Senior Engineer, MCC 3GPP (O-RAN) - 5G NTN & SMO Integration, 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

Join our team as part of the SpaceRise consortium to help shape the future of space-based 5G connectivity under the European IRIS² initiative. We are building next-generation Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) services that seamlessly integrate satellite and terrestrial ecosystems.

We are looking for a highly hands-on MCC 3GPP (O-RAN) Engineer to support the integration between the Mission Control Center (MCC) and the O-RAN Service Management & Orchestration (SMO) platform for 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN).

The MCC provides time-stamped service intents valid for limited durations due to satellite motion. The SMO consumes these intents to optimize beam configuration and service delivery for targeted cells.

The ideal candidate is experienced in deploying and adapting open-source systems, building lab environments, scripting automation, and creatively combining tools to solve complex technical challenges.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES / KEY RESULT AREAS

MCC–SMO Integration for NTN

• Integrate MCC with SMO to exchange time-bound service intents.
• Implement timestamp synchronization and validity handling.
• Ensure reliable intent processing and lifecycle management.
• Support orchestration of MCC directives into RAN optimization actions.

SMO Adaptation & Beam Optimization

• Adapt SMO behavior to support satellite mobility and dynamic coverage.
• Support beam configuration optimization based on time-limited intents.
• Validate service continuity across moving satellite footprints.

Open-Source Deployment & System Integration

• Deploy, configure, and maintain open-source telecom and monitoring platforms.
• Adapt and customize existing open-source components to meet project needs.
• Integrate multiple tools and frameworks to build functional solutions.
• Troubleshoot interoperability and performance issues.

Lab Development & Experimentation

• Build and maintain lab environments to emulate NTN scenarios.
• Prototype integrations and validate system behavior.
• Explore and evaluate open-source solutions for operational improvements.

Automation & Scripting

• Develop scripts to automate deployment, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
• Parse logs, metrics, and telemetry to diagnose issues.
• Create tools to improve operational efficiency and visibility.

Qualifications Background and Experience (Must Have)

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field with focus on networking, distributed systems, or applied mathematics.
• 5+ years of proven experience deploying and operating open-source systems in production or lab environments.
• Experience integrating and adapting complex software stacks.
• Hands-on experience with telecom, networking, or mission-critical systems.
• Strong troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills.
• Experience deploying and operating tools such as:
  • Centreon
  • Zabbix
  • Prometheus / Grafana
  • ELK stack or equivalent observability tools
• Understanding of 5G RAN architecture and operations
• Familiarity with O-RAN and SMO concepts is a strong plus
• Knowledge of timing, synchronization, and latency considerations
• Python, Bash, or similar scripting languages
• Linux system administration and networking
• Ability to read technical documentation and adapt solutions accordingly

Nice to Have

• Experience with O-RAN SC or RIC platforms
• Familiarity with NTN or satellite communications
• Understanding of beamforming or radio optimization concepts
• Experience building monitoring or control dashboards
• Experience with requirements and delivery management tools such as:

• JAMA (requirements traceability)
• Jira (agile project management)
• Azure DevOps (CI/CD, backlog, work tracking)

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