What is involved in your job on a day-to-day basis?

My team and I work on a variety of projects, focusing on the design and development of products, processes, and systems. With nine members, we’re a fairly large team, collaborating closely with other departments to support all things mechanical throughout every stage of the product lifecycle. Our work also includes conducting Finite Element analyses, material investigations, and environmental testing to ensure our products perform well and meet our customers' requirements.

Are you looking to expand your team any further right now?

Yes, we are expanding our team to meet the growing demand following the success of winning the TRUTHS and LISA CAS contracts, as well as other projects. One key recruitment focus is for an opto-mechanical engineer - a specialist role requiring expertise in optical systems. This position involves designing and ensuring the precise alignment of optical and mechanical components for high-performance systems.

Teledyne Space Imaging is experiencing significant growth, particularly after securing the contract to be the Prime Contractor for the CAS instrument on ESA’s LISA mission, which has brought us increased recognition in the industry. LISA is an incredibly exciting project, requiring input from a wide range of specialists. As we aim to win similar projects in the future, we will need to continue growing our team to support these opportunities.

Tell us a bit about the TRUTHS and LISA missions you are working on with ESA.

These are both ESA-led missions, which Teledyne Space Imaging is involved in. We are employing our technology to provide ESA with detectors and Front-End-Electronics (FEE). TRUTHS will provide traceable International System of Units (SI) measurements of incoming solar radiation and of radiation reflected from Earth back out into space, with which to calibrate data from other satellites. In effect, TRUTHS will be a ‘standards laboratory in space’, becoming the standard reference for climate measurements. We have supplied the hyperspectral sensor for TRUTHS, and overseen the design and manufacture of the associated FEE.

LISA stands for Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, and is an international space observation project. Teledyne Space Imaging will be the Prime Contractor for the Constellation Acquisition System (CAS) instrument, and as such, it is our responsibility to provide the system incorporating Teledyne detectors (6x CIS220) and control electronics within the Optical systems, working with key sub-contractors. Our technology will help the mission study gravitational waves, or ripples in the fabric of spacetime, emitted during powerful events, such as two black holes merging into one. The work LISA is doing will help us understand more about the formation of compact binary stars and the structure of the Milky Way. It’s very exciting to be involved in such important scientific work going on in space right now.

Did you always want to work in the space sector?

After graduating from university, I began my career in aerospace and defence engineering. I later transitioned to the oil and gas industry, where I gradually grew into a role that combined engineering and leadership. When it was time for my next career move, I came across Teledyne Space Imaging and was immediately drawn to the fascinating work the company does. The more time I spend in this sector, the more exciting I find it. The potential is immense, and I’m proud to contribute to its growth.

What do you like best about your role at Teledyne?

I really enjoy the balance between managing a team and staying actively involved in engineering. I’d say my time is split about evenly between the two. One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is helping team members develop their skills and advance in their careers. On the engineering side, I find the work we’re doing on the LISA and TRUTHS missions absolutely fascinating, and I love being so hands-on with these projects.

Published 7 April 2025.