Space Manufacturing Lead

The Opportunity:

The Space Manufacturing Lead role sits within the In-Orbit Servicing & Manufacturing Team (IOSM), and provides the focus, definition, and development of manufacturing capabilities to support the UK’s ambitions within the space sector.

Focusing on the development of technologies to support IOSM, the role will investigate new techniques to facilitate the creation of manufacturing processes on Earth to use in space. Working alongside other thematic leads in the IOSM team, including robotics, operations, and spacecraft development, you will lead the development of additive manufacturing of rocket engines, in-space servicing and manufacturing approaches and other related engineering capabilities.

You will bring extensive knowledge from the space and/or advanced manufacturing industry, matched with a deep understanding of manufacturing, production and engineering methodologies, and the ability to lead, communicate and enable this new industrial revolution.

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:

• Leading the space manufacturing team.

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

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

• Line management of other space manufacturing team members, including training and personal development requirement.

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

• Primary point of engagement with other Catapult’s regarding manufacturing.

• Support the Head of IOSM and other thematic team leads as required within space manufacturing and other related areas.

• Engagement with local, national and internationals stakeholders from RTOs, industry, and academia.

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

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

• Ensure equipment remains aligned to industrial roadmaps to position the Catapult as thought leaders.

• Creating new opportunities and innovating where opportunity presents

Skills, Qualifications & Experience required:

• Engineering degree or an 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, direct energy deposition and cross polymerisation), metrology and other related QA process and familiarity of the handling of hazardous materials.

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

• Extensive experience in stakeholder engagement and management, including arts of diplomacy including dealing with difficult situations or clients.

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

• Preferably international experience with other space and non-space sectors

• Demonstratable expertise in additive manufacturing experience by providing training or similar certificates.

• Preferably experience with start-ups, demonstrated through direct stakeholder engagement with emerging companies or mentoring of new organisations.

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

• Ability to lead a team, manage expectations and solve complex problems whilst pressure.

• Full driving licence.

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

Success factors:

What success will look like in 3 months’ time:

 Operation of existing equipment safely and building established pipeline of activities to support the emerging IOSM market in space and on Earth.

 Establishing formalised safety, operational and risk management processes in place, which in turn will facilitate the growth of utilisation and revenue of such equipment.

 In addition, the definition of new capabilities for space manufacturing, partnering with other Catapults, RTOs and industry which create the foundation of new platforms for manufacturing in space and on Earth.

The purpose of your new team:

 The IOSM Team leads the development, the vision, and the definition of the UK’s desire for commercial space. As a team of experts, we provide the foundation to drive, promote, disrupt, and facilitate the commercialisation of technologies on Earth, in space and Beyond. We work with entities across the ecosystem including government, industry, and academia, setting the conditions for the betterment of society, the growth of the economy and empowering our national and associated partners to go above and beyond. We set the direction for the UK’s future in space, to develop disruptive capabilities and push the final frontier for the good of society, industry, and civilisation.

 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