Satellite Network Simulation & Emulation Engineer

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 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. In addition, as well as to governmental users, private companies and European citizens while benefiting from ensuring high-speed internet broadband to cope with connectivity dead zones.

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

The IRIS2 team enters next project phases, we seek and there is a strong need of 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 Satellite Network Simulation & Emulation Engineer to build and operate simulation, emulation, and digital twin environments dedicated to the networking aspects of the IRIS² and MEO programme architecture. This role works closely with constellation simulation teams while focusing specifically on routing, traffic engineering, SDN control-plane behavior, data-plane performance, congestion, failures, and service validation using networking tools and statistically rigorous evaluation methods. The position is ideal for an engineer who enjoys turning complex satellite network concepts into repeatable experimental platforms and decision-quality performance evidence.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES / KEY RESULT AREAS

• Develop simulation, emulation, and digital twin frameworks for constellation-scale network experimentation across space and ground segments.
• Model dynamic satellite topologies, inter-satellite links, gateway connectivity, user traffic, failures, congestion, and service scenarios.
• Support evaluation of routing algorithms, SDN control-plane behavior, data-plane performance, traffic engineering strategies, congestion control, and resilience mechanisms.
• Build repeatable experiments and digital twin workflows for comparing architecture options and validating design assumptions.
• Integrate network simulation activities with constellation-level simulation teams, software teams, and validation environments.
• Define metrics, test scenarios, traffic models, data collection methods, and analysis procedures for network performance studies.
• Automate experiment execution, result processing, visualization, and reporting for technical stakeholders.
• Support transition from simulated scenarios to lab emulation, integration testing, and production validation planning.

Qualifications Background and Experience

• Degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, Applied Mathematics, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Strong background in network simulation, emulation, discrete-event simulation, performance modeling, or digital twin development.
• Hands-on experience with tools such as ns-3, OMNeT++, Mininet, container-based testbeds, traffic generators, or custom simulation frameworks.
• Solid understanding of routing, traffic engineering, congestion control, QoS, failure recovery, and distributed network systems.
• Programming skills in Python, C/C++, Rust, or similar languages used for simulation and systems engineering.
• Experience with statistical evaluation, experimental design, benchmarking, visualization, and analysis of large experiment data sets.
• Familiarity with satellite communications, orbital dynamics interfaces, dynamic topology modeling, or space-ground network constraints is highly valuable.
• Ability to collaborate across simulation, architecture, software, and validation teams and document experimental findings clearly.

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