On-Board Payload Data Processing Engineer

Job ID: TEC-EDP-730

Deadline: 6 July 2021

Aurora is an established supplier of skilled manpower to ESA and in particular at ESTEC and ESAC. Aurora has the opportunity to expand our support to ESA in the domain of EDP – Electromagnetics Components Data & Power Systems Engineering. We are looking for an On-board Payload Data Processing Engineer to support the RF DIgital Equipment & Payload Data Processing Section.

Happiness of our employees has proven key to obtaining excellent results and a client who also regards us highly for excellent service.

Overview

One of the following two profiles are requested;

RF Instrument Data Processing Engineer
A diverse range of support tasks is required to be carried out, encompassing algorithmic and hardware definition, development and validation, involving software, hardware and system constraints. These can be grouped as the following:

  • Design, development and performance evaluation and characterisation of control, data and signal processing units for Radio Frequency payloads and instruments.
  • Definition, design, development, performance evaluation and verification of data and signal processing functions and algorithms via simulation techniques (e.g. Matlab, Python, prototyping SW).
  • Design, verification and validation of payload data and signal processing chains.
  • Hardware/ software optimization and implementation of payload data processing functions on processors (e.g. uC/uP, DSP, GPU, AI accelerators) and FPGA (e.g. MPSoC, RfSoC) based platforms.
  • Radio Frequency payloads/ instruments related ASICs and device specification/ validation.
  • Specific engineering support in the above domains to mainstream ESA space projects, mainly for (but not restricted to) the development and testing phases.

Optical Instrument Image Processing Engineer 
A diverse range of support tasks is required to be carried out, encompassing algorithmic definition, development and validation and involving software, hardware and system constraints. These tasks are expected to address processing functions focusing on payload performance (image quality), data compression/reduction and data analysis. They can be grouped as the following:

  • Analysis of system-level needs and definition of system and subsystem requirements’ specifications for optical payload processing functions.
  • Definition, design, development, performance evaluation and verification of image processing functions and algorithms via simulation techniques (e.g. Matlab, Python, prototyping SW).
  • Design, verification and validation of payload image processing chains (in close collaboration with teams responsible for SW and HW implementation).
  • Support to HW/SW optimization and implementation of payload data processing functions on processors (e.g. uC/uP, DSP, GPU, AI accelerators) and FPGA based platforms.
  • Specific engineering support in the above domains to mainstream ESA space projects, mainly for (but not restricted to) the development and testing phases.

Specific qualification requirements

For RF Instrument Data Processing Engineer:

  • Extensive knowledge in on-board data and signal processing techniques.
  • Extensive knowledge in signal quality and on-board payload data processing functions for RF remote sensing and Telecom payloads.
  • Extensive knowledge in simulation of signal processing functions (Matlab, Python, C, etc).
  • Knowledge in the design, training and validation of machine learning techniques (not limited to deep learning) for tasks such as prediction, classification, semantic segmentation, object detection, etc.
  • Familiarity with telecom payload processors, synthetic aperture radar, radar altimetry and radio frequency interference mitigation (coverage of more than one of the topics will be a strong asset).
  • Familiarity with payload data and signal processing on-board systems architectures.Familiarity with processing devices and on-board electronics design related to data acquisition and processing functions.
  • Familiarity with procurement of units, sub-systems integration and testing.
  • Ability to work in an autonomous manner, in particular when providing support to projects with high time allocations and this in coordination with the line manager.

For Optical Instrument Image Processing Engineer:

  • Extensive knowledge in image processing, compression and computer vision techniques.
  • Extensive knowledge in optical imaging payloads, signal/image quality and on-board payload data processing functions.
  • Extensive knowledge in simulation of image processing functions (Matlab, Python, ENVI/IDL, C, etc).
  • Knowledge in the design, training and validation of machine learning techniques (not limited to deep learning) for tasks such as prediction, classification, semantic segmentation, object detection, etc.
  • Familiarity with computational imaging techniques (image stabilization, super-resolution, active optics, etc).
  • Familiarity with payload data processing on-board systems architectures.
  • Familiarity with processing devices and on-board electronics design related to data acquisition and processing functions.
  • Familiarity with procurement of demonstrator units, sub-system integration and testing.
  • Ability to work in an autonomous manner, in particular when providing support to projects with high time allocations and this in coordination with the line manager.

General requirements for either role;

  • Master in Aerospace Engineering or relevant area of expertise, plus a minimum of 4 years of working experience.
  • Proactive attitude to solving problems.
  • Good organisational skills.
  • A very good working knowledge of spoken and written English is essential.

For candidates with less than 10 years experience, please provide the relevant academic transcripts in order to give the TRs a more complete candidate profile at the selection stage.

Legal and Security Requirements

  • All applicants must be legally allowed to work in The Netherlands
  • Applicants are required to provide a copy of their passport and degree certificate. Aurora will validate the Degree with the issuing University and provide evidence to ESA.
  • Prior to issuing a letter of employment the applicant shall provide to Aurora a recent official document declaring that they are of good conduct from the country where currently resident.

Location

The work will be performed at the European Space Technology and Research Centre (ESTEC) at Noordwijk, The Netherlands.

Contract

  • The selected candidate will receive good remuneration  in line with ESA Job Class.
  • Will be registered for both social security and tax in the Netherlands.
  • The standard working hours are 40 per week. There are 12 public holidays and an additional 30 annual days holiday.
  • Training to improve efficiency and provide strength for future career are of course included.
  • Aurora assist with relocation both with support and financially.
  • Aurora contributes to a company pension scheme.

To be considered for this Position

Prior to 6 July 2021, please apply via our Job Application form quoting TEC-EDP-730 (RT-C/TEC-EFD/00730) as reference.

Aurora will agree conditional employment terms and conditions with candidates before presenting them by  8 July 2021, 13.00 hours.

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