RF Payload Engineer

Are you looking for a new opportunity to take your career to a higher orbit? To join an international group with a successful track record in Space Engineering? A job adapted to your career ambitions and in which you could have an impact for the years to come?

We are looking for a RF Payload Engineer to work at ESTEC’s premises in Noordwijk, Netherlands.

The role is part of the Radio Frequency Payloads and Technology Division, which offers an exciting opportunity to work at the forefront of RF and optical communication systems for space applications. As part of this team, you could contribute to the design, testing, and performance analysis of advanced payloads, instruments, antennas, and telemetry systems. You’ll play a key role in cutting-edge projects, tackling challenges like wave propagation, high-speed data transmission, and signal processing. With expertise across antennas, RF equipment, payload architecture, and wave interaction, the division supports ground-breaking ESA missions, and you could be a vital part of this innovation.

About the client and location

The European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) is the European Space Agency’s (ESA) base in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. As ESA’s largest test centre, it is responsible for the majority of space technology and spacecraft development through varying phases of production.

Tasks and activities

The scope of work will include:

• Architecture definition and performance, functionality & flexibility evaluation of telecommunication & navigation payloads with an RF interface encompassing analogue, digital and optical technologies.
• Architecture definition and performance, functionality evaluation of remote sensing active (e.g. Synthetic Aperture Radars, Radar altimeters, Active sounding, Scatterometers, Atmospheric Radars, etc.) and passive (e.g. microwave and mmwave radiometers, etc.) instruments and associated calibration techniques.
• Study and implementation of new architectures and techniques for RF payloads and microwave instruments, encompassing analogue, digital electronics and optical technologies.
• Apportionment of performance requirements and generation of specifications down to equipment and antenna level in close cooperation with relevant sections.
• Development of simulation tools and associated paradigms in support to the design, development and performance evaluation of payloads and instruments.
• Definition, design, development and characterisation of Payload/Instrument Calibration systems and techniques.
• Definition, design, development and characterisation of calibration transponders.
• Support the technology harmonisation and coordination in the area of RF payloads.

Skills and experience

The following skills and experience are mandatory:

• University Master’s degree in Microwave, Telecommunications or Electronics Engineering.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in the architectural definition, analysis, design, development and testing of RF Payloads and/or Microwave/Millimeter-wave Instruments, including applications such as Telecommunications, Earth Observation and/or Navigation.
• Very good knowledge of Radio Frequency Payloads and Microwave/Millimeter-wave instruments architectures and technologies, including telecom transparent and regenerative payloads, phased array antennas and beamforming, T/R modules.
• Very good knowledge of payload (digital) signal processing on-board techniques and technologies, (e.g. digital beamforming, channelization, modem, etc.).
• Very good knowledge of end-to-end RF payload performance assessment and signal quality analysis.
• Very good knowledge of modern computer systems, simulation and modelling tools, programming languages, (e.g. Matlab, Phyton).
• Experience on RF Payloads and/or Microwave Instruments Assembly, Integration and Testing.
• Desire to work both autonomously and as part of a team, in an international multicultural environment.
• Solution oriented mindset, with a customer focused communication skill.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.

The following skills and experience would be highly desirable:

• Knowledge of telecom, earth observation and navigation signals.
• Experience on procurement of RF Payloads and/or Microwave instruments.

Why should you apply?

• You will have the opportunity to work within leading space organisations across Europe.
• We encourage everyone to think outside the box and to push the boundaries of traditional knowledge. This role is an opportunity to join a forward-thinking company and allows for a deeper understanding of the industry.
• To be part of a company that values integrity, inspiration, care and collaboration.
• Benefits include: competitive remuneration packages; unique career opportunities, including working in other countries; access to training and development programmes; flexible relocation support.

We welcome applications from people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, all genders, LGBTQ+ individuals and ex-service personnel.