System Architect – Space Mission Development

About the role

ClearSpace is seeking a System Architect to lead the technical development of its current and future space missions. This senior leadership position is based in the London office (with the option to work from Luxembourg) and will act as the technical authority for mission success.

Key responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver end‑to‑end mission development, covering space, ground, launch segments and in‑orbit operations.
• Manage the technical schedule and baseline, assess impacts of changes, and maintain the technical risk register and cost.
• Define and analyse overall mission architectures and coordinate domain experts across the spacecraft, launch‑vehicle and ground‑segment interfaces.
• Oversee engineering support at system level, ensuring coherent design, verification, and integration across subsystems.
• Interact with customers, partners and subcontractors, and support anomaly reviews, in‑orbit operations, and contract negotiations.

Required profile

• 10+ years of experience in the spacecraft industry, including 5+ years in technical leadership roles.
• Proven track record delivering complex space development programmes and working with LEO, MEO or GEO spacecraft.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to track multiple critical activities simultaneously.
• Experience engaging with institutional (UKSA, ESA) and commercial customers.

Required skills

• Spacecraft system‑level design and analysis.
• Ground‑segment design and implementation.
• Avionics/electronics, electrical and power systems.
• Attitude and orbit control, propulsion, thermal and mechanical engineering.
• FDIR, spacecraft AIT, LEOP and in‑orbit operations.
• Manufacturing processes and launcher interface management.