TT&C – Payload Data Transmission 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 TT&C – Payload Data Transmission 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:

• Specification, design, development, verification/acceptance of TT&C/PDT subsystems, including their associated EGSE and related equipment (e.g. receivers, transmitters, transponders).
• Design and implementation of associated functions and techniques within the TT&C/PDT subsystem, in particular: modulation, signal synchronisation, digital signal processing, error control coding.
• Support to Projects, throughout all phases, regarding the follow up of industrial activities and procurement of TT&C/PDT subsystems and associated EGSE and equipment, and as part of R&D activities.
• Apportionment of requirements and generation of specifications from subsystem down to equipment and antenna.
• Study and implementation of new architectures, technologies and techniques for TT&C/PDT subsystems; support the harmonisation process on TT&C/PDT subsystems and technologies.
• TT&C/PDT subsystems assembly, integration, testing (AIT), characterisation and validation activities.
• Development of simulation tools and associated paradigms in support to the design, development and performance evaluation of TT&C and PDT subsystems.
• Implementation of laboratory activities associated to testing, characterisation and performance assessment of TT&C and PDT subsystems.

Skills and experience

The following skills and experience are mandatory:

• Master’s degree in Telecommunications or Electronics Engineering.
• At least 4 years of work experience in the field of satellite TT&C and PDT subsystems.
• Several years of experience in the architectural definition, analysis, design, development and testing of RF communication subsystems, such as TT&C, PDT, ISL, proximity-link.
• Very good knowledge of RF communication systems architectures and technologies.
• Very good knowledge of digital signal processing on-board techniques and technologies, including modulation, signal synchronisation, error control coding and RF/microwave technologies.
• A good background in communication system engineering applied to space.
• Experience and expertise with TT&C spaceflight hardware development and testing.
• Very good knowledge of end-to-end RF communication systems performance assessment and signal quality analysis.
• Very good knowledge of modern computer systems, simulation and modelling tools, programming languages.
• 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 telecommunication standards.
• Knowledge on Authentication and Encryption schemes as applied to TT&C/PDT systems.

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.