We’re looking for a highly skilled Ground Station System Engineer to take full ownership of the maintenance, reliability, and lifecycle management of antenna assets, including range, hosted, and proprietary systems, for SaxaVord Spaceport in Unst, Shetland.
This is a hands-on technical role requiring expertise in preventative and corrective maintenance, advanced troubleshooting, supplier and manufacturer liaison, and the development of operational procedures to ensure mission readiness for launches.
The position will be based in Granton-on-Spey, with regular travel to Unst.
Responsibilities
As a Ground Station System Engineer, your core responsibilities will include:
* Operating, managing, and conducting preventative and corrective maintenance on antenna systems, ACUs, modems, spectrum analysers, radomes, and associated auxiliary equipment.
* Planning and coordinating maintenance activities with internal stakeholders, launch clients, ground station operators, hosted parties, and manufacturers.
* Leading on-site troubleshooting and fault resolution for fibre, RF links, and rack/cabinet equipment to minimise downtime through decisive technical action.
* Acting as the primary technical point of contact for manufacturers, suppliers, and launch clients, managing ticketing, spares, and repair workflows.
* Maintaining, updating, and implementing installation, maintenance, and safety documentation, as well as providing post-maintenance reporting.
* Supporting hardware procurement decisions and contributing technical input to scheduling and software development projects.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and experience:
* A degree in Engineering, preferably in aerospace, electrical, RF, or telecommunications.
* A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in ground station, antenna, or RF systems maintenance and operations.
* Demonstrable expertise in RF systems, including link budgets, EIRP, polarization, and antenna patterns, with proven troubleshooting experience.
* A strong track record in fault diagnosis across L1–L3, vendor liaison, and on-site repair campaigns.
* Familiarity with regulated environments; experience with supplier certifications and compliance is desirable.
* Excellent client-facing skills, organisational abilities, and resilience under pressure, with strong written documentation skills.
* Willingness to travel internationally on a frequent basis and fluency in English (additional EU language skills are advantageous).
* A team player who can also work independently, with a positive attitude
Day-to-Day
On a typical day, you will:
* Conduct routine maintenance and inspections of antenna systems and associated equipment to ensure optimal performance.
* Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues on-site, collaborating with internal teams and external stakeholders as needed.
* Coordinate with manufacturers and suppliers to manage repairs, spares, and technical support.
* Update and refine operational and safety documentation, ensuring compliance with industry standards.
* Participate in hardware procurement discussions and provide technical insights to support project planning and execution.
* Communicate effectively with clients and stakeholders to ensure alignment on maintenance schedules and technical requirements.