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.
Typical route
Helpful A-levels
Physics + Maths + Further Maths
Typical qualification and training
- Aerospace, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering degree
- Space-sector graduate scheme or PhD
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 Prospects.ac.uk: Aerospace Engineer.
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.
Key skills
Explore related careers
Sources and further reading
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