Job Description
About Lúnasa:
Lúnasa Space is a UK-based space-tech start-up with a mission to accelerate sustainable, reliable, and affordable in-space logistics and infrastructure. The company is developing an innovative, dual-stage, and reusable in-space satellite servicing vehicle to provide very affordable access to space for SmallSats through rideshare and last-mile transportation, and ultimately services such as active debris removal, End-of-Life services, life extension, and advanced payload inspection in Earth orbits and beyond.
With a team of over 40 years of developing space technology experience, Lúnasa intends to de-risk its intelligent visual-based guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) system for rendezvous proximity operations and docking (RPOD) on-orbit by early 2024.
Location: Hybrid – Harwell Campus, Atlas Bldg., Didcot, and remote.
Salary: £40,000 – £60,000 (depending on prior experience).
This position is for a candidate who has the right to work in the UK.
Job summary:
We are seeking a Space Mechatronics Engineer to support the development of our satellite servicing interface named Orbital Vehicle Overhaul (OVO) system. The project will involve a deep dive into in-space robotic satellite services, focusing on mechanical and electrical design, analysis, development, integration, and validation.
Person Specification
Key Skills and Experience:
- Support the development of the satellite servicing interface for the Lúnasa spacecraft, mainly the docking interface.
- Generate and maintain system specifications based on mission requirements.
- Carry out design, trade-off-studies, analysis, and verification for the satellite docking system pertaining to sensing, control, and mechanics.
- Coordinate the interface between the mechatronic sub-system and other existing sub-systems/satellite systems.
- Monitor and track the status of procurement by working closely with the procurement team.
- Generate mechatronics subsystem-level test plans. Conduct and evaluate tests.
- Coordinate system integration with existing satellite systems.
- Generate plans for and support the in-orbit operation of the satellite servicing interface.
Essential Skills:
- Experience in developing reliable electro-mechanical systems (mechanism and control design, analysis, and verification).
- Excellent technical communications skills (written/verbal).
- Familiarity with ECSS standards.
- Practical experience in developing space robotics.
- Knowledge of satellite/spacecraft system development.
Education and work experience:
The ideal candidate must have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in either Mechatronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Space Engineering, or related disciplines.
Minimum of 3 years work experience in the related field. You need to demonstrate previous engineering leadership experience at a technical level and posses a proven track record of delivering complex, multi-disciplinary projects, ideally in a high regulated industry such as Space, Aerospace, etc. sectors.