Space & Defence
Degree
Satellite Systems Engineer
Design and integrate satellite power, communications, attitude control and payload subsystems for space missions.
A day in the life
Specify subsystem requirements, run link-budget and orbital simulations, support assembly, and monitor in-orbit performance.
Entry routes
- A-level Physics + Maths + Further Maths
- Aerospace, Electrical or Physics degree
- Space-sector graduate scheme or specialist Masters
Typical salary
£27,000-£34,000 to £75,000+
Mid-career: £42,000-£62,000
Mission-critical and specialist roles command higher salaries.
UK employers
- Airbus Defence and Space
- Surrey Satellite Technology
- Open Cosmos
- Inmarsat
Worldwide employers
- ESA
- NASA
- SpaceX
- Maxar
Useful route links
These links are good starting points for courses, apprenticeships, graduate routes and professional training. They open the official or specialist sites rather than another summary page.
UCAS course search: satellite engineering
Compare degree prospectuses, entry requirements, open days and course structures.
ucas.com
UK Space Agency recruitment
Official recruitment information for the UK Space Agency.
gov.uk
UCAS Physics and astronomy courses
Search UK undergraduate physics, astrophysics and related degree options.
ucas.com
Prospects: what can I do with a physics degree?
Independent overview of careers that physics graduates enter.
prospects.ac.uk
Find an apprenticeship on GOV.UK
Search current apprenticeship and degree apprenticeship vacancies in England.
gov.uk
Key skills
Explore related careers
Sources and further reading
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