---
title: 'AIT & Electronics Technician at NewOrbit Space'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/ait-electronics-technician-neworbit-space-reading-df8j5mkw2n7z'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-04'
---

# AIT & Electronics Technician at NewOrbit Space

- **Company:** NewOrbit Space
- **Location:** Reading, United Kingdom
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-07-29
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-04
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/neworbit/16df188c-6c94-4793-93e9-bfdbea39d5e8

## Job description

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 a hands-on technician supporting the build, integration and test of electronic boards, harnesses and mechanical test setups for the AURA gridded-ion thruster.

You will work across the full hardware lifecycle - from assembling and inspecting flight-quality electronics and harnesses, through building up bench and mechanical test rigs, to supporting Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) campaigns on the thruster and its control electronics.

You will report into the AIT team and work alongside the electronics, control, software and satellite teams, taking direction from engineers while owning the quality and traceability of the hardware you build and test.

## Key Responsibilities

- Assemble, rework and inspect electronic boards to IPC-A-610 Class 3 standards.
- Build and terminate wiring harnesses and cable assemblies to IPC/WHMA-A-620 standards.
- Crimp, solder and lace harnesses; install backshells, connector savers and EMC / HV protective measures.
- Build up mechanical and electrical test setups, including fixtures, jigs and bench instrumentation.
- Support AIT activities on the thruster and its electronics, including functional testing, environmental test support (thermal vacuum, vibration) and continuity / insulation checks.
- Read and work from schematics, wiring diagrams, mechanical drawings and assembly procedures.
- Maintain as-built records, test logs, travellers and non-conformance reports to support traceability of flight hardware.
- Operate and maintain lab equipment — oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, electronic loads and DAQ systems.
- Support functional, performance and environmental testing of the thruster, its power processing and control electronics, the propellant feed system, and the spacecraft-level integration.

Fundamental Requirements

- IPC-A-610 Class 3 certification (or equivalent demonstrated experience to Class 3 standards).
- IPC/WHMA-A-620 harness and cable assembly certification.
- Proven hands-on experience assembling, reworking and inspecting electronic boards and harnesses.
- Experience building up mechanical and electrical test setups from drawings and procedures.
- Experience supporting AIT or equivalent integration and test activities on electronic hardware.
- Confident use of standard lab instrumentation (oscilloscope, multimeter, power supply, electronic load, DAQ).
- ESD-aware working practices (ANSI/ESD S20.20 or equivalent).
- Ability to read and interpret schematics, wiring diagrams and mechanical drawings.
- Strong attention to detail and discipline in documentation and traceability.

Nice-to-haves

- J-STD-001 soldering certification (Space Addendum desirable).
- Experience working in a cleanroom or ISO-classified environment.
- Space or other high-reliability industry experience (aerospace, defence, medical).
- Familiarity with ECSS standards, particularly ECSS-Q-ST-70 (workmanship).
- Experience working with high-voltage and/or power electronics hardware.
- Basic CAD literacy (SolidWorks, NX or CATIA) for interpreting models and marking up drawings.

Personality

- Safety-first mindset, particularly around high-voltage, pressurised and vacuum operations.
- Comfortable in a fast-moving development environment where hardware and procedures evolve quickly.
- Collaborative team player who can take direction from engineers while owning hands-on quality.

WHY NEWORBIT SPACE?

- Pioneering Space Technology – You'll contribute to launching groundbreaking technology into space. Your work on our revolutionary ion propulsion system and ULEO satellite platform will redefine satellite operations and disrupt traditional LEO operations.
- Unmatched Ownership and Impact – You'll experience a level of ownership that's rare in the space industry. You will participate in the full lifecycle of satellite technology.
- Equity and Competitive Salary – You'll receive not just a competitive salary but also company ownership stakes. Your dedication and hard work are rewarded with a share in the technology you help build, ensuring you're a part of our collective success.
- Comprehensive Benefits Package – Including private health insurance with dental and optical coverage, annual healthcare check-ups etc.
- Hybrid Work - A hybrid setup with one dedicated remote day per week.
- Visa Sponsorship & Relocation Support - We provide a relocation package and sponsor your visa if you’re joining us from abroad.

## About NewOrbit Space

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: NewOrbit designs and builds the world's lowest orbiting satellites for very-low Earth orbit (VLEO), enabling enhanced Earth observation, direct‑to‑device connectivity, and advanced weather forecasting.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series A)
- **Headquarters**: Reading, England, United Kingdom
- **Founded**: 2021
- **Founders**: Anatolii Papulov (CEO) and Ruslan Rakhimov (CTO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Space technology / Satellite manufacturing
- **Target customers**: Commercial and government organisations needing high‑resolution imagery, atmospheric data, and global connectivity (B2B, Enterprise)
- **Mission or purpose**: Engineering Earth’s lowest orbiting satellite to advance global connectivity and insight, while keeping space clean for future generations.

