Building a global career in Space
I've always been fascinated by Space. Inspired by astronomy, science fiction and the mysteries of what lies beyond our planet, I knew from a young age that I wanted a career connected to Space. By the age of 16, I knew I wanted to study Space Engineering, combining my interest in science and technology with the opportunity to help design, build and operate spacecraft.
That passion led me to study Space Systems Engineering in Berlin and Delft before beginning a career that has now spanned more than 17 years and multiple countries.
During that time, I worked across every stage of the mission lifecycle, from bid and proposal activities through to design, integration, launch preparation and operations. I supported industrial, institutional and military customers and have had the opportunity to contribute to a wide range of national and international programmes.
Highlights included acting as the technical lead for a project of hundreds of students across Europe who were designing a lunar mission, designing geostationary telecommunications satellites and delivering an Earth observation mission to Thailand's space agency.
Today, I am part of BAE Systems' growing Space business, helping to deliver innovative programmes and capabilities that are shaping the future of the sector.
Supporting the next generation of Space programmes
I joined BAE Systems Digital Intelligence as a Principal Systems Engineer, initially taking on the role of Space Segment Technical Lead for Azalea leading a multidisciplinary team of around 40 engineers responsible for delivering the Azalea Cluster-1 spacecraft.
I then moved into a specialist assurance role within the Chief Engineering team, where I provide technical assurance across Azalea Cluster-1 and TITANIA. This involves mentoring technical colleagues, reviewing key documentation and helping ensure consistency across these projects as teams work towards common goals.
One of the things I enjoy most is supporting others. Sharing knowledge, developing capability and helping teams succeed is just as rewarding as solving the technical aspects of a programme.
Working in Space means constantly learning, collaborating and sharing knowledge. Supporting talented teams as they develop innovative solutions is one of the most rewarding parts of my role.ChristianePrincipal Systems Engineer, Space, UK
Working through complexity together
Every Space mission presents new opportunities to learn.
Because each spacecraft is designed to meet specific customer requirements, no two projects are ever the same. My role involves helping teams navigate complexity, establish consistent approaches and ensure technical solutions are fit for purpose.
One of the biggest opportunities during my time at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence has been contributing to Azalea Cluster-1, our first large-scale Space mission. Bringing together platform, payload and ground segment developments while balancing programme priorities and delivery timescales required close collaboration across multiple teams.
It has been incredibly rewarding to help shape the mission alongside colleagues across the business and see the capability continue to evolve.
Why Space matters
The Space sector continues to grow and evolve rapidly, both in the UK and globally, creating exciting opportunities for organisations and people alike.
For me, BAE Systems has a unique opportunity to help shape the future of the Space sector by combining innovation, technical expertise and a strong understanding of customer needs.
What excites me most is the chance to contribute to capabilities that will support a variety of customers and create opportunities for future generations of Space professionals.
Seeing years of work come to life
I've always been fascinated by how complex Space systems come together. The assembly, integration and test phase is particularly rewarding because it's the point where years of design work become reality. Seeing a spacecraft take shape and progress towards launch is something that never loses its excitement.
And, of course, the launch and in-orbit operations are even more exciting. After a Friday evening launch for Azalea Cluster-1, following an intense period of launch preparation, our team worked throughout the weekend to confirm the satellites were operating safely in orbit. Collaborating with the group of amazing Cluster-1 engineers is one of my proudest memories of working on this project. What stands out most to me is the incredible team spirit. Everyone pulled together, supported one another and worked towards a common goal.
For me, that time demonstrated everything that's great about working in Space: talented people collaborating, sharing knowledge and achieving something remarkable together.
This is my BAE Systems story. Find yours by joining today.
Our colleagues share their personal stories on what drives them and why they chose BAE Systems.