Technical Specialist - Aerospace / Systems Engineering

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Technical Specialist - Aerospace / Systems Engineering

Join to apply for the Technical Specialist - Aerospace / Systems Engineering role at Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA)

Technical Specialist - Aerospace / Systems Engineering

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Join to apply for the Technical Specialist - Aerospace / Systems Engineering role at Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA)

Description

12.08.25

About ARIA

ARIA is a new kind of R&D funding agency. We fund scientists and engineers to pursue research at the edge of the possible. From climate change to AI, society faces enormous challenges and opportunities that can be uniquely addressed by science and technology. ARIA was created to activate the UK’s world-class R&D in new ways, so we can meet these head on.

Application Deadline: 12 August 2025

Department: Programmes

Location: London

Compensation: £68,000 - £99,000 / year

Description

Salary Levels: c.£68,000, c.£85,000, c.£99,000 (eventual offers will be based on benchmarked experience levels in combination with our selection criteria)
Location: Kings X, London; Tues - Thurs (3 days) at HQ, Monday + Friday, anywhere
Employment Type: Full-time
Contract: 3 years fixed-term (with the possibility for extension)
Closing Date: 12.08.25

About ARIA

ARIA is a new kind of R&D funding agency. We fund scientists and engineers to pursue research at the edge of the possible. From climate change to AI, society faces enormous challenges and opportunities that can be uniquely addressed by science and technology. ARIA was created to activate the UK’s world-class R&D in new ways, so we can meet these head on.

We are growing our team to develop bold new approaches that can scale – from programmes to systems, processes and everything in between. If that sounds fun, come and build ARIA with us.

Learn more about how we work here.

Role Summary

As an ARIA Technical Specialist, you will have the rare chance to catalyse breakthroughs that could change the world. You'll sit alongside Programme Director Rico Chandra and their Programme Specialist on a programme emerging from ARIA's Scoping Our Planet Opportunity Space. You’ll be exposed to every aspect of the programme's technical management from design through approval, project selection, and delivery.

We’re looking for an adaptable technical professional who’s strongly motivated by the opportunity to catalyse a technological step change. You’ll be working in a bold, talented & agile team, funding projects across the entire R&D ecosystem, from startups to universities, in the pursuit of groundbreaking advancements that will shape the future of science & technology.

Meet Rico Chandra

Rico Chandra is a member of ARIA’s second cohort of Programme Directors. Rico is an entrepreneur and competitive cross-country paraglider pilot with a PhD in physics. He has co-founded hardware startups, worked on several DARPA Programs and worked closely with Venture Capitals.

Rico is developing an ARIA programme to develop the capability and use cases for atmospherically powered, long endurance aircraft.

Find out more about what they’re working on here.

“I’m definitely more of a hardware than software person. I have a decent understanding of weather and of aerodynamics. I’m looking for a leader with a broad technical reach, especially in areas like mesh communication, satellite payloads, positioning navigation & timing, and the software relevant to this ambitious programme. Join me for what may be the most exciting years of your career.”

Rico Chandra, Programme Director

What you'll do

The scope of the role will evolve as ARIA continues to grow, but will broadly involve the following:

Technical Programme Advisory and Support

Act as the technical lead, with the Programme Director and their Programme Specialist, to shape and deliver a bold programme of research aimed at developing the capability and use cases for atmospherically powered, long-endurance flight.
Review project proposals, grant applications, assess technical milestones, and stay close to the ground on what’s being built and tested by Creator teams.
Plan, lead, and contribute to technical discussions in project meetings, workshops, and formal reviews, bringing depth, challenge, and direction to every interaction.
Provide evidence-based technical insight to the Programme Director and the ARIA team to support high-quality decisions and sharpen the programme’s strategic direction.
Confidently communicate complex scientific ideas surrounding the programme to stakeholders, from government and funders to key players across the ecosystem.
Identify emerging trends and surface the most promising technologies, people, and ideas across the programme and its surrounding opportunity space.
Co-author white papers, open calls, and technical reviews that articulate the ambition of the programme and set a clear, compelling vision for external communities.
Work closely with the Programme Specialist and Creator teams to drive project delivery, tracking against ambitious technical milestones, benchmarking progress against the state of the art, and spotting opportunities for research cross-pollination to sustain momentum.
Be the technical bridge between the Programme Director and functional teams, ensuring execution aligns with the needs of the ecosystem's understanding of the programme.

Connecting the Programme to the Ecosystem

Represent the programme, often on behalf of the Programme Director, at events, workshops and talks.
Build trusted relationships with world-class researchers, labs, and founders working at the forefront of the programme’s focus area.
Work closely with ARIA’s Activation Partners to ensure Creator teams can access the right tools, platforms, and networks to accelerate translation and achieve impact beyond ARIA’s direct reach.

Define and Cultivate ARIA’s Technical Culture

Collaborate across ARIA on funding models, budgets, tooling, and operational mechanisms to support effective, flexible funding and programme delivery.
Contribute as a member of ARIA’s team of Technical Specialists (‘T-Specs’), sharing best practices and learnings between programmes to strengthen ARIA’s portfolio of work.
Help build and sustain ARIA’s scientific and operational culture.

Who you are

Essential Criteria

You have first-hand exposure to developing commercially viable, multidisciplinary high tech systems at the edge of what’s technologically possible in the domains of aerospace, communication, or earth observation.
You possess a significant understanding and experience of air vehicle performance (aerodynamics).
You excel in grasping and navigating diverse technical projects.
You excel at translating complex technical concepts and timelines to diverse stakeholders, effectively bridging gaps between diverse teams and perspectives.
You are willing to ask questions and can rapidly learn and adapt to new scientific areas, comprehending key components of new technical disciplines.
You can uncover non-obvious opportunities and risks, connecting teams, ideas, and research threads in novel ways that drive adoption and translation.
You comprehend and articulate complex concepts clearly and with conviction, think and communicate with structure, and interrogate ideas effectively.
Highly adaptable, you are okay with uncertainty and a fast-paced environment.

Desirable Criteria

You have worked with airborne platforms or satellites and their sensors, payloads, and communications systems.
You have worked in industry, in an organisation with exceptionally ambitious technological development (including curing edge hardware development).
You have strong demonstrable experience of engineering trade-space analysis in the aerospace sector.
You have a good understanding of sensing modalities (especially electro-optical sensors) and/or knowledge of space-borne systems.
You have successfully performed technical assignments that require unconventional or novel approaches.
You are skilled in identifying technical bottlenecks, risk analysis and resolution, tracking technical milestones, and reporting on complex technical projects.
You have a strong working knowledge of the UK R&D ecosystem.

Qualifications

You have a Scientific qualification, with a preference for PhD or other deeper technical experience in one of the listed areas of interest, or similar; physics, electrical and electronic engineering, aerospace engineering, photonics or optical engineering, remote sensing, GNC (Guidance, Navigation and Control), artificial intelligence.

Benefits

27 days annual leave provision, with the option to buy/sell additional days
Hybrid working arrangements; 60% in office / 40% at home
Supportive environment for learning and development opportunities
Enhanced family leave arrangements
A free and confidential 24/7 employee assistance programme
2 days of paid volunteer days
5% defined contribution pension scheme with Smart Pension
Cycle to Work scheme
An excellent office location in Kings X, London

Not sure you meet 100% of our criteria? Don’t worry. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We want to attract the broadest array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to this, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interests and what you hope to bring to this role.

If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please notify us and we will make every effort to accommodate you. Disclosing any requests are intended to provide ARIA with the best opportunity to support candidates and will have no negative impact on your recruitment process.

ARIA adopts a highly considered approach to ethical and social responsibility. You can read our policy here. Our research and development activity will abide by the 3Rs principle. You can read about those here.

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Location:: London, England, United Kingdom
Salary:: £125,000 - £150,000
Job Type:: FullTime
Category:: Engineering

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Technical Specialist - Aerospace / Systems Engineering

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