Command and Data Handling Engineer

Command & Data Handling Engineer (C&DH / Flight Systems)
Location: Reading (London) | On-Site
Employment Type: Full-Time | Permanent
Package: Competitive Salary + Equity + Benefits

Introduction:
A high-impact opportunity to join a fast-scaling space start-up building ultra-low Earth orbit satellites, enabled by an innovative propulsion system designed to overcome atmospheric drag.

The Opportunity:
You’ll take ownership of Command & Data Handling (C&DH) – the spacecraft’s central nervous system – bridging on-board computing, avionics, comms, and flight software to deliver reliable telemetry, commanding, and autonomy in a harsh on-orbit environment.
Key Responsibilities:

• Own the end-to-end C&DH architecture (commanding, telemetry, data routing, on-board compute)
• Define and manage spacecraft interfaces (ICDs) across avionics, payload, comms, and power subsystems
• Design fault-tolerant command sequencing, mode management, and safe state behaviours
• Lead integration of on-board data buses and protocols (e.g. CAN, I2C, SPI, UART, SpaceWire)
• Support test & verification through SIL/HIL, functional testing, and operational readiness
• Work closely with flight software, AIT, and systems engineering to deliver flight-ready capability

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Strong experience in spacecraft avionics / C&DH / embedded flight systems (or equivalent safety-critical systems)
• Confidence owning system interfaces and managing integration across multiple subsystems
• Solid understanding of spacecraft telemetry/telecommand concepts and operational workflows
• Experience with embedded protocols/buses (CAN, I2C, SPI, UART, etc.)
• Engineering discipline around verification, documentation, and configuration control

Desirable Skills:

• Experience with spacecraft OBCs, radios, EPS, payload interfaces
• Knowledge of autonomy/FDIR concepts and designing for failure
• Familiarity with AIT workflows, EGSE, acceptance testing and commissioning
• Prior work in NewSpace or fast-iteration engineering environments

Eligibility:
Right to work in the UK.

Application Instructions:
Reply here with your CV (or LinkedIn) and a quick summary of your experience owning C&DH / avionics / spacecraft interface integration.