Engineer, Satellite Reliability and Radiation, meo-Sphere

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

meoSphere is SES’s next-generation Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite constellation, designed to deliver secure connectivity services to government agencies, enterprises, and commercial customers. It will also provide high-speed broadband internet to eliminate global connectivity dead zones.

To accelerate development timelines, reduce costs, and ensure quality, SES is internalizing a critical segment of the satellite supply chain: the final integration of partner satellite platforms with SES’s software-defined payloads, all within a cutting-edge manufacturing and test facility.

Role description

As Satellite Reliability and Radiation Engineer, you will analyse and assess the long-term performance and robustness of communication payloads operating in the challenging space environment. This role focuses on analysing and mitigating reliability risks across the payload lifecycle, from design and component selection to integration and qualification. A key aspect involves assessing radiation effects such as Total Ionizing Dose (TID), Single Event Effects (SEE), and displacement damage, and implementing strategies like shielding optimization and radiation-hardened component selection to guarantee mission success.

Beyond ground-based analysis and testing, this position offers the unique opportunity to validate reliability and radiation performance through in-orbit testing campaigns. The engineer will collaborate closely with system, RF, and payload teams to integrate reliability and radiation considerations into the overall design.

In your first twelve months, you and the teams will have selected and radiation tested multiple electronic components as well as performed radiation and reliability analysis of state of the art space communication payloads. Within two years, the system will have flown in space, demonstrating its ability to survive space environment.

As a member of an agile project organization, you will be expected to bring a flexible way of working and an adaptive mindset to a dynamic development environment.    

As A Engineer, Satellite Reliability and Radiation, meoSphere, you will be responsible for :

• System Reliability Analysis: Perform reliability predictions and assessments for satellite subsystems and components.
• Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA): Identify potential failure modes and their impact on mission success.
• Redundancy Planning: Design and validate redundancy strategies for critical systems.
• Reliability Modelling: Use statistical models and tools (e.g., MIL-HDBK-217, FIDES) to estimate component and system reliability.
• Radiation Environment Analysis: Model and predict radiation exposure in different orbits (LEO, GEO, MEO).
• Radiation Effects Assessment: Evaluate Total Ionizing Dose (TID), Single Event Effects (SEE), and Displacement Damage (DD) on electronic components.
• Component Selection & Screening: Choose radiation-hardened or tolerant components and verify compliance with mission requirements.
• Shielding Design: Optimize shielding to mitigate radiation effects while balancing mass constraints.
• Radiation Testing: Plan and oversee radiation tests (gamma, proton, heavy ion) for components and materials.

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree in engineering or science field required
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience
• Understanding of reliability principles (MTBF, FMEA, reliability block diagrams). Familiarity with reliability prediction standards (e.g., MIL-HDBK-217, FIDES).
• Basic knowledge of space radiation environments (LEO, GEO, MEO). Awareness of radiation effects on electronics: TID, SEE, displacement damage.
• Strong ability to work independently and without supervision

• Fluency in English, both written and spoken, any other European language is considered as an asset 

Other key requirements / comments

• Eligibility for ESA/EU SECRET personnel security clearances is essential. Candidates must be prepared to undergo a security clearance procedure, as this position may require holding such clearance
• Willing to work at least 60% onsite from office
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally

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