Research Scientist/Engineer in Lasers and Photonics

Royal Military Academy, Belgium; Brussel Hoofdstad; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bilingualism allowance

End-of-year bonus

Hospitalization insurance

Bike allowance

Flexible working hours

Teleworking allowance

29 days annual leave

Job summary

The Royal Military Academy in Brussels seeks a full-time research scientist/engineer for the PESLAPOD project. You will model laser beam propagation, perform lab measurements, and help integrate laser power transfer and optical communication for drones.

Applicants should hold a Master’s degree and have strong English, experimental optics experience, and the ability to document findings clearly. Collaboration with international partners is expected.

Qualifications

• A sound understanding of lasers, optics and beam propagation.
• Practical experience with optical experiments or instrumentation.
• Ability to analyse experimental data and interpret results using physical principles.
• Ability to prepare clear technical and scientific documents.
• Good spoken and written English is essential.

Responsibilities

• Model and evaluate laser beam propagation and optical link performance for drone power transfer and communication, considering atmospheric conditions and operational constraints.
• Develop and conduct laboratory measurements to characterize laser and optical components, including beam properties and receiver performance.
• Contribute to the integration and experimental validation of laser power transfer and optical communication systems.
• Prepare for and participate in field trials, analyze measurement data, and compare results with models.
• Assess laser safety requirements and develop operating procedures and protective measures for the activities.
• Review current approaches to high-power laser safety and contribute to safety requirements and procedures.
• Contribute to the concept study for long-distance optical power transfer to high-altitude pseudo-satellites.
• Prepare technical reports and scientific publications; present results at consortium meetings and conferences.

Skills

Lasers & optics

Beam propagation

Optical experiments

Data analysis

Technical writing

English proficiency

Education

Master’s degree (physics/optics)

Tools

Python

MATLAB

LabVIEW

Job description

CONTEXT

We are seeking a full-time research scientist or engineer with a master’s degree in physics, photonics, optical engineering or a related engineering discipline to join the ‘PESLAPOD’ project. The position combines laser and optical system modelling, experimental measurements, and the integration and testing of technologies for laser power transfer and optical communication with drones.

The Royal Military Academy is a recognised university conducting academic and applied research funded by Belgian Defence and external organisations. We value diversity and equal opportunities. Whether you are a man, a woman or X, or come from any background, we firmly believe that diversity enriches our community, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply.

PROJECT

PESLAPOD (Persistent Eye in the Sky from Laser Powered Drones) is a three-year research project managed by the European Defence Agency. It investigates long-range laser power transfer to extend the endurance of small electric drones, with the longer-term ambition of enabling continuous airborne operation. The project also addresses secure, reliable communication with drones and resilient navigation in environments with jamming or unavailable satellite navigation signals (GNSS).

Alongside other international partners, Belgium has committed to contributing to this research project through research activities at the Royal Military Academy. You will work within the Royal Military Academy’s Department of Communication, Information, Systems, and Sensors (CISS), specifically in the Laser & Optronics research unit (https://optro.rma.ac.be), in close collaboration with scientists and engineers from other consortium partners.

MAIN TASKS

• Model and evaluate laser beam propagation and optical link performance for drone power transfer and communication, taking atmospheric conditions and operational constraints into account.
• Develop and conduct laboratory measurements to characterise relevant laser and optical components, including beam properties, optical power and receiver performance.
• Contribute to the integration and experimental validation of laser power transfer and optical communication systems.
• