This is a future role. We're building a shortlist now and will contact you when it opens.
About us
Foundational is building the most precise picture of Earth and orbit, using lasers fired from the ground. We call it ground truth for orbit.
We design and run low-cost, autonomous satellite laser ranging stations. They measure the distance to satellites with extreme precision, day and night. Our data platform turns those measurements into tracking data and orbit products for satellite operators, space agencies and governments. We also build our own flight-proven laser retroreflector arrays, so any satellite can be tracked.
Our station network is expanding across continents. The data supports resilient navigation, Earth observation and the safe, sustainable use of space.
We're a small, fast-moving team of engineers, scientists and operators in London. We're backed by venture investors and supported by ESA, the UK Space Agency, and Innovate UK.
Position Overview
London · Full time · On-site
You'll lead our engineering team as it grows across hardware, optics and software. You'll turn our technology into stations and products that are delivered reliably and at scale.
What you'll do
Lead, hire and develop engineers across disciplines
Own engineering delivery: planning, milestones and resourcing
Build design review, requirements, test and configuration processes that stay fast
Take station builds from prototype to repeatable production
Work with the CTO on architecture and the technical roadmap
Support customer and agency programmes, including ESA reviews
What you'll bring
Senior engineering leadership delivering complex hardware and software systems
A background in space, defence, scientific instruments or similar
A record of growing teams and delivery processes at a fast-moving company
Systems engineering experience
Nice to have
Optical or laser systems
ECSS or ESA programmes
Scaling up production
Eligibility for UK security clearance
What We Offer
A high-impact role with real ownership at an early-stage, venture-backed spacetech company
EMI share options (UK employees)
25 Days Annual Leave + Bank Holidays
Enhanced Parental Leave
Cycle to work schemes
Work alongside engineers and scientists across optics, lasers, software and astrodynamics
Offices in central London, with snacks, tea, coffee and regular socials
We actively champion underrepresented groups and seek to bridge gaps in our workforce. If you're excited by the role but don't match every point, or you’re seeking a part time role, please apply anyway and add a note into your application. Building the best team is our priority.
Skills Required
- Senior engineering leadership delivering complex hardware and software systems
- Background in space, defence, scientific instruments, or a similar field
- Record of growing teams and delivery processes at a fast-moving company
- Systems engineering experience
- Optical or laser systems experience
- ECSS or ESA program experience
- Experience scaling production
- Eligibility for UK security clearance
What We Do
We're an early-stage, mission-driven startup tackling one of the most exciting and complex challenges today to create the most precise understanding of space and earth using ground-based lasers. Using satellite laser ranging (SLR) data we are empowering the next generation of space companies with exquisite data that allows new forms of resilient navigation, earth observation and precise space traffic control - essential for the sustainability and resilience of the space domain, resilient navigation an the future of earth observation.
