Autonomous Assembly and Robotics Engineer

Autonomous Assembly and Robotics Engineer

United Kingdom, Harwell (Hybrid)

Location:

Harwell, Oxfordshire (hybrid, minimum 2 days per week in office)

Right to work:

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK without visa sponsorship. We are unable to consider candidates who require sponsorship now or in the future.

Role Value and Responsibility

As an Autonomous Assembly and Robotics Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in the design, development, and implementation of autonomous robotic systems for the assembly of the Solar Power Satellite.

We are looking for technical people to join us across several specialisms related to robotics, including Mechanical, Electrical, Hardware, Firmware, Software, and generalist robotics. Whether you have a deep specialism in a specific discipline or are a robotics generalist, we want you.

You will develop technologies capable of interacting with both cooperative and non-cooperative components to build kilometre scale structures in space. Working within a team, you will create new robotic products with a particular emphasis on manufacturability at scale and economics.

You will be responsible for the entire project lifecycle, from initial terrestrial prototypes to deployment at commercial scale. Your work will also support terrestrial spinouts and ensuring that our assembly systems can create any three-dimensional shape in space.

What you will be doing

• System Design and Architecture : Supporting the design and architectural planning for autonomous robotic systems used in modular assembly.
• Hardware and Software Development : Developing robotic hardware components including sensors, actuators, and controllers while collaborating with software engineers on the control stack.
• Algorithm Development : Developing and optimising algorithms for localisation, mapping, object recognition, and manipulation using machine learning and computer vision.
• Simulation Environment : Creating the simulation environment that helps visualise and characterise the build of Space Based Solar Power satellites.
• System Integration and Testing : Supporting the integration of hardware and software into functional robotic systems and conducting extensive testing and validation.
• Structural and Mechanism Design : Designing and validating load-bearing structural components and novel joining mechanisms for robotic assembly, considering dynamic loads, operational environments, and manufacturability at scale, across both terrestrial and space-heritage applications.
• Multi-System Integration : Working within robotic ecosystems where assembly hardware must coordinate with other robotic systems, digital twins, and shared world models, requiring a practical understanding of system interfaces and safety frameworks.
• Sensing and Monitoring : Integrating sensor systems to support not only navigation and manipulation but also real-time monitoring of the assembly process and the structures being built.
• Manufacturing and Economics : Ensuring all robotic designs are optimised for efficient manufacturing processes and meet strict cost targets.
• Facility Development : Supporting the specification, fitout, and deployment of robotic assembly and testing facilities.
• Terrestrial Prototyping : Building and testing terrestrial versions of our robotic systems to prove out assembly concepts before they are industrialised for space.

What you will bring to the team

• Robotics Foundation : Proven experience in designing, developing, and deploying autonomous robotic systems or complex automated assembly hardware.
• Programming Proficiency : Experience with programming languages such as Python, C++, or ROS.
• Technical Breadth : Strong knowledge of robotics hardware, including sensors, actuators, and controllers, as well as an understanding of firmware and electrical systems.
• Simulation Skills : Experience with industry standard tools and platforms such as Gazebo, NVIDIA Isaac Sim, or SolidWorks.
• The Do er Spirit : You are inquisitive and proactive, happy to jump into any problem from mechanism design to software troubleshooting to keep the programme moving at pace.
• Problem Solving Mastery : Excellent troubleshooting skills with the grit to see a complex project through from concept to physical reality.
• Inclusive Collaborator : You value the strengths of the entire team and thrive in a fast paced environment where everyone’s ideas are heard.
• Educational Foundation : A degree in engineering or relevant science, or equivalent experience following other routes such as an apprenticeship.

Success factors

• You know you have been successful when you can point to innovations and robotic design solutions that you are responsible for that advance the programme.
• You have developed and successfully trialled a robotic assembly system which meets performance, manufacturability, and cost targets.
• You have successfully integrated hardware and software that is demonstrated in either terrestrial test rigs or the space environment.
• You are an integral part of the team, supporting colleagues and helping to create a proactive and nurturing environment.

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