Inmarsat launches search for its next generation of ‘space pioneers’

22 September 2016: A career in the rapidly expanding space industry is not just about launching and flying spacecraft according to Inmarsat, a world leader in mobile satellite communications. Announcing the company’s search for its next generation of ‘space pioneers’, the company’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Michele Franci, emphasised that to remain a global leader, Inmarsat is focused on attracting world-class engineering talent.

Inmarsat’s third ‘Technology Development Programme’ (TDP), which was launched today at New Scientist Live in London with British ESA astronaut Tim Peake and graduates from Inmarsat’s second TDP programme, is designed to start the space engineering careers of five STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) graduates.

The winning candidates, selected from UK and European universities, will have the opportunity to undertake a two-year placement with Inmarsat and the offer of a permanent position on the successful completion of the programme.

“We are looking for our next generation of engineers; STEM graduates who can help us pioneer in the rapidly evolving world of mobile satellite communications,” said Michele Franci, CTO of Inmarsat. “In return, we provide the opportunity for the successful candidates to contribute to real space engineering programmes and to establish themselves alongside some of the leading engineers in the field of satellite communications.”

Applications for the 2017-2018 programme were officially opened at New Scientist Live in the presence of Tim Peake and will close on 31st January 2017. The successful applicants will join Inmarsat for their two-year placement in September 2017.

Those who join the programme will have the opportunity to work across a range of specialised teams at Inmarsat, including space system development, system architecture and strategy, service and network engineering, spectrum optimisation, cloud virtualisation and satellite operations. Predominantly based in London ay Inmarsat’s global headquarters, the role also offers opportunities to work in the company’s offices in the US and Europe.

Interested applicants – who will need a 2:1 undergraduate degree in a relevant subject; with engineering highly desired – should go online where they will find a logic challenge, the solving of which forms the part of the application process. The candidate’s answers, CV and covering letter should be sent to: [email protected]

First generation Inmarsat TDP graduate

Part of Inmarsat’s first generation of TDP graduates, Guillaume Marrakchi, described his experiences as part of the programme in a new blog.

I was one of the lucky five young graduates who joined the first generation Technology Development Programme (TDP) in 2015.

So far, the TDP has given me the opportunity to work on challenging and fascinating projects at the forefront of space telecommunications, ranging from future space systems engineering to advance predictive traffic modelling simulations.

This was something I could only imagine doing as an aerospace engineering student back in university in Toulouse. Whilst there, I remember reading about the ‘new space era’ and about this thriving thirst for innovation in the space industry, especially in the domain of telecommunications. Now after only a year of rotations within Inmarsat, I definitely see this company as an exciting place to start a career and take an active part in this new era.