Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Location: Hybrid/Remote and Harwell Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire

Magdrive is hiring a Senior Embedded Software Engineer to progress the on-board software of our thruster from prototype to flight readiness, and support thruster control and operations, and to expand the features offered by this smart device. The Magdrive thruster will deliver unmatched thrust and efficiency, enabling accessibility to new orbits and new industries such as satellite servicing and orbital assembly.

As one of Magdrive’s early employees you will play a pivotal role, bringing enhanced freedom, responsibility and potential for career growth. You will play a senior role within the electrical team, ensuring the subcomponents integrate successfully together and with mechanical components, while assisting the CTO on grant and stakeholder deliverables. You will work closely with the flight team, as well as the research and development team to make sure that the thruster’s software operates as reliably as possible and meets required standards. A background in spacecraft software development is paramount.

Magdrive offers a supportive and flexible work environment with the ability to adjust work hours, and hybrid working, with a competitive salary, comprehensive health insurance and regular company socials.

Responsibilities

• Develop flight software to run onboard the Magdrive thrusters within a Real Time Operating System.

• Drive software requirements to ensure compatibility with spaceflight and future missions.

• Ensure compatibility with relevant space software standards and perform rigorous testing of software to planned operations to ensure robustness, fault tolerance and functionality throughout flight.

• Develop EGSE software for use in qualification campaigns.

• Review of source code changes and participating in design reviews.

• Hands on integration and troubleshooting with hardware in the loop testing.

• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior engineers, fostering their professional growth and development.

Essential

• 7 years’ experience in the space industry.

• Degree in engineering, science, or similar; or professional experience in software engineering.

• Strong programming skills in C, with practical familiarity on other programming languages (C++, Python etc).

• Strong experience working with standards such as CCSDS, ECSS and MISRA.

• Experience developing fault tolerant, real-time software intended for embedded space systems.

• Good test design skills, including unit tests through to integrated hardware in the loop testing.

Desirable

• Familiar with continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) best practices.

• Good knowledge of electric propulsion for spacecraft.

• Experience with PCB design, bring-up and testing.

• Good experience with spacecraft operations.

Benefits 

• Salary £50k - £70k per annum (DOE).

• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays.

• Flexible working hours and remote working.

• Comprehensive private health insurance.

• Support for home office setup.

• Generous share option scheme.

Application Process

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume, cover letter, and a portfolio of relevant projects using the below application form.

Magdrive is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.  

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Embedded Software Engineer

Location: Hybrid/Remote and Harwell Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire

Magdrive is hiring an Embedded Software Engineer to progress the on-board software of our thruster from prototype to flight readiness, support thruster control and operations, and to expand the features offered by this smart device. The Magdrive thruster will deliver unmatched thrust and efficiency, enabling accessibility to new orbits and new industries such as satellite servicing and orbital assembly.

As one of Magdrive’s early employees you will play a pivotal role, bringing enhanced freedom, responsibility and potential for career growth. You will work as a part of the electrical team and will work closely with the flight team, as well as the research and development team to make sure that the thruster’s software operates as reliably as possible and meets required standards. A background in spacecraft software development is paramount.

Magdrive offers a supportive and flexible work environment with the ability to adjust work hours, and hybrid working, with a competitive salary, comprehensive health insurance and regular company socials.

Responsibilities

• Develop flight software to run onboard the Magdrive thrusters within a Real Time Operating System.

• Participate in discussions of system requirements, design and code reviews.

• Perform rigorous testing of software to planned operations to ensure robustness, fault tolerance and functionality throughout flight.

• Develop EGSE software for use in qualification campaigns.

• Hands on integration and troubleshooting with hardware in the loop testing.

Essential

• Degree in software engineering, computer science, or 3 years’ professional experience in software engineering.

• Experience developing fault tolerant or real-time software.

• Good programming skills in C.

• Good test design skills, including unit tests through to integrated hardware in the loop testing.

• Experience working with embedded systems and interfacing with serial devices (UART, SPI, I2C).

Desirable

• Experience with spacecraft operations.

• Experience with other programming languages (C++, Python etc).

• An awareness of electric propulsion for spacecraft.

• Experience designing, bring-up and testing new PCBs.

Benefits 

• Salary £30k - £50k per annum (DOE).

• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays.

• Flexible working hours and remote working.

• Comprehensive private health insurance.

• Support for home office setup.

• Generous share option scheme.

Application Process

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume, cover letter, and a portfolio of relevant projects using the below application form.

Magdrive is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.  

