Spacecraft Mechanical Test Engineer

Spacecraft Mechanical Test Engineer
Salary: £31,931 to £44,166 pa (Dependent on experience and band)
Location: Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire
Contract: Permanent, Full time

We have an exciting opportunity within RAL Space (part of STFC) for someone to join us as a Spacecraft Mechanical Test Engineer or Principal Test Engineer, working within the brand new National Satellite Test Facility (NSTF) on the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire.

About us
RAL Space carries out world-class space research and technology development with involvement in over 210 space missions over its 50+ year history. We undertake world-leading space research and technology development.
The UK has invested £99m in the National Satellite Test Facility (NSTF), nearing completion at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Harwell. This facility will provide a world class set of co-located facilities for the assembly, integration and testing of space payloads and satellites. The facility will have the capability to conduct Vibration, Acoustic, Thermal, Shock, Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and Antenna testing for payloads up to 7 tonnes within clean room conditions.

Main duties of the role would include:
As Test Engineer, you will prepare and conduct vibration, acoustic and shock tests and be responsible for the safe operation of the equipment. You will support the creation and maintenance of the operational procedures relevant to the equipment, whilst supporting the Principal Test Engineers at bid stages.
As Principal Test Engineer you will support the junior test engineers, including supporting the creation and maintenance of the training plans for staff within the group. You will be responsible for the technical performance and operation of the equipment, supporting the creation and maintaining the technical performance envelope. Ensuring health and safety standards and maintaining and creating risk assessments will be a big part of this role. You will also act as the technical liaison at bid reviews for the test facilities.

About you:
As Test Engineer, you will have experience of vibration, acoustic, shock or related tests with the ability to follow and maintain structured documentation and support others to follow procedures. Excellent communication skills are key, as well as the ability to keep a strong customer focus.
As Principal Test Engineer, you will have experience of managing a commercial test facility in vibration or a related field, the ability to create structured documentation within a regulated environment such as aerospace and lead others to follow procedures. You will have excellent communication skills and the ability to listen to requirements, engage and influence on a technical basis. You will have a strong understanding of the project delivery function, keeping a strong customer focus at all times.

Employee Benefits:
We are offering a permanent position that provides a whole host of family friendly benefits including; 30 days holiday (in addition to bank holidays), an excellent defined pension scheme, employee shopping/travel discounts, a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme, plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance.
UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.