Orbex has announced plans to hire an additional fifty staff members over the next six months as the company prepares for the first vertical rocket launch from UK soil.

Many of the new roles will support ‘integrated testing’ of the new biofuel-powered Orbex Prime rocket at the firm’s launch platform test facility in Kinloss.

The facility is capable of hosting ‘dress rehearsals’ of rocket launches, and is situated a few miles from the Orbex headquarters in Forres.

Orbex said the new roles will strengthen existing teams responsible for key areas of rocket development, such as propulsion, structures, avionics, CNC machining and embedded software.

Other recruitment areas will improve communications between ground staff and the rocket in flight, covering fields such as GNC (guidance, navigation & control) systems, sensors, data capture, ground segment software, and radio engineering.

Commenting on the recruitment drive, Orbex CEO Chris Larmour said: “We have already tripled the size of our team over the last twelve months. And now, the roles we’re recruiting for are the clearest demonstration that we’re in the final countdown to launch from UK soil.”

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Orbex confirmed that 15 of the new roles will be non-technical positions, offering opportunities to train or re-skill for a career in the UK space sector.

These positions require no past experience of the space or aerospace industry, and cover areas such as logistics, finance and procurement.

Richard Lochhead, Scottish Government Employment Minister, said: “Orbex is bringing high-value jobs to Moray while inspiring the study of science and engineering – which will help create future rocket scientists.

“Companies like Orbex are vital to achieving the aims of our newly published National Strategy for Economic Transformation that will support a nation of entrepreneurs and innovators.”

David Oxley, director of strategic projects at Highlands and Islands Enterprise added: “This is fantastic news for Orbex and for the Highlands and Islands. The Scottish space sector is on course for serious growth over the next few years and the economic benefits for our region will be significant.”

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