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Electrical Power Engineer

Location: Hybrid/Remote and Harwell Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire

Magdrive is hiring an Electrical Power Engineer to help develop our current spacecraft propulsion product, the Magdrive, into a highly competitive SuperMagdrive, which will be competitive with both small chemical and electric propulsion systems.  SuperMagdrive is targeting a thrust of >1N and an Isp of at least 2000s. This will require handling of large amounts of stored energy, high currents (potentially in the 1000A range) and voltages greater than 10kV - challenging in a spacecraft context!  The SuperMagdrive propulsion system will unlock new capabilities for spacecraft and enable entirely new industries in satellite servicing, orbital assembly and interplanetary transport.

You will play a pivotal role as one of the early employees of Magdrive, which brings enhanced freedom, responsibility and potential for career growth. The solutions you develop will directly shape the development of the Magdrive propulsion system and have a significant impact on the future of space travel.

Magdrive offers a supportive and flexible work environment with the ability to adjust work hours, and hybrid working, with a competitive salary, comprehensive health insurance and regular company socials.

Responsibilities

• Define, and develop the end-to-end power system for the SuperMagdrive electric propulsion system.

• Specify, procure and assemble electronic components to test the prototype SuperMagdrive power system, with appropriate documentation (specifications, design drawings, test plans etc.).

• Work with our partners team to define diagnostic and test approaches, and address spacecraft constraints relating to high voltage and current.

• Fast and effective problem solving, in a small team / start up work environment.

Essential

• Minimum 3 years’ relevant industry experience .

• Degree in electrical engineering, physics or similar.

• Practical, demonstrable knowledge of high capacity electromagnetic energy storage devices and DC/DC conversion, ideally in a mobile (transportation) context.

• Competence with high voltage and high current systems, and electrical safety.

• Electronic circuit design, PCB layout, parts procurement, prototyping and rapid iterative testing experience.

Desirable

• Experience working with electrical spacecraft systems: e.g. power, data, energy storage, RF, or other relevant space industry experience.

• Familiarity with pulsed power and / or pulsed electric propulsion knowledge.

• Experience working with academics researching electric power systems.

• Practical knowledge of EMC and EMI management and mitigation approaches.

• Passion for space travel and new technical approaches.

Benefits 

• Salary £30k - £60k per annum (DOE).

• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays.

• Flexible working hours and remote working.

• Comprehensive private health insurance.

• Support for home office setup.

• Generous share option scheme.

Application Process

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume, cover letter, and a portfolio of relevant projects using the below application form.

Magdrive is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.  

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Pulsed Power Engineer

Location: Hybrid/Remote and Harwell Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire

Magdrive is seeking to hire a Pulsed Power Engineer to help develop pulsed power based spacecraft propulsion products, including improving existing nanosat systems and beginning development of a larger scale “SuperMagdrive”. The SuperMagdrive is targeting a thrust of >1 N and an Isp of >2000 s, which will unlock new capabilities for spacecraft and enable entirely new industries in satellite servicing, orbital assembly and interplanetary transport.

You will play a pivotal role as one of the early employees of Magdrive, which brings enhanced freedom, responsibility and potential for career growth. The solutions you develop will directly shape the development of the Magdrive propulsion system and have a significant impact on the future of space travel. Your role will be developing pulsed power systems, improving existing systems for nanosat thrusters (>1 kV, <5 J), while developing a much larger prototype pulsed power system for the “SuperMagdrive” (>10 kV, ~1000 J).

Magdrive offers a supportive and flexible work environment with the ability to adjust work hours, flexible remote and hybrid working, with competitive salary, comprehensive health insurance and regular company socials. Magdrive is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Responsibilities

• Work with the electrical team to improve pulsed power and high voltage system design for future thrusters.

• Design, build and operate pulsed power systems specifically to prototype the larger SuperMagdrive thruster.

• Define interfaces between high voltage and other components within the SuperMagdrive thruster.

• Work with our plasma physics team to develop test approaches for high energy pulsed power systems.

Essential

• Degree in electrical engineering, physics or similar.

• At least 3 years’ experience working with pulsed power systems (>1 kV, >1 kA output).

• Practical knowledge of high current / high voltage switches, energy storage devices and interfacing.

• Practical experience with operating high voltage energy storage devices safety.

Desirable

• Experience in design build and test of high voltage DC/DC conversion approaches.

• Previously responsible for operating or designing SOPs for operating high voltage energy storage devices.

• Experience with design of high voltage systems to prevent breakdown and tracking.

• Knowledgeable about measurement and instrumentation appropriate to pulsed power systems,

• Understanding of EMC effects related to pulsed power transmission.

• Experience with simulation tools able to model pulsed power systems, e.g. CASTLE, PSCAD

• Knowledge of spacecraft systems and propulsion.

Benefits 

• Salary £50k (mid-level) - £70k (senior) per annum (DOE).

• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays.

• Flexible working hours and remote working.

• Comprehensive private health insurance.

• Support for home office setup.

• Generous share option scheme.

Application Process

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume, cover letter, and a portfolio of relevant projects using the below application form.

Magdrive is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.  

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Apply Now