How Luneus Enabled Orbex to Secure Its Next Funding Phase

location

Scotland, UK

hire type

Project

company

Orbex

Case Background

  • Executive Summary

    Orbex, a UK-based space company, needed to hire 20 specialist engineers within a five-month window to meet a critical testing milestone tied directly to future funding and launch timelines. With only one internal recruiter managing the workload and increasing pressure from market competition, recruitment had become a major risk to delivery.

    Through partnering with us through our Project solution, we were engaged to deliver 12 of those hires, focusing on the most niche and hard-to-fill roles, while Orbex’s internal recruiter managed the remaining positions.

  • Client Background

    Orbex is a pioneering space company working to become the first organization to successfully launch a rocket from the UK. Operating in a highly competitive and regulated market, Orbex employs specialist engineers across propulsion, structures, hardware, and software to support its orbital launch program.

    At the time of engagement, Orbex was in a critical testing phase, with milestones set by private investors and the European Space Agency that needed to be met to unlock additional funding.

About the project

  • The Challenge

    Orbex needed to hire 20 engineers across multiple disciplines within five months to support propulsion and hardware testing. These hires were critical to achieving a milestone that would unlock future funding and allow the program to continue.

    With only one internal recruiter managing all hiring and inconsistent results from contingent agencies, both candidate quality and delivery speed were holding progress back. At the same time, intense competition to achieve first UK launch capability meant any delays posed a direct risk to funding, timelines, and reputation.

  • The Solution

    We implemented our Project solution, providing a focused and cost-effective recruitment approach. The 20-hire requirement was shared between Orbex’s internal recruiter and two Luneus recruiters, with Luneus responsible for delivering 12 of the most senior and hard-to-fill roles.

    Our approach included:

    • Dedicated recruiters working exclusively on Orbex roles
    • Prioritization of the most niche and hard-to-fill positions first
    • Direct collaboration with hiring managers to remove bottlenecks
    • Refined and expanded job descriptions aligned to real technical requirements
    • Orbex-branded attraction packs
    • Full management of Orbex’s ATS (JazzHR)
    • First-stage interviews conducted by Luneus, particularly for senior and specialist role

  • The Results

    We exceeded expectations by delivering 14 hires against a target of 12 within the five-month window, primarily across the most complex headhunted roles.

    As a result, Orbex successfully met its critical testing milestone, secured further funding, and progressed into the next phase of development. Hiring managers reported strong technical and cultural fit, with new hires integrating quickly and effectively into existing teams.

  • 14

    Hires delivered against a target of 12

  • Testing milestone met

    Funding unlocked for next phase

  • 5 months

    Project delivery window

Moving forward

Key Takeaways Reinforced

  • Prioritising the most complex roles first reduces overall delivery risk.
  • Direct, consistent collaboration with hiring managers leads to better candidate accuracy and fewer interviews.
  • Allowing external partners to manage early-stage screening frees internal teams to focus on delivery.

Next Steps

With additional funding anticipated, Orbex is working toward a planned launch in the coming year.

If successful, Orbex’s launch will represent a landmark moment for the UK space industry and Luneus will continue to play a key role in building the teams that make it possible through providing specialist hiring support for priority and hard-to-fill engineering roles as the program scales.