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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.

Typical route

Helpful A-levels

Physics + Maths + Further Maths

Typical qualification and training

  • Aerospace, Electrical or Physics degree
  • Space-sector graduate scheme or specialist Masters

These are common routes, not compulsory subject combinations. Entry requirements vary between universities, training schemes and employers, so always check the current provider requirements.

Indicative UK salary

Starter
£27,000-£34,000
Experienced
£42,000-£62,000
Senior
£75,000+

Mission-critical and specialist roles command higher salaries.

Salary range checked against UK Space Agency Careers.

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

Spacecraft Engineer

Design, build and test satellites, probes and spacecraft systems that operate in extreme environments.

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Aerospace Engineer

Design, test and improve aircraft, spacecraft and their systems, from wings to propulsion.

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Electrical Engineer

Design and develop electrical systems, from power networks and renewable grids to microchips and control systems.

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Sources and further reading

External links open in a new tab.

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