Payload and RF subsystem Engineer

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.

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

Specific tasks

Task 1: Lab Coordination

• Manage lab activity schedules, prepare maintenance plans, and resolve conflicts with the ESA Lab Manager.
• Suggest facility improvements with cost estimates, ensure compliance with safety and quality standards, and oversee access and security.
• Define and track staff competencies, organize necessary training, and manage access control.
• Prepare periodic reports, support accreditation processes (ISO 9001/9100), and conduct internal audits.
• Provide on-call services for after-hours emergencies.

Task 2: General Maintenance and Calibration

• Execute maintenance plans, calibrate equipment, and organize repairs to minimize downtime.
• Maintain up-to-date inventories, manage consumables, and dispose of obsolete equipment per ESA procedures.
• Ensure cleanliness and monitor lab conditions, including ISO 8 cleanroom standards.
• Interface with cleaning, facility management, and IT teams for infrastructure and operational needs.
• Maintain and support technical IT assets in alignment with TEC policies.

Task 3: Test Definition, Preparation, and Execution

• Analyze customer requirements, prepare test plans, and define setups and sequences.
• Create and validate test equipment, including RF modules, harnesses, and jigs.
• Conduct tests, monitor performance, troubleshoot anomalies, and document results.
• Coordinate logistics, integrate devices under test (DUT), and manage customer feedback.

Task 4: Facility Modification

• Support lab upgrades by detailing requirements, evaluating proposals, and commissioning new facilities.
• Prepare operational documentation, develop or update lab software, and integrate new systems.

Requirements

The post holder should have:

• Master’s degree in engineering or equivalent experience.
• General knowledge in RF, microwave and digital signal processing technologies.
• General knowledge of RF Payloads, Microwave Remote sensing Instruments, RF (communication) subsystems and RF Payloads with digital processing functions, in particular:
  o RF Communication and navigation payloads and transponders.
  o Microwave Remote sensing instruments including radars and microwave radiometers.
  o RF communication subsystems such as Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TT&C), Payload data Transmission (PDT) and Inter-satellite Link (ISL) subsystems.
  o All of the above categories based on digital signal processing subsystems and active antennas (phased array antennas) and beamforming networks.
• General knowledge of communication systems, modulation, coding and air-interface communication standards (DVB-S, 5G).
• Experience in the end-to-end process of RF payloads and subsystem testing activities: from initial feasibility assessment to delivery of test reports.
• Working experience in end-to-end and intermediate stages characterisation and testing of:
  o RF communication and navigation payloads and Microwave (remote sensing) instruments with RF interfaces.
  o RF equipment with digital signal processing functions, digital interfaces (high speed and telemetry/telecommand) and mixed signals interfaces (ADCs/DACs).
  o RF communication subsystems (i.e. TT&C Telemetry Tracking & Command and PDT Payload Data Transmitters).
• Working experience in measurement and characterisation of end-to-end performance parameters of RF payloads and subsystems – including e.g. EIRP, G/T, Dynamic Range, Carrier-to-Interference ratio, Signal-to-Noise-Ratio, Linearity, Frequency response – and RF communication subsystems – including e.g. Bit-Error-rate (BER), Error-Vector-Magnitude (EVM).
• Experience in the development of tools for automated testing activities, control systems, configuration and post-processing of results.
• Experience in preparing and handling EGSE, thermal systems and TVACs.
• Experience in handling space flight model hardware.
• Experience in the maintenance and calibration activities of RF and Microwave laboratories and clean rooms.
• Experience in signal and data processing for the elaboration and processing of test results.
• Skilled in MS Office tools.
• Proficient in English (spoken and written).

Nice to have:

• Experience in computer programming (e.g. Python, Matlab, Labview) for interfacing GSE hardware is considered an asset.
• ISO accreditation experience and ISO auditing experience is considered an asset.
• General knowledge of digital signal processing functions (implemented on board RF systems with digital equipment, such as signal generation, digital (up/down) conversion, digital filtering, digital beamforming, FFTs) is considered an asset.
• Experience in the assembly, integration and test of RF Payloads, Microwave Instruments and RF (communication) subsystems is considered an asset.
• Experience in the calibration of RF payloads and subsystems, including calibration of payloads based on phased array antennas is considered an asset.

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 15,7% of pensionable salary to a company pension scheme and employees can optionally make additional contributions.

To be considered for this Position

Prior to 11 December 2024, please apply via our Job Application form quoting TEC-EDP-1020 (Payload Lab) as reference.

Aurora will agree conditional employment terms and conditions with candidates before presenting them by 16 December 2024.

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