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Engineering design

Satellite engineer

Satellite engineers install and repair telecoms equipment and satellite systems.

Annual Salary

£20,000 to £35,000

Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

39 to 41 a week

You could work: on call; occasionally

4.1%
Future employment

There will be 4.1% fewer Satellite engineer jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

In your day-to-day duties you could:

  • survey a site to plan a job
  • work out where cabling networks will go
  • install and fix aerials or satellite dishes
  • check signal strength
  • test equipment and fix faults
  • calculate quotes to install new systems

Working environment

You may need to wear a uniform.

You could work at a client's home or at a client's business.

Your working environment may be at height and outdoors some of the time.

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly
  • specialist courses run by professional bodies
College

You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills you need in this job. Relevant courses include:

  • Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installation
  • Level 3 Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
For more information
Apprenticeship

You could get started by doing an electrical and electronic service and installation engineer advanced apprenticeship or a space engineering technician higher apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
For more information
Direct application

You can apply directly to installation companies if you have experience or qualifications from roles like:

  • telecommunications
  • electronic or electrical engineering
  • electrical equipment servicing

Other routes

You can do short introductory courses in basic satellite and aerial installation through the Confederation of Aerial Industries.

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

  • You'll usually need a driving licence to travel from job to job.

More information

Further information

You can find out more about how to become a satellite engineer from the Confederation of Aerial Industries and Tomorrow's Engineers.

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With further training and experience, you could plan and design telecommunications systems, or set up your own business installing satellite dishes and equipment.

You can find out more about how to become a satellite engineer from the Confederation of Aerial Industries and Tomorrow's Engineers.

A satellite engineer would design build and test satellites based on the requirements of the satellite itself.  Some satellites are designed for communication networks, whilst others contain sensors that provide intelligence and earth observation data for security services as well as climate scientists.  

Examples of post-16 courses you could study at a local school or college

  • Maths, Computer Science A-levels
  • Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installation
  • Level 3 Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Find a local provider

Examples of post-18 courses you could study at a local provider

  • FDSC/HNC Engineering (Electrical Electronics) at University Centre South Devon
  • BEng Electronic Engineering at University of Exeter

Search for a degree course

Apprenticeships you may be able to take with local employers

  • Electrical and electronic service and installation engineer advanced apprenticeship
  • Space engineering technician higher apprenticeship

Search for apprenticeship vacancies

Employers in the South West 

  • CGI Thales Alenia Space
  • Frazer Nash Consulting
  • GE Aviation
  • Moog
  • Jacobs
  • Airbus
  • Universities of Bristol, Bath and West of England (UWE)
  • SpaceForge
  • BAE System
  • Ministry of Defence

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • knowledge of engineering science and technology
  • knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • broadcasting and telecommunications knowledge
  • the ability to repair machines or systems
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
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