Open Cosmos
Senior Mission Concept Engineer
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Aim high, go beyond! At Open Cosmos we are solving the world’s biggest challenges from space, providing businesses, governments and researchers access to more readily available information than ever before - ready for the challenge? Then read on…
Working in our Growth Team
The Growth team acts as the powerhouse of the company, ensuring the immediate needs of the customers are swiftly met and the future ones are translated into a product roadmap and deliverable projects.
Each member of the team combines a mix of programmatic, system engineering, and commercial skills with specific strengths.
What you will be doing?
As a Senior Mission Concept Engineer, you will lead the definition and development of advanced space mission concepts, from early customer discussions through to fully developed proposals.
You will play a central role in shaping missions with customers, translating their needs into technically robust and commercially viable solutions. This includes leading or contributing to satellite mission proposals, working closely with internal teams and external partners to build compelling, end-to-end mission architectures.
You will:
- Lead the design of complex missions across Earth observation, telecommunications, and technology demonstration
- Define mission architectures across space, ground, and launch segments
- Engage directly with customers (institutional and commercial) to refine requirements and shape solutions
- Lead or contribute to proposal development, ensuring technical credibility, cost realism, and alignment with customer expectations
- Support consortium definition, structuring partnerships and contributions across the value chain
- Contribute to early-stage mission shaping and pre-sales activities, including feasibility assessments and concept iteration
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Working cross-functionally with engineering, project management, and commercial teams, you will bring together inputs into clear, coherent mission concepts and proposals — balancing innovation with delivery realism.
You will also drive innovation within the team by developing tools, models, and approaches to assess mission performance, risk, cost, and schedule.
As a senior member of the team, you will mentor others, share knowledge, and contribute to the evolution of Open Cosmos’ mission design capabilities and long-term roadmap.
What You’ll bring
- Strong understanding of all space mission phases including design – with hands-on experience defining and analysing complex missions (e.g. constellation sizing, orbital analysis, payload integration, communications, AOCS, or system trades).
- Specialisation in a mission domain, such as embedded software, satellite operations, mission control systems, or flight dynamics.
- Have led technical workstreams or proposals in a commercial or institutional (ESA, UKSA, EC, etc.) context.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, from performing delta-V or power budgets to evaluating mission-level trade-offs.
- Confidence dealing with ambiguity and complexity, using structured thinking to create clarity and drive progress.
- Excellent communication and storytelling skills, able to engage both technical and non-technical audiences.
- A collaborative mindset, eager to exchange knowledge and help build scalable processes as Open Cosmos continues to grow.
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For this role you can be based in any of our locations.
To apply, you must have the legal right to work in your chosen location.
Please submit your application and CV in English.
Why Open Cosmos?
- Work at the cutting edge of space technology with customers around the globe
- A mission-driven company making space accessible to help solve real-world challenges
- A diverse, ambitious, and supportive team
- Equal opportunity employer
At Open Cosmos, we are dedicated to fostering a workplace built on respect, dignity, and belonging. As an equal opportunity employer, we actively challenge bias to ensure every candidate and employee feels truly welcome. We celebrate diversity in all its forms and are committed to maintaining an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
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