Alister Gray, IT Technician

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What I do

I work for SaxaVord Spaceport, which is the only vertical rocket launch facility in the UK. It’s located in Unst in the Shetland Islands – as far north as you can get in the UK! I keep our on-site computer systems working, fix faults, install new kit and generally help colleagues with their tech issues. My job is an essential part of making sure rocket launches can take place safely and successfully.

Alister on site, wearing a hard hat and hi-vis jacket, fixing an outdoor IT cabinet.

How I became a technician

At school, I loved geography and physics, but I didn’t do very well in my exams. I left school at 16 and spent a few years helping my dad with his plumbing business, dealing with emails and invoices. I enjoyed it, but when my dad closed his business, I had to look for something new.

I was interested in computing, so I did a National Certificate (NC) in Computing with Digital Media. It was a one-year course which covered the basics of how computers work, troubleshooting and using software for photo editing.

How I became a technician

Then I did a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in computing, where I leant about digital forensics, ethical hacking, databases and app development.

A trip to the North Isles to see my gran changed everything. I had heard there was a new spaceport opening and they were advertising for staff, so I sent them an email to ask if I could have a look around and find out more.

How I became a technician

They said yes, and I went to the spaceport and met the team. I applied for a job and got a message back straight away asking if I could start on Monday!

I moved up there when I was 19. I started working in maintenance and then moved into IT after having some time to show I had skills and knowledge in that area.

A typical day in my working life

I usually start at 9am. I have a coffee and check emails and alerts to make sure nothing went wrong overnight (like a power a cut). I scan the news to keep up with anything that might be relevant to our work and then I plan my jobs for the day.

A typical day in my working life

In the mornings, I usually sort people’s tech issues. I could be installing new equipment or setting up a printer – even if it seems like a small task, the person you help might be sending documents to the government to support our next launch, so every task is important.

A typical day in my working life

In the afternoons, I answer requests for support and help colleagues with a range of tasks from getting a new device online to fixing faulty equipment. I usually finish at 5pm, unless some of my tasks require turning off parts of the IT system. When I do that, it’s best to do it after hours, so I don’t disrupt my colleagues’ work!

Alister wearing a hoodie, next to an IT cabinet.

What I love about my job

I love being part of something big and exciting. One day I might be doing something small like checking cables, but other days I might be helping plan how we communicate with satellites in space – there’s such variety.

I also get involved in the ground station work, which takes me out on site visits which I enjoy. I get to explore things like how antennae can communicate with satellites. It’s a great mix of hands-on fixing and real-world problem solving and it’s rewarding to know that what I do is supporting the future of the UK space industry.

The skills I use most

Troubleshooting is number one. I need to think like a computer, not a human. If something is working and something else isn’t – where is the break? Technical thinking and troubleshooting go hand in hand.

Communication is important too, I need to keep everyone updated on what’s happening. I also need to be flexible and available to help people when they need it as I’m the on-site go-to person for IT, with teammates based in other offices not even on the same island as us.

Planning ahead is also essential – we have to wait a long time for deliveries up here, and sometimes we even need to get on a boat to another island to go and buy something!

It’s a great mix of hands-on fixing and real-world problem solving.

I love being part of something big and exciting... it’s rewarding to know that what I do is supporting the future of the UK space industry.

A little more about my everyday role

The best bits about working in a team

We’re very close because of where we live. On a small island you see the same people a lot, we all know and support each other. We go to the same events and all help out when it’s busy. I work with lots of different teams like operations, range, security and facilities and it feels like one big team.

My favourite piece of equipment

My music speaker goes everywhere. It helps me focus, especially when working alone – I like to listen to a wide range of music, I’ll listen to anything!

My handiest tools are my cable crimpers and my tiny screwdriver. Simple tools, but they make the job so much easier.

What I like to do in my spare time

I love long walks. I’ve done the West Highland Way, which takes about seven days, and I’m planning another multi-day trail.

I also volunteer with the Coastguard as a coastal rescue officer. On a remote island there aren’t cinemas or restaurants, so we have to find other things to do!

The most exciting thing I’ve achieved so far in my job

An exciting task was a site visit to plan a new ground station, which would connect a very remote island to the internet. I had the freedom to plan the project, travel out by boat and then walk the site with a spectrum analyser, which checks signal strength.

Using it makes you feel like a ghost hunter as you point the antenna around and watch radio signals on the screen, checking for interference and where to run power and data cables.

We learnt things a map can’t tell you, like when there’s a rock in the way of a signal. Unless you are there, you wouldn't know these details.

A surprising fact about my job

We don’t launch rockets ourselves at the spaceport, we provide the location, launch pad and systems that let rocket companies launch their rockets safely. We are like an airport, and the rocket companies are like the airlines who own the aeroplanes.

The reason this location has been chosen is because rockets can launch north safely, as there’s no land between here and the North Pole. This keeps people safe, and it’s great for putting satellites into polar orbits, which are harder to reach from other spaceports.

The advice I’d give to someone younger

Go for it. I used to think I wasn’t ready to email a spaceport or even apply for college. I didn’t feel confident. But you can learn on the job, learn from others and you will develop your skills and build your confidence. Take the leap and see what happens.