The Challenge:

The In-Orbit Servicing and Manufacturing (IOSM) Team leads the Catapult’s development of capabilities, systems and innovations that operate in space, with the aim of empowering of the rapidly manifesting commercial space era that is upon us.

The IOSM Team plays a pivotal role in the Beyond Earth Mission to build the foundations needed to ensure that in-space manufacturing, servicing of spacecraft, assembly of large-scale structures and support effective debris control and removal operations.

As part of the IOSM Team, you will be working within the Manufacturing Team, supporting the development of existing and new manufacturing approaches needed for successful IOSM development. Working alongside other engineers drawn from robotics, manufacturing, space and nuclear industries, you will imagine and create new solutions using state of the art manufacturing systems including polymeric and metallic additive manufacturing, precision metrology and robotic assembly systems.

The role will need a good understanding of system engineering, manufacturing processes, testing, and assembly approaches. The role will also need a good technical understanding of a breadth of different capabilities including but not limited to space technologies, material science, advanced engineering, spacecraft propulsion, and project planning.

Together with the wider IOSM Team you will establish, build, and validate new approaches necessary to ensure that the UK sits in the vanguard of commercial space.

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:

• Supporting the space manufacturing lead

• Provide subject matter expertise in space manufacturing processes capabilities and techniques.

• Manage, operate, and enable advance manufacturing capabilities at Westcott and other locations.

• Primary operator for the MetalFab1 additive manufacturing system, and eventually the subject matter expert within the Catapult

• Promote a safety conscious work environment and ensure that both health and safety requirements are met and achieved.

• Work with other teams at the Catapult contributing to space projects in the technical aspects related with materials and manufacturing.

• Creation and modification of 3D CAD designs for manufacturing, supporting Catapult’s internal projects or customers use of our facilities.

• Maximize utilization and revenue of Catapult’s manufacturing equipment.

• Creating new opportunities and innovating where opportunity presents.

Skills, Qualifications & Experience required:

• Engineering degree or equivalent industrial experience in related subjects

• In depth understanding of the full space ecosystem.

• Extensive engagement with a broad variety of organizations in the space ecosystem, industry, academia, SMEs, and RTOs.

• Familiarity with a wider range of Advanced manufacturing including but  not limited to additive manufacturing (Laser powder bed, fused deposition modelling and cross polymerisation), metrology and other related QA  process and familiarity of the handling of hazardous materials.

• Experience in the set-up of complex manufacturing equipment and the associated services, the development of cost models and safety operational framework.

• A passion for new technologies and innovation, underpinned by curiosity to the betterment of humanity. 

• The role will require a good understanding of system engineering, manufacturing processes, testing and assembly approaches.

• Full driving licence.

• Located within 1 hour of Westcott. Due to the nature of the role – mostly in person work typically in office 3-4 days per week with some work ad hoc out of hours including weekends.

How we work….

We strive to create a high trust, high performance and inclusive 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 anyone 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.

This job description set outs the skills and experience we think are needed to be able to perform in this job. However, if you believe you can deliver in this role then we want to hear from you.

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. If you need any additional support during the application process, please do reach out and connect. We also invite you to share feedback via Applied.