Microwave Engineer

Join ESA as a Microwave Engineer in the Radio Frequency (RF) Equipment and Technology Section, Radio Frequency Payloads and Technology Division, Electrical Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

The RF Equipment and Technology Section provides engineering support to ESA projects and carries out technological research (R&D) in the fields of ground and space-borne RF equipment and its building blocks, RF active and RF passive technologies, time and frequency generation and distribution, RF testing, instrumentation and related design and characterisation tools.

Duties

Reporting to the Head of Section and within the technical fields described above, your main tasks and responsibilities will include:

• Contributing to the design, development and performance evaluation of RF equipment, subsystems, components and technologies applicable to space and ground segments
• Providing expert technical support and consultancy to ESA projects, programmes and general studies in the field of RF equipment and technologies throughout all project phases
• Participating in feasibility studies, project reviews and the evaluation of procurement proposals
• Contributing to the definition of technology development roadmaps and work plans for the Agency’s technology programmes
• Defining, initiating and managing R&D activities, from early conceptual studies to full hardware development
• Fostering new application areas for multidisciplinary activities, placing emphasis on innovative concepts, cutting-edge technologies and system architectures
• Carrying out end-to-end laboratory activities as required in support of industry, as well as ESA projects and programmes
• Monitoring applicable scientific and technological trends, liaising with universities and research institutes in order to maintain state-of-the-art engineering expertise in the Section’s technical domains
• Supervising students and trainees for analysis, simulation and development of advanced concepts in the Section’s technical domains
• Contributing to the dissemination of the results of the activities performed and the transfer of knowledge across the Agency

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

Technical competencies

• General background and specific experience in the technical domains covered by the position
• Hands-on laboratory and hardware experience
• Experience with the design, development and application of relevant tools and methods
• Understanding of related technologies, R&D trends and the industrial landscape
• Project support experience in a relevant domain
• Experience in the preparation of procurement activities for technology development and innovation, such as technology roadmap definition, statements of work and proposal evaluation
• Experience in the management and monitoring of industrial activities, including participation in reviews

Behavioural competencies

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

Education and professional experience

A master's degree in telecommunication, electronic, microwave engineering or physics is required for this post together with five years of relevant professional experience.

Additional requirements

More than five years’ experience in:

• The design and development of RF equipment and technologies for space and ground applications from low to high TRL levels, in either of these two fields:

• High-Power Amplifiers (vacuum-tube amplifiers, solid-state power amplifiers or integrated RF output sections)
• Time and Frequency generation and distribution equipment

• Project activities throughout all project phases
• The definition of R&D roadmaps in the field of RF equipment and technologies for space applications

A PhD in a relevant domain is an asset.

Important information

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 and eligible to acquire the security clearance by their national security administrations.

Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.

Nationality and languages

Applications are only considered from nationals 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, Canada, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

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.