Sub-Millimeter Waves 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 Sub-Millimeter Waves 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:

• Analysing and characterizing sub-millimeter wave systems as well as interference effects with the spacecraft structure.
• Designing, synthesizing, analysing and engineering all sub-millimeter antenna sub-systems including stand-alone radiators, arrays, reflector and lens optics and their associated focal plane.
• Executing instrument architecture, engineering and testing activities as well as antenna, front-end technology (e.g. quasi-optic multi-frequency, heterodyne receivers, direct detectors, arrays, lenses, etc.) and components (e.g. mixers, multipliers, etc.) developments for sub-millimeter wave applications.
• Coordinating all aspects of antenna and sub-millimeter wave devices (e.g. Schottky diode, Kinetic Inductance Detectors, Quantum Cascade Lasers, etc.), as well as coordinating non-electrical technology developments.
• Interfacing with other sections for structural aspects (e.g. reflection characteristics, impact of manufacturing and thermo-elastic errors) and for sub-system and system aspects.
• Developing RF Modelling and design tools for all kind of sub-millimeter stand-alone antennas and antenna interactions (e.g. parasitic effect on the radiation performance, coupling among antenna ports, antenna farm analysis, scattering effects, etc.) for spacecraft (including mini and CubeSats) or other platform, including advanced techniques (e.g. Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence techniques, etc.).
• Supporting the testing of the radiative performance of antennas, payloads and instruments both in stand-alone and in relevant environment.
• Supporting the characterization of the RF properties of materials, both at room- and operational-temperature.
• Ensuring operations according to ISO 9001.

Skills and experience

The following skills and experience are mandatory:

• Masters of PHD Degree or equivalent in Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering, Physics or a relevant field.
• At least 4 years proven experience in relevant domain.
• Very good knowledge in electromagnetic wave theory.
• Experience with sub-millimeter wave architectures and technologies as applied to space.
• Familiarity with sub-millimeter wave Space constraints at RF, mechanical, thermal and environmental levels gained from the handling of Flight Model development or R&D development at high TRL level.
• Experience with sub-millimeter wave industrial design, manufacturing, testing processes, architecture and technologies.
• Knowledge of using electromagnetic modelling tools (e.g. Ticra Tools, Ansys, CST, Zeemax) and programming languages (e.g. Python, Matlab).
• Familiarity with sub-millimeter wave testing processes, cryogenics and control software design for sub-millimeter wave measurement systems.
• 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:

• Project support skills and experience in management of R&D activities.

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.