Job Title: Robotics Development Engineer

The Challenge:

As a robotics development engineer for the IOSM Robotics team, you will be responsible for collaborating with commercial and academic partners to develop key technologies to improve the UK capability in space robotics. To be successful, you will develop, verify and validate new technologies to enable commercialisation by the UK space industry using the Catapult’s robotic facilities at Westcott Venture Park.

You will be supporting with the Robotics Development Lead to identify the companies and universities developing the technologies both in the UK and internationally. This will involve working alongside companies who are either in space robotics or who could move in that direction to encourage development of their capabilities. You will also liaise with universities to support R&D in the next generation of space robotic capability. It will also require liaising with internal Catapult teams to support creation of strategic facilities to accelerate the development of innovative space based robotic solutions.

Ways of Working: We are a learning organisation where our ways of working are underpinned by coaching and feedback, fostering adult to adult conversations. Innovation is at the heart of everything that we do, therefore being highly adaptive and agile with a GROWTH mindset will ensure your success at the Catapult. We expect our people to be Pioneering, Agile, Collaborative and Entrepreneurial, working at PACE.

 Role responsibilities:

• Engagement with industrial stake holders to identify technical needs to grow the industry and empower innovation

• You will be responsible for the technical deliverables of projects; ensuring work meets or exceeds agreed customer requirements, within agreed budgets and timescale

• Selection and identification of technology and equipment needed to deliver identified requirements

• Specification generation to include OPEX costs and services for equipment

• Working with the procurement team to order equipment, manage timelines and coordinate installation

• Operation and maintenance of robotic demonstration facilities

• Risk identification and management of issues as they arise

• Liaising with teams across the Catapult

• Creating new opportunities and innovating where opportunity presents

Success factors:

•  You will have been a key part in putting the Catapult at the forefront of people's minds when they are considering developing robotics for space or that are enabled by space technologies.

• You know you have been successful when you have delivered elements of a novel system design, and contributed to white-papers, developed new facilities and led to industrial growth in the UK space robotics sector.

The purpose of your new team:

•  Enable and support UK collaborations to deliver advances in space technology and related operations

• Accelerate the growing UK supply chain for satellite manufacture, launch and operations

• Identify, develop and implement key collaboration and partnership opportunities to redefine space manufacturing in the UK.

• Work collaboratively across the Catapult to enhance innovation and creativity & positively contribute to the Catapult culture

Experience required:

•  Highly experienced in robotics technology, in particular: manipulation, human robot interaction, sensing, high level programming (ROS, C++, Python) & simulation/emulation knowledge.

• Understanding of the technology and infrastructure required to build the next generation of robotics

• Experience of working with academic institutions to research robotics innovations and pathways to commercialisation

• Experience of R&D proposal development and working in partnership/consortia settings

• The role will require a good understanding of system engineering, testing and assembly approach

• Experience of space technologies and/or the use of robotics in an industrial setting would be advantageous

 How we work:

We strive to create a high trust environment that enables team members to bring their whole selves to work – this helps to create the foundations of an innovation culture. Our shared values are critical to this:

• We care - for our people, our partners, and our planet.

• We connect - and engage with people and ideas.

• We learn - and grow, as people and as an industry

Underpinning this is our belief in great teams, our combined efforts will always deliver outcomes beyond that of any individual providing we are honest through debate, experiment and reflect, and create shared resolutions in support of our purpose. Live these values, work to our principles, take ownership to deliver, and we are certain you will thrive with us.

 Important notice for applicants: We use tools to detect plagiarism and the use of AI or chatbots for applicant answers. If plagiarism, AI use (such as ChatGPT) or similar software are found to have been used in your application you will not be considered for this or future roles within the Satellite Applications Catapult

At Satellite Applications Catapult, we're committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce. We welcome candidates from all corners of the globe, but due to legal and logistical considerations, we want to be transparent about the potential visa-related challenges that could arise. Our ability to offer sponsorship will depend on the level of interest for our roles and salary level