(Senior) Satcom System Engineer (5G NTN), IRIS2

The job responsibilities outlined in this document are not exhaustive and may evolve over time and be reviewed according to business needs. 

Programme Description 

IRIS² is the new European Union secure satellite communications constellation. This project is the European Union's answer to the pressing challenges of tomorrow to provide secure connectivity services and enhanced communication capacities to the EU and its Member States as well as to governmental users, private companies and European citizens while ensuring high-speed internet broadband to cope with connectivity dead zones. 

SES – together with other consortium partners and core members – was selected by European Commission to build and to operate the IRIS² multi-orbit satellite constellation. 

The IRIS² team enters the next project phase and there is a strong need for support for all the activities around service provisioning and products that the system can offer in the future. 

Role description summary 

We are seeking a Senior Satellite Communications System Engineer to play a key role in the design, integration, and delivery of a Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite constellation and its associated ground system. The program delivers broadband services notably using cutting-edge technologies such as advanced on-board digital processing or 3GPP 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) protocols, requiring close coordination across space, ground, and terrestrial network domains. 

This role sits at the space system level and is ideal for an engineer who enjoys owning end-to-end technical performance, driving requirements, and solving complex cross-domain problems. 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES / KEY RESULT AREAS 

• Contribute to the system-level architecture and design for a MEO satellite communications system, focusing on the space segment in relations with the ground and user segments 

• Contribute to the design, specification and integration of the main payload and ancillary hosted payloads 

• Define system requirements across satellites, gateways, network functions, and terminals 

• Develop and validate RF/optical link budget and performance analyses for MEO orbits, including latency, Doppler, handover, and availability 
• Support integration of 5G NTN in compliance with 3GPP standards
• Collaborate with RF, payload, spacecraft, ground infrastructure, and software teams to ensure cohesive system performance 

• Support ground system design, including gateways, mission control, and interfaces to terrestrial networks 

• Support the definition of system verification and validation (V&V) strategies, including simulations, test campaigns 

• Analyze operational concepts (CONOPS) for network operations, mobility management, beam hopping, and constellation management 

• Identify and manage technical risks, performance margins, and trade studies across the program lifecycle 

• Interface with customers, partners, and external stakeholders on system design and performance topics 

In the execution of these tasks, you will be supported by experts from the Project team. 

COMPETENCIES 

• Excellent knowledge of satellite communications systems technologies: system sizing, link budgets 

• Very good knowledge of telecommunication payload systems (antennas, amplifiers, processors, etc.) 

• Good experience with system modelling tools (e.g. Matlab, Python custom simulations) and system trade-off analyses 

• Familiarity with 3GPP 5G NTN standards and their practical implementation 

• Knowledge of free space optical telecommunication technologies 
• Knowledge of regulatory and spectrum considerations for satellite systems 

• Fluency in English (any other language being an asset) 

Qualifications Background and Experience 

• Master’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Telecommunications, or related field 

• For Senior position, 8+ years of experience in SATCOM system engineering, with demonstrated ownership of complex systems 

• Strong understanding of satellite communications architectures, including space and ground segments 

• Strong proficiency in link analysis, system modeling, and performance trade studies 

• Experience integrating satellite systems with terrestrial telecom networks 

• Experience with MEO and/or LEO constellations, including constellation dynamics and handover concepts 

• Knowledge of 5G or LTE networking principles, particularly as applied to NTN or hybrid networks 

• Prior involvement in AIT, IOT or operational satellite networks 

• Experience working across the full program lifecycle (requirements, design, integration, test, and operations) 

Other key requirements / comments 

• Eligibility for ESA/EU SECRET personal security clearances is essential. Candidates must be prepared to undergo a security clearance procedure, as this position may require holding such a clearance 

• Willing to work at least 60% onsite from office 

• Travel as required for project realization purposes 

SES is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer