Manufacturing Technician

Company

NewOrbit builds satellites that fly in very low Earth orbit, below 300 km, along with the electric propulsion that keeps them there.

Flying closer to Earth means sharper imagery from smaller optics, and an orbit that cleans itself: our satellites de-orbit within a month at end of life, leaving no debris.

Our AURA family of RF gridded ion thrusters powers our own NEO-1 satellite, with first flight planned for Q3 2028, and is also offered to other operators.

Electric propulsion is what lets our satellites hold very low orbits, and our AURA RF gridded ion thruster is at the centre of it.

Your role

You will be a hands-on technician supporting the build, integration and test of electronic boards, harnesses and mechanical test setups for the AURA gridded-ion thruster.

You will work across the full hardware lifecycle - from assembling and inspecting flight-quality electronics and harnesses, through building up bench and mechanical test rigs, to supporting Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) campaigns on the thruster and its control electronics.

You will report into the AIT team and work alongside the electronics, control, software and satellite teams, taking direction from engineers while owning the quality and traceability of the hardware you build and test.

Key Responsibilities

• Assemble, rework and inspect electronic boards to IPC-A-610 Class 3 standards.
• Build and terminate wiring harnesses and cable assemblies to IPC/WHMA-A-620 standards.
• Crimp, solder and lace harnesses; install backshells, connector savers and EMC / HV protective measures.
• Build up mechanical and electrical test setups, including fixtures, jigs and bench instrumentation.
• Support AIT activities on the thruster and its electronics, including functional testing, environmental test support (thermal vacuum, vibration) and continuity / insulation checks.
• Read and work from schematics, wiring diagrams, mechanical drawings and assembly procedures.
• Maintain as-built records, test logs, travellers and non-conformance reports to support traceability of flight hardware.
• Operate and maintain lab equipment - oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, electronic loads and DAQ systems.
• Support functional, performance and environmental testing of the thruster, its power processing and control electronics, the propellant feed system, and the spacecraft-level integration.

Fundamental Requirements

• IPC-A-610 Class 3 certification (or equivalent demonstrated experience to Class 3 standards).
• IPC/WHMA-A-620 harness and cable assembly certification.
• Proven hands-on experience assembling, reworking and inspecting electronic boards and harnesses.
• Experience building up mechanical and electrical test setups from drawings and procedures.
• Experience supporting AIT or equivalent integration and test activities on electronic hardware.
• Confident use of standard lab instrumentation (oscilloscope, multimeter, power supply, electronic load, DAQ).
• ESD-aware working practices (ANSI/ESD S20.20 or equivalent).
• Ability to read and interpret schematics, wiring diagrams and mechanical drawings.
• Strong attention to detail and discipline in documentation and traceability.

Nice-to-haves

• J-STD-001 soldering certification (Space Addendum desirable).
• Experience working in a cleanroom or ISO-classified environment.
• Space or other high-reliability industry experience (aerospace, defence, medical).
• Familiarity with ECSS standards, particularly ECSS-Q-ST-70 (workmanship).
• Experience working with high-voltage and/or power electronics hardware.
• Basic CAD literacy (SolidWorks, NX or CATIA) for interpreting models and marking up drawings.

Personality

• Safety-first mindset, particularly around high-voltage, pressurised and vacuum operations.
• Comfortable in a fast-moving development environment where hardware and procedures evolve quickly.
• Collaborative team player who can take direction from engineers while owning hands-on quality.

Why NewOrbit Space?

• Pioneering space technology - Your work on our RF gridded ion thrusters and VLEO satellite platform will redefine satellite operations and challenge traditional LEO.
• Ownership and impact - You'll have a level of ownership that's rare in the space industry, and you'll take part in the full lifecycle of satellite technology.
• Equity and competitive salary - Alongside a competitive salary you receive a company ownership stake, so you share in the technology you help build and in our collective success.
• Comprehensive benefits - Private health insurance with dental and optical cover, and annual health check-ups.
• Hybrid working - One dedicated remote day per week.
• Visa sponsorship and relocation support - We sponsor visas and provide relocation support for candidates moving to join us.