Radio Frequency Payload Engineer
Noordwijk, NL
This is a non-renewable post for a limited duration of 4 years.
Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
Description
RF Payload Engineer in the RF Payload Architecture, TT&C subsystem and Digital Equipment Section, RF Payloads &Technology Division, Electrical Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.
The Section covers the specification, design, development and verification/testing of:
- telecommunication payloads and subsystems, microwave and millimetre wave remote sensing instruments, and navigation payloads exploiting analogue, digital and optical onboard technologies;
- telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C) subsystems, payload data transmission (PDT) subsystems including deep space and near-Earth transponders, proximity and intersatellite (ISL) link equipment, high-speed downlink modulators and digital communication equipment;
- radio frequency digital equipment for telecommunication/navigation payloads, radio frequency/microwave and millimetre-wave remote sensing instruments and radio frequency subsystems (e.g. TT&C, PDT and ISL), as well as payload signal and data processing techniques.
Duties
Reporting to the Head of Section and within the technical fields described above, your main tasks and responsibilities will include:
- providing expert technical support and consultancy to ESA projects, programmes and general studies in the field of RF payloads throughout all project phases, including RF payloads based on digital on-board processing;
- contributing to the overall architectural definition, specification, development and verification of future RF payloads and microwave/millimetre-wave instruments, including the assessment of new concepts, digital signal processing techniques and applications of new RF and digital technologies;
- assessing new concepts, architectures, technologies and (digital on-board) processing techniques to be applied to the next generation of RF payloads and microwave and millimetre wave instruments;
- defining the technological requirements of RF payloads and microwave instruments, including digital on-board processing payload equipment, in cooperation with ESA’s specialists in the different domains;
- participating in feasibility studies, project reviews and the evaluation of procurement proposals;
- identifying critical development problems and assisting in their resolution;
- contributing to the definition of technology development requirements and work plans for the Agency’s technology programmes in the field of RF payloads and microwave instruments, also including digital processing equipment;
- defining, initiating and managing R&D activities covering both long- and short-term needs;
- fostering new application areas for multidisciplinary activities, placing emphasis on innovative concepts, cutting-edge technologies and system architectures;
- laboratory activities, as required;
- monitoring applicable scientific and technological trends and maintaining state-of-the-art expertise;
- contributing to the dissemination of the results of the activities performed and the transfer of knowledge across the Agency;
- development of simulation tools and associated paradigms in support of the design, development and performance evaluations;
- implementation of laboratory activities associated to testing, characterisation and performance assessment;
- supervising students and trainees for the analysis, simulation and development of advanced concepts in the Section’s technical field.
Your duties may also include supporting other activities within your field of competence.
Technical competencies
Behavioural competencies
Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking
For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.
Education
A master’s in telecommunications, electronics or RF/microwave engineering is required for this post.
Additional requirements
- Very good understanding of RF payloads for space applications (e.g. navigation, telecom and Earth observation), including the functionality, architectures and key performance parameters specification and evaluation is required.
- Experience in the design, development and verification of RF payloads for space applications is required.
- A very good knowledge of on-board digital signal processing techniques and technologies for RF payloads and microwave instruments will be considered an asset.
- Very good knowledge of modern computer systems, simulation and modelling tools, programming languages, signal processing techniques and technologies is required.
- A number of years of professional experience in the technical domains required for this position will be considered an asset.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged. At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at contact.human.resources@esa.int.
Important Information and Disclaimer
In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the master’s degree, the position may be filled at A1 level.
Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations & eligible to acquire the security clearance by their national security administrations.
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.
Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.
The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.
Nationality and Languages
Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.
When short-listing for an interview, priority will first be given to internal candidates.
The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.