About us

Department of Space and Climate Physics

The Department is split across two sites, incorporating the Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL), which is located on its own campus in the beautiful Surrey Hills, and the UCL Centre for Systems Engineering which is based on UCL's Gower Street Campus. MSSL is surrounded by woodland 30 miles south of central London and is the UK's largest university space research group with approximately 90 research active staff and students, and a total staff of ~150.

Space science is a discipline that demands highly innovative technologies and MSSL has an international reputation for excellence in this area. UCL was one of the first universities in the world to become involved in making scientific observations in space. Since MSSL was established in 1966, we have participated in 73 satellite missions with the European Space Agency, NASA (USA), Japan, Russia, China and India, and flown over 224 rocket experiments. MSSL has contributed to 14 instruments currently operating on 12 satellites. Two further launches are expected during 2026 (SMILE and PLATO). We have the rare capability of designing, building and testing instruments on site. Our research scientists and development engineers work together to ensure the scientific capability of the instruments we produce.

MSSL's instrumentation and technology development programme supports research that spans solar system and astrophysical environments. Our researchers study the physical processes behind the activity taking place in the solar atmosphere and the interactions between the Sun, the heliosphere, the Earth, the other planets and minor bodies within in the solar system, as well as planetary surfaces and habitability. Astrophysics research includes, but is not limited to, planet and exoplanet formation, galaxy formation and evolution, high energy astrophysics and cosmology. Our technology programme therefore spans the full breadth of in situ and remote sensing instrument development, including cryogenics. Currently and recently operating space science missions using instrument hardware from MSSL include Cluster, Hinode, Swift, XMM-Newton, GAIA, JUICE, Solar Orbiter, Euclid, PLATO and SMILE. Instruments for the Rosalind Franklin Mars rover mission, Vigil and SOLAR-C are currently in development. MSSL staff led or co-led proposals that resulted in the Cryosat, SMILE and Comet Interceptor missions.

The UCL Centre for Systems Engineering was founded in 1998 to share experiences from effective technology development in the space sector. It reaches across a broad range of other sectors including transport, defence and security, health and construction. All undergraduate and postgraduate teaching currently takes place on UCL's London campus.

Details about our research can be found on the departmental website https://www.ucl.ac.uk/mathematical-physical-sciences/mssl

About the role

This post is a permanent Lectureship or Associate Professorship in Space Instrumentation Engineering at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory in the Department of Space and Climate Physics (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/mathematical-physical-sciences/mssl/space-research/solar-system/planetary-science).

The successful applicant will pursue a competitive original research programme, complementary to MSSL's existing research and technology involvements and aligned with MSSL's strategic goals. They will actively pursue opportunities leading to novel instrument technologies, future space missions and/or space instrument roles aligned with the Department's strategic science interests. They will also contribute to our space engineering teaching programme.

Applicants with expertise in space instrumentation development (in situ and/or remote sensing), CubeSat engineering, embedded software, or satellite communications are particularly welcomed, but applications are not restricted to those with this type of experience.

Full job descriptions for both the Grade 8 Lecturer and the Grade 9 Associate Professor are attached to this advert.

About you

Successful candidates will have a PhD or equivalent experience in a relevant field, and undertake impactful high quality research in areas related to space instrumentation and/or technology development, in support of the Department's strategic priorities. You will lead on research and technology development projects and secure grant or contract funding to support the associated programme, research and/or technical staff and PhD students. You will also communicate research by publishing work of high scientific and technical merit in peer-reviewed journal articles and take a strategic role in maximising the impact of research work and to pursue leadership positions in the field.

Candidates will also have teaching experience at undergraduate/postgraduate university level, commitment to high quality teaching and to fostering a positive learning environment for students, including in person at UCL's main campus in Bloomsbury, London.

It is essential that you have the ability to supervise academic work by PhD and MSc students and the ability to pursue a successful research or technology development programme, demonstrating independent ideas and a commitment to science and engineering principles.

Expertise in building, testing, calibrating and/or operating instrumentation in space or for relevant ground-based research is desirable, as is experience of preparing competitive research grants, contracts and/or fellowship proposals (and when successful, of managing funds and reporting to external funders).

Please review the job description most aligned with your experience, paying particular attention to the Essential and Desirable criteria in the relevant Person Specification, and ensure these are covered in your application.

What we offer

The salary for Grade 8 and 9 appointments (Lecturer and Associate Professor) can be found in the job description, located at the bottom of this page.

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)

Eligibility to join the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS)

Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan

On-site swimming pool (not heated)

Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay

Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service

Discounted medical insurance

Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent.

We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

Our department holds an Athena SWAN Bronze award, in recognition of our long-term commitment and 'beacon' status in advancing gender equality. We are in the process of applying for an Institute of Physics Inclusion Award.

You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here:" https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/