – define the spacecraft electrical and data interconnect: power distribution, buses, grounding strategy, and interface budgets
Integrate COTS subsystems – lead electrical ICDs, connector/pinout definitions, harness design inputs, and end-to-end interface validation across EPS, TT&C, ADCS, payload and OBC
Bring up and debug hardware – run bench and flatsat bring-up, root-cause integration issues, and debug with scopes, logic analyzers, bus analyzers, and power instrumentation
Design and validate interfaces – ensure robust operation of CAN(-FD)/UART/I2C/SPI/SpaceWire (as applicable), discrete I/O, power switching, and reset/watchdog lines
Own EGSE and test infrastructure – build/maintain electrical test rigs, simulators and procedures for subsystem acceptance, integration, and HIL campaigns
Drive reliability and environmental readiness – manage EMI/EMC and grounding practices, latch-up/SEU mitigations at system level, and environmental test support (TVAC/vibe) as needed
Support operations and anomaly response – instrument for observability, define safe power-up/down sequences, and support on-orbit troubleshooting and configuration changes

Requirements

5+ years of experience integrating embedded electronics for space systems with strong ownership of end-to-end interfaces
Practical knowledge of spacecraft/embedded buses and interfaces: CAN, UART, I2C, SPI, GPIO, SpaceWire
Hands-on lab debugging skills: oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power supplies, electronic loads, bus sniffers/analyzers, and structured fault isolation
Experience producing and managing ICDs: pinouts, signal definitions, timing, voltage levels, termination, error handling, and acceptance criteria
Understanding of power distribution and control concepts: load switching, inrush, brownouts, sequencing, reset behavior, and protections
Comfort with disciplined engineering workflows: change control, test procedures, configuration management, and clear documentation

Nice to have

Experience with COTS spacecraft subsystems and vendor management: acceptance testing, nonconformance handling, and qualification support
Environmental test experience: TVAC, vibration/shock, and correlation of failures to electrical causes
Familiarity with radiation effects and mitigations (latch-up, SEEs, shielding tradeoffs, system-level protections)
Basic embedded software coding and implementation
Exposure to ECSS-style documentation and verification practices

What we offer

Equity and Competitive Salary
Comprehensive Benefits Package – Including private health insurance with dental and optical coverage, annual healthcare check-ups etc
Hybrid Work - A hybrid setup with one dedicated remote day per week
Relocation package and visa sponsorship if joining from abroad

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Avionics Engineer

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