Junior Professional in Microwave Radiometer Engineering

This post is part of ESA’s Junior Professional Programme. We are looking for enthusiastic candidates with up to 3 years of relevant professional experience after their Master's degree to join ESA for a four-year assignment. During this time, you will be actively working and learning on the job and will benefit from valuable mobility and developmental opportunities that will prepare you for a successful career at ESA. Subject to performance, it is therefore the intention to offer you an indefinite contract which will start at the end of the four years.

Developmental assignments form an integral part of the Junior Professional Programme and may entail a temporary relocation to another ESA establishment or other location.

Description

As a Junior Professional in Microwave Radiometer Instrument Engineering, you will join the Payload, TT&C and Digital Architecture Section, RF Payloads and 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.

Microwave radiometer instruments are foundational to Earth observation applications. They are enabling technologies for highly accurate observation measurements from space, supporting weather and climate applications, while monitoring oceans, atmosphere and land. Advances in microwave radiometer architectures, signal processing and performance modelling also help improve instrument sensitivity, accuracy and spatial resolution, which are essential for successful future spaceborne missions.

Duties

As a Junior Professional, you will gain exposure to state-of-the-art developments in spaceborne microwave radiometry. You will be engaged in innovative radiometer architectures for real-aperture imaging radiometers and atmospheric sounders, as well as synthetic-aperture radiometry. Additional responsibilities will include performance modelling, digital signal and data processing techniques, and laboratory validation of emerging instrument technologies.

Your key duties and responsibilities will include:

• collaborating with colleagues working in the domain of radiometers to identify state-of-the-art advancements, emerging trends and future requirements in the field of spaceborne microwave radiometers;
• working jointly with team members to define innovative architectures and operational principles for new microwave radiometers;
• engaging with colleagues working in the domains of radiometers and performance to conduct performance modelling and simulations for microwave radiometers;
• contributing to the definition, development and implementation of digital signal processing algorithms and data processing strategies for microwave radiometers;
• conducting laboratory activities to validate architectural concepts, operating principles, signal processing methods and simulation outcomes.

Your duties may also include supporting other activities within your field of competence.

Development programme

In addition to your daily work, you will take part in an extensive learning and development programme. From day one, you will learn on the job and benefit from tailored development opportunities, including participation in technical and key skills training courses.

Furthermore, there is a mobility component to the Junior Professional Programme that can be either an internal rotation to another team within ESA, an external secondment outside of ESA or a combination of both. Internal rotations aim to boost your professional experience and knowledge of the European Space Agency, whereas external secondments aim to boost your professional experience and knowledge of the European space sector.

As part of the mobility component of the Junior Professional Programme, you will have the opportunity to develop your knowledge in another ESA directorate, for example by working on Earth observation microwave radiometers applications. In addition, you may have the opportunity to complete an external secondment to industrial and institutional partners involved in the development and verification of this type of microwave instrument.

This programme represents a significant investment by ESA in your personal and professional development and is designed to provide you with the required knowledge and skills for a career at ESA. You can expect to be given many opportunities to develop your professional experience and competencies, to learn from ESA experts and to contribute to ESA activities.

Technical competencies

• Knowledge and/or experience in the architecture definition, performance modelling and analysis and development of microwave radiometers
• Knowledge and/or experience in the definition, development and implementation of digital signal processing algorithms and data processing for microwave remote sensing, in particular radiometry
• Knowledge and/or experience in the definition, development and verification of spaceborne microwave remote sensing instruments
• Experience with the design, development and application of relevant tools and methods
• Hands-on laboratory test and measurement experience

Behavioural competencies

• Result Orientation
• Operational Efficiency
• Fostering Cooperation
• Relationship Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Forward Thinking

Education and professional experience

A master's degree in electrical, telecommunications, microwave or remote sensing engineering or in physics is required for this post with up to three years of professional experience.

Additional requirements

Knowledge and experience in the theory and techniques of spaceborne microwave remote sensing, with an emphasis on microwave radiometry, end-to-end modelling and performance analysis of microwave radiometer, radiometer signal and data processing would be an asset for this position, as would knowledge of real aperture and synthetic aperture interferometric microwave radiometer instruments and associated technologies.

Important information

Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.

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, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the Member States.

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.