Scientist

Date Posted:

2026-10-23

 Country:

United Kingdom

 Location:

Sedgefield, Durham

 Position Role Type:

Onsite

Scientist

Sedgefield

Permanent

Hybrid (Can be very flexible)

Due to the interesting work we do and the sector this team is working in, we require all candidates to be eligible to gain an SC clearance.

About us

Raytheon UK, a leading International Defence & Security prime, are looking for an enthusiastic, hard-working Scientist with strong astronomy qualifications, or strong space surveillance and tracking experience, to join a dynamic, fast-paced and diverse Engineering team working within the space and defence domain.

This role sits within Raytheon UK’s Space and Airborne business and will report to the Space Senior Scientist.

This role is based in Sedgefield with the opportunity for flexible home working.

Role & Responsibilities

As a member of the Raytheon Space Scientist team, you will be heavily involved in the development, operation and maintenance of optical Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) sensor technologies. In addition, you will work on Research & Development (R&D) projects and will support the wider Raytheon Space business unit on complex technical work in the fields of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Space Domain Awareness (SDA).

In addition to internal research projects, you will also have the opportunity to be involved in externally facing projects and will work as part of a team to deliver high-quality technical work to partners and customers.

A strong understanding of optical SST equipment (such as astronomical telescopes) will be desired for this role, and the successful candidate will also be expected to have programming experience using languages such as Python and have experience in using Linux-based operating systems. Knowledge or experience of general SSA/SST/SDA topics will be advantageous.

This is an extremely unique role and will enable the successful candidate to gain a significant amount of broad space experience and network within both the civil and military space community.

Required experience

• •A 2:1 bachelor’s degree in astronomy, astronautics or a related field (physics or maths).
• •Experienced and skilled in coding tasks, specifically using Python.
• •Familiarity with using Linux-based operating systems.
• •Strong communication skills. Ability to clearly and concisely orally communicate complex technical topics to colleagues and clients at all levels of understanding.
• •Strong technical writing skills. Ability to write technical documents that clearly and concisely describe technical work undertaken.
• •Able to work effectively and innovatively, both independently and as part of a team.
• •Strong independent learning and time management skills.
• •Flexibility to support global space operations, which may fall outside of usual business hours. Time off in lieu (TOIL) will apply.

Desirable experience (NOT essential)

• •A 1st class masters in astronomy, astronautics or related field (physics or maths).
• •A strong understanding of the design and operation of optical sensor technologies, such as astronomical telescopes.
• •Strong experience or qualifications in SSA/SST/SDA, or other orbital analysis related topics.

• •Strong understanding of astrodynamics, such as orbital mechanics and orbit determination.
• •Highly proficient in primarily Python, but other languages are also considered.
• •Highly proficient in Linux-based operating systems.
• •Proficient in the application of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning techniques and technologies to problems.
• •Strong understanding of networking and network design

Benefits:

• •£: Competitive salary
• •Contributory Pension Scheme (up to 10.5% company contribution)
• •6 times salary ‘Life Assurance’ with pension
• •25 days holiday (increasing with service) + statutory public holidays, plus opportunity to buy and sell up to 5 days (37hr)
• •Company bonus scheme (discretionary)
• •Flexible Benefits scheme with extensive salary sacrifice schemes, including Health Cashplan, Dental, and Cycle to Work amongst others
• •Enhanced sick pay
• •Enhanced family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, paternity & shared parental leave

Work Culture

• •37hr working week, although hours may vary depending on role, job requirement or site-specific arrangements.
• •Early 1.30pm finish Friday, start your weekend early!
• •Remote, hybrid and site based working opportunities, dependant on your needs and the requirements of the role.
• •Up to 5 paid days volunteering each year.
• •Flexible working culture focused on output, with more formal flexible working arrangements on request (assessed subject to role) - please highlight any requests to the Talent Acquisition team.

About Raytheon UK

With facilities in Broughton, Waddington, Glenrothes, Harlow, Gloucester, Manchester and a presence across customer sites together with remote working practices. Raytheon UK is invested in the British workforce and the development of UK technology. Across the country Raytheon UK employs over 2,000 people and supports 8,000 jobs. As a prime contractor and major supplier to the UK Ministry of Defence, Raytheon continues to invest in research and development, supporting innovation and technological advances across its core mission areas Weapons & Sensors, and Cyber, Space & Training.

Raytheon UK is a landed company, part of the Raytheon Technologies organisation and sits within the Raytheon Intelligence & Space business.

About Raytheon Technologies

Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an aerospace and defence company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. It comprises four industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace Systems, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Raytheon Missiles & Defence. It’s 195,000 employees enable the company to operate at the edge of known science as they imagine and deliver solutions that push the boundaries in quantum physics, electric propulsion, directed energy, hypersonics, avionics and cyber security. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Raytheon Career Development:

Raytheon has a wealth of resources available to help you develop your career from the moment you join. Activities range from on-line learning modules, to external training and support for taking professional qualifications relevant to your role.

* Our Hybrid Working Model supports flexible working arrangements on a formal or informal arrangement, considering both location and/or working hours, subject to business and customer needs. Please highlight any flexible requirements to our Recruitment team to explore the opportunities.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

At Raytheon UK, we’re committed to be building a workforce that represents the true diversity of Britain where all of our colleagues feel enabled to deliver the best work of their lives. We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer who selects the very best candidates for the job. We truly value the diversity of our workforce work hard to create an inclusive environment where our colleagues can bring the unique skills, experiences and ideas to the table to help us grow our business, create innovative solutions and develop our people.

Our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) act as the eyes and ears into the community they represent and support us in building a truly inclusive business. Our ERGs are open to all colleagues, regardless of background, and include: Raytheon Women’s Network, RayPride, Young Employees Success Network, Raytheon Veterans Network, Raytheon Alliance for Diverse Abilities and RayBAME.

We’re also delighted to have been recognised as a Gold Award Employer as part of the HM’s Armed Forces Covenant and the Human Rights Campaign’s 2021 Corporate Equality Index