Rf/Microwave Engineer – Estec

Terma

The high-tech and innovative Terma Group develops products and systems for defence, non-defence and security applications, including command and control systems, radar systems, self-protection systems for aircraft and vessels, space technology, and aero-structures for the aircraft industry.

Terma is headquartered at Aarhus, Denmark. Internationally, Terma has subsidiaries and operations in The Netherlands, France, Germany, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, India, Singapore and the U.S.

The Space Business Area contributes with mission-customized software and hardware products including power systems and star trackers as well as services to support a number of in-orbit pioneering European scientific and Earth observation satellite missions. Additionally, Terma is contracted for the development and delivery of software and hardware systems and services for numerous ongoing and future European, and international missions.

Terma Space operates out of Denmark, The Netherlands, France, Germany, and the UK.

Job description

For our customer, the European Space Agency (ESA), we are seeking an experienced RF/Microwave Engineer to work at ESA’s ESTEC site in Noordwijk, The Netherlands.

Responsibilities

You will be assigned to ESA/ESTEC’s Radio Frequency Equipment & Technology Section within the Directorate of Technical and Quality Management (D/TEC).

Context:

The activities of the Radio Frequency Equipment & Technology Section cover the following areas:

• Contributing to the design, development and performance evaluation of RF technologies applicable to space and ground segments.
• Providing expert technical support to projects and programmes;
• Contributing to the generation of innovative ideas in the field of RF equipment and technologies and to the definition of ESA R&D programmes;
• Defining technical requirements for the new developments from early conceptual studies to full hardware development;
• Contributing the to the development/usage of section related laboratory facilities and analysis/simulation tools;
• Monitoring applicable scientific and technological trends;

To support this the Section maintains a General Microwave Lab equipped with:

Time and Frequency facility: generation, distribution and monitoring of timescale traceable to UTC (joint facility with the Radio Navigation Lab)

Life testing facility: accelerated and long-term testing of (passive and active RF equipment) TWTAs, SSPAs, filters and oscillators in temperature and in vacuum

MMIC assembly and testing facility: for general-purpose RF testing of microwave and millimetre-wave modules, includes gold wire bonding and gap welding facilities

GNSS Payload test facility: for end-to-end in-orbit anomaly investigations of navigation payloads and performance evaluation over environmental conditions

The job:

Your main tasks and responsibilities will include:

• Development, operation and maintenance of the Time and Frequency laboratory in ESTEC and its associated analysis/simulation tools.
• Development of test beds and software tools for the control and performance characterization of Time and Frequency equipment such as atomic clocks, timing references, oscillators, time and frequency transfer, etc.
• Contribute to the generation of innovative ideas in the field of Time and Frequency equipment and technologies and to the definition of ESA R&D programmes.
• Maintain state-of-the-art expertise by monitoring the technological trends and applying them in the day-to-day tasks.

After an initial period of training, you will also be tasked to:

• Develop test beds for the characterization of spaceborne RF equipment for GNSS, Telecom, Earth Observation and Science missions
• Provide technical support to ESA Projects and R&D activities in the area of timing, synchronisation and development of time and frequency equipment

This is a full-time position located at ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands.

The requested start of work is 2022 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Qualifications & Competencies

The successful candidate shall have:

• University Master’s degree in Physics, Microwave, Telecommunications or Electronics Engineering
• At least 4 years relevant professional experience with extensive and proven experience in the domain of microwave components, equipment and/or technologies.
• Experience in the development, operation and maintenance of time and frequency systems/sub-systems, e.g. in timing laboratories.
• Solid knowledge of time and frequency equipment, components, and technologies.

Desirable:

• Experience in testing of RF equipment and/or RF Payloads is considered an asset

Soft skills:

• Good interpersonal skills, customer focus and ability to work autonomously

What can Terma Offer?

At Terma, we consider skilled employees, enthusiasm and job satisfaction as the very foundation of our success and as a prerequisite for the development of the “best-in-class” solutions that Terma provides. We lead the way in applying new technology, offering a wide range of growth opportunities for each individual and emphasizing mutual respect across the board in our workplace.

Terma offers you a pleasant working environment at the customer site, where you will be able to take on challenging tasks and responsibilities in a highly professional company.

• Great opportunities for training and personal development
• Challenges in advanced technical environment
• International and cosmopolitan working atmosphere
• An employment contract with an attractive package with extra-legal benefits
• Highly competitive salary
• Support on re-location (if applicable)

Recruitment is depending on successful selection by the customer.

Additional information

To ensure that your application will reach us and is properly processed please apply through the ‘Apply’ link below. Include an up-to-date Curriculum Vitae and a Cover Letter highlighting your background and expertise as well as earliest date of availability.

For further information, please contact Mr. Simon Mills by telephone [+31 6 2326 2398] or by email [[email protected]].

Closing date: 3rd 2022

Please note the following Legal & Security requirements:

• Applicants must hold all appropriate permits to work in the EU.
• Applicants are required to provide a copy of their ID/passport and degree/higher education certificate. Terma will validate the certificate with the issuing authority.
• In line with ESA security requirements, an official Certificate of Good Conduct (or equivalent) and employment reference checks will be required at commencement of employment. Please attach a copy of any reference letters with your application if you have them.

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