Software and Modelling Engineer - Space Engineering [26138]
Possible
Sponsorship likelihood
This employer issued few or no visas recently
Not disclosed
Salary
Not disclosed by employer
£54,700
Going rate
Skilled Worker going rate
This role likely qualifies for a Skilled Worker visa
SOC 2134 (85% match) is an eligible occupation, with a going rate of £54,700, and HE SPACE OPERATIONS LTD is a licensed sponsor. That is our reading of the rules. Whether they issue a Certificate of Sponsorship is still their call.
This could also be SOC 2126 (Aerospace engineers, Aerospace/spacecraft focus and systems engineering context) or SOC 2129 (Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified, Engineering n.e.c. covers development engineer roles). We read the code off the advert, so it is our best guess, not the employer's.
New graduate or PhD holder? Pick one of the lower rates.
What each route needs for this job
| Occupation code | New entrant 70% of going rate | STEM PhD 80% of going rate | Relevant PhD 90% of going rate | Standard rate 100% of going rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2134 Programmers and software development professionals Most likely code | £38,300 | £43,700 | £49,200 | £54,700 |
2126 Aerospace engineers Also possible | £36,700 | £41,900 | £47,200 | £52,400 |
2129 Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified Also possible | £33,400 | £36,900 | £41,500 | £46,100 |
We use the lowest threshold across the plausible codes. Likelihood is Possible at most when the pay clears only a lower rate, or only under a less likely code. How the Home Office picks the code
About the role
As part of the On-board Software and Functional Verification (FV) team, you will contribute to the development of software for the ESA Vigil satellite programme, supporting one of Europe's flagship space missions.
Working in a Continuous Deployment environment, you will be involved in the design, implementation, integration and verification of on-board software, collaborating closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams to ensure the successful delivery of high-quality software solutions.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Designing, developing and maintaining on-board software using C++;
- Developing and maintaining software models and simulation environments;
- Supporting hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) design, integration and testing activities;
- Debugging and troubleshooting real-time software in Linux environments;
- Contributing to Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines;
- Designing and implementing multi-process and multi-threaded software applications;
- Developing and executing software verification activities, including unit and integration testing;
- Applying software engineering best practices, object-oriented design principles and design patterns;
- Producing and maintaining technical documentation in accordance with ECSS standards;
- Working closely with systems, avionics and verification engineers throughout the software development lifecycle;
- Communicating technical concepts effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
You will have the following qualifications and relevant experience:
- University degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or a related technical discipline;
- At least 4 years of industrial experience in software engineering (5+ years preferred);
- Strong software design and development experience using C++;
The following experience would be considered a strong advantage:
- Experience with spacecraft avionics systems;
- Knowledge of ECSS software standards, particularly ECSS PUS;
- Experience with SpaceWire, MIL-STD-1553 and CAN Bus communication protocols;
- Previous experience working on ESA or other space programmes.
This role is based in Stevenage, United Kingdom
The position requires full-time onsite presence (4 days per week onsite, 1 day remote).
If you believe you have what it takes for this position, please send your CV (in English and in Word or PDF format) to Andrés Izquierdo by clicking on the ‘Apply for this job’ button and quoting job reference.
An exciting and dynamic international working environment awaits you!
Last apply date: 31/08/2026!
This description is the source posting as it read when we added it. We are not affiliated with HE SPACE OPERATIONS LTD, so check their own site for the current details.
Where this offer sits in the market
Programmers and software development professionals (SOC 2134) · UK · ONS ASHE 2025 · basic pay · ~399k in sample- Middle half £42,536–76,752
- Median £56,784
- Going rate £54,700
- Threshold £41,700
- New entrant £38,300–49,200
Similar sponsored roles
See all UK visa jobsNo close matches live right now.
Browse more sponsored jobs at HE SPACE OPERATIONS LTDAbout sponsorship for this role
Does this job guarantee visa sponsorship?
Not necessarily. HE SPACE OPERATIONS LTD holds a sponsor licence, but sponsorship for a specific hire is always the employer's decision. Be upfront in your application that you'll require it.
What salary is needed for this role to be eligible?
The offer must clear both the general threshold and the SOC 2134 going rate of £54,700. New-entrant and shortage discounts can lower it.