Space
Scotland is a key player in the international space industry thanks to the expertise of our space companies in small satellite manufacturing, data analysis and earth observation. Discover why more than 6000 people are taking their space career to new heights right here.
The space sector in Scotland
-
Over 6000 people
in Scotland have a career in space.
-
12% of all space roles
Are employed in Scotland, more than anywhere else in the UK.
-
£4 billion a year
to the Scottish economy is Space Scotland's ambition for 2030.
Scotland’s space leadership
The space sector in Scotland is the fastest-growing in the UK and from initiating the use of radar to discovering the composition of Saturn’s rings, we’re also often leading the way.
We’re doing this by:
- Developing Europe’s first fully licenced vertical launch spaceport
- Becoming one of the largest manufacturers of small satellites anywhere in the world
- Employing 12% of all UK space roles — more than Scotland’s share of the UK’s population (9%)
- Creating a world-first strategy for space sustainability
- Learn more about Scotland's space sector
Learn more about Scotland's space sectoropens in a new window
Your skills are in demand
Our climate conscious approach to space means we’re generating jobs that are rewarding, green, and impactful. There are opportunities to build expertise in disciplines like design, testing, manufacturing, data, and launching small satellites and vehicles.
Scotland attracts some of the world’s most innovative space companies. These include global players who are choosing to base their European operations here. And you could join them with a career in Scotland's space sector.
Scotland’s space sector employers
Scotland is home to more than 130 companies operating in space. They include:
- Celestiaopens in a new window – specialists in radiofrequency, antennas and satellite space systems
- HyImpulseopens in a new window – European rocket engineering based in Shetland
- Space Intelligenceopens in a new window – data mapping for the nature-based market
- Trade in Spaceopens in a new window – providers of environmental monitoring
- DCATopens in a new window – providers of monitoring, reporting, and verification services using satellite data
- Earth Bloxopens in a new window – geospatial data services
- Spire – satellite and data analytics
- Ecometrica opens in a new window – space tech focused on monitoring climate issues
- Orbex opens in a new window – orbital services, including low carbon launch vehicles that use renewable fuel
- Skyrora opens in a new window – launch vehicle technology
- AAC Clyde Space – advanced nanosatellite spacecraft and mission services
- Astrosat opens in a new window – space services and management
- Alba Orbital opens in a new window – satellite design and build
- STAR-Dundee opens in a new window – aerospace engineering
Find more space employers based in Scotland opens in a new window
Explore roles in Scotland's space sector
We’re consistently breaking new ground, so whatever your passion, and however niche your expertise, you’ll find a home for it in Scotland.
Find space sector jobs on LinkedIn opens in a new windowopens in a new window
Spaceport pioneers
Scotland is setting its sights high for launch capability. In fact, it’s aiming to become the next big commercial space launch nation. We have:
- Three space ports developing launch facilities across the country
- The low-risk geographic conditions required to reach low earth orbit
- Sites in wide open areas near the coast to reduce risk
Quality of life
Scotland has lots to offer outside of work.
Wherever you decide to work in Scotland, you’ll discover welcoming communities, rich history and vibrant culture. Enjoy shorter commutes, world-class education, free healthcare, and plenty of green space on your doorstep.
Building a career in Scotland comes at a lower cost of living than many other major locations. You’ll benefit from flexibility for hybrid and remote working while being fully supported by reliable digital connectivity.
As one of the best-connected places in Europe, Scotland has six airports with daily direct flights to 150 destinations worldwide. We also have fast and frequent rail links to all parts of the UK.
Moving to Scotland: the practicalities
We welcome people from around the world to build exceptional careers across Scotland.
Learn more about moving to Scotland on Scotland.org opens in a new window
How Scotland supports space
Scotland’s culture of creativity, innovation and research is built on collaboration. When you work in Scotland, you join a connected space community offering unique opportunities to work across industry and academia.
You’ll also benefit from active government support, funding, and progressive policies. These include 2021 spaceflight regulations that allow the UK to be the first European country to launch spacecraft and satellites from home soil.
When it comes to advancing your space career in Scotland, the opportunities span the entire sector. You can work in dynamic areas like fundamental and applied research, system design and spacecraft manufacture, launch and operations, and data processing and service provision.
You can also take your career further in related fields like manufacturing and aerospace and, engineering (particularly software engineering). Or you can transfer your skills to other thriving specialisms like AI and Data.
Two people observe the space exhibit at Glasgow Science Centre
Space at a glance
Scotland’s space strategy plans to make Scotland the best place on earth to build a space business. It’s vision for 2030 is to build a workforce five times the size with a focus on diversity and increased participation.
Collaboration and coalition are at the heart of making this happen. Partners in industry, academia, and government have come together to develop a diverse space ecosystem where businesses and careers can thrive.
Scotland’s fast-growing space sector is built on broad expertise and experience in defence, electronics, aerospace, geospatial science, geophysics, subsea oil, and gas engineering.
Just as importantly, steady funding and investment continues to increase job opportunities in exciting projects. Examples include:
- A £29 million investment in developing launch operations from Scotland.
- £10.9 million from the UK government to invest in five Scottish projects, including three smaller kick starter ventures.
The UK is also one of the founding members of the European Space Agency (ESA). This broadens your scope to be part of space programmes and activities throughout Europe and beyond.
Innovative and highly collaborative
Scotland’s outstanding record of industry and academic engagement is supported by 19 world-class universities and higher education institutions. From propulsion and space radiation to orbital dynamics and advanced materials, Scotland is the place to study for and build a career in space innovation.
Industries, innovation centres and universities work together in Scotland in a highly collaborative environment. Projects include:
- Space Scotland opens in a new window – the official home of Scotland’s space sector, dedicated to promoting collaboration and commercial opportunities
- The replacement Hubble telescope – James Webb Space Telescope opens in a new window – was developed with the expertise of Edinburgh’s UK Astronomy Technology Centre opens in a new window – a European Space Agency opens in a new window and UK Space Agency opens in a new window incubator
- University of Glasgow opens in a new window is contributing to the Europe-wide Laser Interferometer Space Antennaopens in a new window (LISA) project, the first ever space-based gravitational wave observatory, expected to launch in 2034
- University of Dundee's Space Technology Centreexternal link which will open in a new window opens in a new window is involved in leading research including data handling onboard of spacecraft, planetary lander technology and satellite data reception
- The University of Edinburgh and Ecometrica are involved in Forests 2020 - a satellite data project to help protect and restore up to 300 million hectares of tropical forests
- Higgs Centre for Innovation opens in a new window at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh is a business-focused facility that supports start-ups and SMEs working in the satellite, space, and data-intensive sectors
Other world-class R&D work is taking place at the University of Edinburgh. Its Geosciences School, School of Informatics, and the Bayes Centre are carrying out research in areas ranging from data modelling to AI to computational linguistics.