Space & Defence
Degree
Spacecraft Engineer
Design, build and test satellites, probes and spacecraft systems that operate in extreme environments.
A day in the life
Run thermal and vibration tests, review telemetry, fix faults, and support launch and early operations.
Entry routes
- A-level Physics + Maths + Further Maths
- Aerospace, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering degree
- Space-sector graduate scheme or PhD
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
- Rolls-Royce
Worldwide employers
- ESA
- NASA
- SpaceX
- Boeing
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: space 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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