Employee Spotlight | AAC Clyde Space

Why AAC Clyde Space?

You don’t need to be an engineer to work in the space industry. In fact, opportunities exist for nearly every vocational background. From sales and marketing to project management and partnerships, there’s a role at AAC Clyde Space for everyone. We spoke to three different teams across three different sites to ask about their experiences at AAC Clyde Space.

Pamela Smith

What does a normal day look like for a member of your team?

Every day is different, that’s one advantage of what we do. Activities can involve:

Attending conferences and events to engage with Institutional stakeholders
Preparing proposal documentation for next generation technology and services working closely with other teams within AAC Clyde Space as well as external partners.
Participation in external group and trade body meetings and calls with lots of different agencies all over the world.

What is your favourite thing about working for AAC Clyde Space? In other words, what makes your job unique?

I have the opportunity to support the business in delivering advanced technology and services at the forefront of the New Space industry, and for me, that is a real privilege. I am able to use my previous experience from time in the industry, academia and other agencies to make a real impact at AAC Clyde Space. I also really enjoy working with people from different backgrounds based all over the world.

What piece of advice would you give a perspective employee before an interview?

Do your research! Be aware of the latest news at both AAC Clyde and the wider industry as a whole. This will help you demonstrate your understanding of the job you are applying for and it’s position in the wider context of the industry.

Were you always interested in the space industry? If not, what did your journey look like?

I had an interest in space from a relatively young age, after visiting NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, but I wasn’t sure how someone from Glasgow could get involved in the industry. So, I focussed my attention on becoming a Primary School teacher instead! That was until I attended the Scottish Space School while in my final year at high school. This experience, at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas, opened my eyes to the different career options in space and got me interested in Engineering. I then went on to study Aero-Mechanical Engineering followed by a PhD in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, both from the University of Strathclyde.

Donovan Cogan

What does a normal day look like for a member of your team?

It always starts, ends, and exists with lots of coffee. I spend my time designing mechanical components such as spacecraft structures, deployable systems, and solar panels inclusive of electrical architecture. I also work on the structural and thermal analysis of subsystems and platforms while producing manufacturing drawings and instructions for suppliers and assembly. I interact on a daily basis with many different engineering disciplines to produce complex solutions. I’ll hopefully receive an engineering meme or two at some point as well.

What is your favourite thing about working for AAC Clyde Space? In other words, what makes your job unique?

AAC Space Africa and AAC Clyde Space as a whole has an amazing team, everyone is so excited to work in this industry and has a special connection to the group. You will never stop learning and AAC Clyde Space is all about improving everyone’s knowledge. It is ever evolving, there will always be something new to work on and new skills to learn.

What piece of advice would you give a perspective employee before an interview?

Attitude is everything, it’s not only about what you have done, but your attitude to learning and improving yourself, and of course the love for the industry and science in general.

Were you always interested in the space industry? If not, what did your journey look like?

I was always interested in space, but I originally had my eye on aviation since my father and grandfather were both involved with aircraft. During my master’s I was approached by a research department next-door to where I was working at the university, they developed CubeSats and needed a mechanical engineer, there was no way I was going to say no to joining, and I will never look back!

Heike Schneider

What does a normal day look like for a member of your team?

A normal day for a project manager at AAC Clyde Space in Uppsala includes team meetings, updates of plans and forecast and, a visit to the clean room, where we integrate the Starbuck and the Sirius products.

What is your favourite thing about working for AAC Clyde Space? In other words, what makes your job unique?

I really enjoy meeting our customers. They represent different satellite integrators from all over the world, and through our power experts and software experts we discuss new solutions.

What piece of advice would you give a perspective employee before an interview?

Project management requires fast decisions and dedication, as well as presence at the site. Understand that the job is all about the industry. It will become challenging, but you will become an integrated and integral part of the team.

Were you always interested in the space industry? If not, what did your journey look like?

I decided to work within space when I started studying physics, then worked a few years after at the Swedish Space Corporation. Thereafter I tried a number of fields (transportation, medtech, defence) as a consultant within systems engineering, but now I’m back to space.