Senior Engineer, AI/ML 5G NTN Modelling & Optimization, IRIS2

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

Work requirements

The AI/ML 5G NTN Modelling & Optimization Engineer is responsible for developing, simulating, and validating AI/ML, statistical analysis, and multi-constraint optimization algorithms for 5G NTN systems. The role focuses on end-to-end orchestration and resource allocation across radio, satellite, feeder link, transport, and service domains, with a strong emphasis on RF 5G constraints, performance modelling, and algorithmic decision support.

General work requirements

• Define and develop AI/ML and multi-constraint optimization algorithms for end-to-end 5G NTN orchestration, resource allocation, capacity planning, and service assurance.
• Model RF and 5G system constraints, including coverage, link budget, interference, beam resources, feeder link capacity, satellite visibility, latency, QoS/SLA, energy consumption, and service priorities.
• Perform statistical analysis and simulation to validate optimization algorithm behavior and performance under nominal, degraded, and contingency scenarios.
• Translate orchestration and resource-management problems into formal optimization models, objective functions, constraints, KPIs, datasets, and validation criteria.
• Support technical studies and RFP/RFQ activities by defining required algorithmic capabilities, simulation evidence, acceptance criteria, supplier inputs, and evaluation methods.

Qualifications Background and Experience

Qualification Basis

• Master’s degree in engineering or science, preferably in Telecommunications, Radio Communications, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
• Proven experience developing and simulating optimization algorithms using tools such as Python, MATLAB, scientific computing libraries, or dedicated network simulation environments; for Senior Engineer, 7+ to 10+ years of relevant industry experience is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of AI/ML, statistical modelling, and multi-constraint optimization applied to 5G telecom, RF performance, and satellite communication systems.
• Strong understanding of 3GPP 5G and 5G NTN principles, including RAN/RF constraints, QoS, slicing, mobility, service orchestration, and resource allocation concepts.

Essential experience

• Hands-on experience building AI/ML, statistical, and optimization models for 5G telecom systems, preferably including RF, RAN, NTN, or satellite resource-management problems.
• Ability to formulate multi-objective and multi-constraint optimization problems, including objective functions for throughput, coverage, latency, availability, energy efficiency, fairness, capacity, and SLA compliance.
• Experience simulating end-to-end optimization algorithm performance, including scenario definition, dataset preparation, sensitivity analysis, KPI evaluation, benchmarking, and result interpretation.
• Knowledge of 5G NTN constraints impacting optimization decisions, including satellite delay, Doppler, beam coverage, feeder link capacity, handover constraints, resource contention, and service continuity.
• Ability to interface with system, RAN, RF, software, and orchestration teams to transform operational needs into implementable algorithms, models, and validation plans.

Highly desirable experience (several of the following):

• Experience with AI/ML techniques such as supervised learning, reinforcement learning, clustering, prediction models, anomaly detection, optimization heuristics, or hybrid AI/optimization approaches.
• Experience with mathematical optimization techniques such as linear/non-linear programming, integer programming, constraint programming, metaheuristics, graph optimization, or multi-objective optimization.
• Experience with 3GPP-based 5G/5G NTN performance studies, including interpretation of specifications, system assumptions, simulation KPIs, and operational constraints.
• Experience contributing to RFP and RFQ packages, including algorithm requirements, model assumptions, simulation scenarios, supplier response evaluation, and technical risk assessment.

Other key requirements / comments

• The candidate must be eligible for a “SECRET” security clearance, in accordance with the national regulations as well as EU/ESA/NATO equivalents
• Willing to work 60% onsite from office
• Travel as required for project realization purposes
• Ability to work with cross-discipline teams, including AI/ML experts, RAN and RF engineers, satellite engineers, software teams, orchestration architects, IVV teams, and suppliers.
• Strong engineering discipline in documenting assumptions, datasets, mathematical models, algorithm choices, simulation results, sensitivity analyses, open points, and validation evidence.
• Communication skills, with the ability to explain complex AI/ML, statistical, and optimization outcomes to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write clear technical notes, simulation reports, RFP/RFQ inputs, and supplier evaluation material.
• Commitment to deadlines and willingness to support demanding study, modelling, simulation, integration, and validation schedules.
• Fluent in English, other languages are an upside.