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Job Location: Milton Keynes, Remote/Hybrid

Department: School of Physical Sciences

Closing Date: 13 August 2025

Weekly Working Hours: 37

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract

Fixed Term Contract: End Date: 18 months from start date

Welsh Language: Not Applicable

Job Description:

About the Role

We believe that where you start in life, shouldn’t limit where you go.

The Open University is a unique institution created 50 years ago to open up education for all. We are open to anyone, anywhere, changing millions of lives across the world and always looking for new ways to help people succeed. Our pioneering use of innovative methods, such as our BBC partnership, means we reach more people than any other university.

We work across all four nations of the UK and we are the most popular choice for online, distance, flexible study.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Systems Engineer to join the OU team leading the development of "ProSPA", a miniature analytical laboratory to detect and analyse water and other volatiles that might be cold-trapped at the south pole of the Moon. Together with the drill system "ProSEED", ProSPA makes up "PROSPECT", the European Space Agency's technology and science package to be flown to the Moon on a NASA-procured commercial spacecraft in 2027-8. ProSPA builds upon technology and know-how developed for Rosetta and Beagle 2 to identify, quantify and isotopically characterise volatiles in a mass spectrometer suite. ProSPA will hence provide insight into the water cycle on the Moon over billions of years and into the availability of resources for in situ resource utilisation (ISRU) by future exploration missions.

Key Responsibilities

ProSPA has recently completed its Critical Design Review. The project will now proceed to assemble, integrate and test the Qualification Model and Flight Model instruments. The Systems Engineer will lead the development and implementation of the verification programme for each model, in conjunction with the ProSPA Technical Lead (PI) and Project Manager (PM).

The main responsibilities of this role are:

• to provide an expert systems engineering service to the project team, liaising with partners within and outside the University as necessary
• to maintain the verification matrix of ProSPA instrument model performances against customer requirements
• to prepare the analysis and test procedures for the verification campaigns
• to organize the execution of the test campaigns in conjunction with the relevant test house facilities and authorities
• to coordinate with the ProSPA PA Manager to ensure alignment of the campaign with the project Quality and Product Assurance requirements and approaches

Skills and Experience

Essential:

• First degree in a natural science or engineering or a related area
• High level of expertise and significant experience in systems engineering role in space projects or similar domain
• Demonstrable understanding of the underlying principles of quality systems
• Ability to thoroughly research new problems and to assimilate and understand complex requirements
• Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues from a wide range of backgrounds
• Demonstrable ability to work both as part of a team and on own initiative
• An ability to plan own work, prioritise workload and to deliver results on schedule
• Strong verbal and written communication in a team environment and good presentation skills

Desirable:

• Experience of working within the European Space Agency ECSS framework

Essential Requirements

As part of the application process, you will be expected to submit your CV and a Supporting Statement (maximum of 1000 words) that demonstrates how you meet the essential / desirable criteria listed above.

We are open to discussions about flexible working, Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what may work for you and the role.

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We anticipate this being 3 times per week.

If you have any queries or questions about the recruitment process, or regarding your application,please contact:Careers@open.ac.uk .

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The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength.We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.