Satellite AIT Engineer

About NewOrbit Space

At NewOrbit Space, our mission is to engineer the lowest orbiting satellites on Earth to rapidly advance global connectivity and insight.

We are currently building satellites that can operate at an altitude of just 200 km - one-third that of conventional satellites.

Your Role

You will be the senior AIT authority on the AURA X programme, responsible for planning, developing, and executing the Assembly, Integration and Test campaign for the AURA X gridded-ion thruster and its satellite integration.

You will own the AIT flow from engineering model through to flight model acceptance, defining procedures, managing GSE, and leading test campaigns across electrical, mechanical, and system-level activities.

In addition to AIT, you will own the programme Quality Management System and Goods In function. As a lean team scaling towards flight, these responsibilities sit naturally within AIT - you will establish and maintain quality processes, define incoming inspection criteria, and be prepared to get hands-on with goods in when needed.

You will report into the Programme Director and work across all engineering teams, setting and enforcing quality and AIT standards across the programme.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and own the programme AIT flow, master AIT schedule, and test philosophy from EM through FM acceptance.
• Write, review, and approve all assembly procedures, test procedures, and integration sequences.
• Define cleanroom requirements, contamination control procedures, and ESD/handling standards for the programme.
• Identify, specify, and procure Ground Support Equipment (GSE), test fixtures, and specialist tooling.
• Plan and lead AIT campaigns on engineering and flight models, including functional testing, environmental test campaigns (thermal vacuum, vibration, EMC), and electrical functional verification.
• Manage non-conformance reports (NCRs) and lead dispositions in collaboration with the design team.
• Interface with external test facilities and manage test readiness reviews, test witness, and data acceptance.
• Interface with the satellite bus integrator to define and manage satellite-level integration requirements and ICD activities.
• Own as-built records, travellers, test logs, and acceptance data packs to support full hardware traceability.
• Mentor AIT technicians and engineers; build and maintain AIT process documentation and standards.
• Own and maintain the programme Quality Management System - establishing quality processes, workmanship standards, and a non-conformance management framework appropriate to a scaling flight hardware programme.
• Define goods in inspection criteria and procedures; oversee incoming inspection of purchased parts, materials, and components against purchase orders, drawings, and certificates of conformance.
• Manage quarantine and disposition of non-conforming goods received from suppliers.
• Maintain calibration records for all programme tooling and test equipment.
• Own the programme parts inventory system - maintaining stock records for consumables, fasteners, materials, and critical components, setting minimum stock levels, and ensuring parts availability is confirmed ahead of every AIT campaign.
• Raise procurement needs early based on upcoming campaign schedules, working with the wider team to avoid work stoppages caused by missing or late parts.