## Products & Services
- **[NEO-1]**: A very‑low Earth orbit satellite capable of sustained operation at ~200‑300 km altitude. It delivers drone‑quality imagery (20× cheaper than conventional satellites), direct‑to‑device 5G‑equivalent internet, and precise atmospheric data for weather forecasting. The satellite uses a proprietary air‑breathing electric propulsion system, tailored attitude control, and advanced materials to overcome drag and atomic oxygen. It operates in a naturally self‑cleaning orbit (deorbits within a month after decommission).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total Funding raised – **$18.77 M** (Series A of $18.5 M closed June 2026)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**:
  - Lead: Voyager Ventures
  - Participants: Atlantic VC, Lifeline Ventures, Illusian, Custos Family Office, David Kirk (former Nvidia chief scientist), Lawrence Leuschner (co‑founder of TIER Mobility)
  - Advisory board includes Jean‑Jacques Dordain (former ESA Director General) and Sir Chris Deverell (former UK Joint Forces commander)
  - Partners: European Space Agency, UK Space Agency, SPRIND
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Headcount of ~25 employees (as of mid‑2026), with yearly growth of +45 % and monthly growth of +7.4 %
  - Plans to open the NEO Production Complex in 2027, scaling from 10 satellites/year to several per week
  - First commercial flight targeted for 2028
  - 5 active job postings, with a strong pipeline of engineering hires

## Competitive Advantages
- **Altitude advantage**: Operates at one‑third the altitude of conventional satellites, enabling 20× cheaper imagery, higher‑resolution data, and 5G‑equivalent direct‑to‑device bandwidth.
- **Proprietary technology**: Built‑from‑scratch subsystems (attitude control, propulsion, electronics, thermal, embedded software) that handle the extreme conditions of VLEO (aerodynamic drag, atomic oxygen, torque).
- **Self‑cleaning orbit**: Satellites deorbit naturally within a month, mitigating space debris – a key regulatory and sustainability differentiator.
- **Sovereign industrial asset**: Positioned as Europe’s largest dedicated VLEO production facility, supported by UK and European space agencies.

## Strategic Focus
- **Current priorities**: First mission in 2028, ramp‑up of satellite production, and establishment of a scalable manufacturing facility. The company is building a product platform for any customer to “fly at VLEO” with integrated payloads.
- **Direction for growth**: Expand from Earth observation into global telecom (direct‑to‑device) and weather services, while securing defence and national‑security missions.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: A “make it happen” ethos with high ownership; engineers design, build, and test hardware in weeks rather than years. Cross‑disciplinary collaboration driven by a shared mission to solve one of space’s toughest engineering problems.
- **Facilities**: State‑of‑the‑art testing facility for multi‑propellant ion propulsion systems, and purpose‑built labs for satellite subsystem development.
- **Work style**: Based in Reading, UK – likely on‑site due to hardware‑intensive work. The team is small (~25), flat‑structured, and encourages rapid iteration.
- **Notable perks**: Chance to work alongside world‑class engineers and advisors (former ESA Director, UK military leaders), lead a function from day one, and directly impact the opening of a new orbital regime.

## Sources
1. [neworbit.space](https://neworbit.space/) – Company homepage and product details
2. [neworbit.space/about](https://neworbit.space/about) – About page, founders, advisory board, partners
3. [neworbit.space/careers](https://neworbit.space/careers) – Careers page, culture details
4. [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/neworbit-space) – Funding, headcount, headquarters
5. [linkedin.com](https://uk.linkedin.com/company/neworbit-space) – Employee growth, open positions, talent sources
6. [spacenews.com](https://spacenews.com/uk-startup-neworbit-raises-18-5-million-in-series-a-round/) – Series A announcement, first mission details (cited via cbinsights)

## Other roles at NewOrbit Space

- [Contract Mechanical Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/contract-mechanical-design-engineer-neworbit-space-reading-s3pd70b3dmcq) — Reading, United Kingdom
- [AIT & Mechanical Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/ait-mechanical-technician-neworbit-space-reading-hv25phf79n6h) — Reading, United Kingdom
- [Spacecraft Structural Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/spacecraft-structural-engineer-neworbit-space-reading-eqthy390xbdg) — Reading, United Kingdom
- [AOCS Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/aocs-engineer-neworbit-space-reading-enngfz05ch0c) — Reading, United Kingdom
- [Lead Flight Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-flight-software-engineer-neworbit-space-reading-jmfg9e7vae5t) — Reading, United Kingdom
- [Lead Satellite AIT Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-satellite-ait-engineer-neworbit-space-reading-r64x2a1ha57a) — Reading, United Kingdom