AIT Manager – UK ADR Mission

At ClearSpace, we believe in reusability, in affordability driving disruption, and that no progress is real unless it is sustainable.

Our company was founded in 2018 out of the realization that in-orbit servicing and space debris removal are vital services for the future of space exploration and operations. Today ClearSpace has assembled an expert engineering team and is leading the way toward sustainable space operations. From a garage in Switzerland, we now operate across UK and Europe, and are working with world-leading institutions and companies to bring our dream of a sustainable space ecosystem to life.

Role Purpose/Summary

ClearSpace is developing spacecraft and services to support the sustainable use of space, including active debris removal. We are seeking an experienced AIT Manager to lead the Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) campaign for the spacecraft on our UK Active Debris Removal (ADR) mission. Based in London, you will own the campaign from planning and facility readiness through integration and environmental testing to delivery for launch. The role will require travel to UK and European test facilities, suppliers and the launch site as needed.

Role Responsibilities:

The AIT Manager will plan, coordinate and deliver all AIT activities for the UK ADR mission spacecraft. This hands-on leadership role works closely with Systems Engineering, Product Assurance, Programme Management and external partners to deliver a flight-ready spacecraft on schedule, within the agreed budget and to the required quality.

• Own and deliver the AIT plan for the UK ADR mission, including the AIT schedule, sequence of activities and resource plan, aligned with the overall programme baseline
• Lead day-to-day assembly, integration and test activities at spacecraft and subsystem level, including integration of the capture system, avionics, propulsion and payload elements
• Prepare and maintain AIT procedures, test specifications and reports, and coordinate their review and approval through the programme’s engineering, Product Assurance and configuration management processes. Ensure compliance with mission and contractual requirements and applicable standards, including relevant ECSS standards.
• Plan and lead environmental test campaigns, including thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, acoustic and EMC testing as applicable to the mission baseline. Coordinate UK and European test facilities from test readiness through execution, data review and anomaly resolution.
• Define requirements for, and oversee the procurement, verification and maintenance of, mechanical and electrical ground support equipment (MGSE/EGSE) and tooling
• Lead, coordinate and mentor a team of AIT engineers and technicians, as well as contractor and supplier personnel on site
• Act as the AIT point of contact for the customer, UK Space Agency stakeholders, suppliers and the launch service provider, including support for the launch campaign.
• Track and report AIT progress, cost and schedule to the Head of AIV/AIT and Programme Manager, and support programme milestones and reviews such as CDR, TRR, QR and FAR.
• Identify and mitigate AIT risks, manage non-conformances and feed lessons learned back into ClearSpace processes
• Ensure safety, cleanliness, contamination control, ESD and workmanship standards are upheld across all integration and test activities

Must have:

• Degree (or equivalent) in Aerospace, Mechanical or Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Physics, or a closely related discipline
• 7+ years of experience in spacecraft AIT, with at least 2 years leading AIT activities or teams
• Hands-on AIT experience on at least one complete spacecraft programme through to delivery or launch
• Strong knowledge of spacecraft environmental test methods (TVAC, vibration, shock, acoustic and EMC/EMI) and relevant test standards, such as ECSS-E-ST-10-03 and MIL-STD-1540, where applicable.
• Proven ability to plan and manage AIT schedules, procedures, non-conformances and test documentation
• Experience working within an ECSS-based product assurance and configuration management framework

Nice to have:

• Experience with active debris removal, on-orbit servicing, or rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) missions
• Experience on UK Space Agency or ESA-funded programmes, and familiarity with UK and European test facilities
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status or equivalent professional certification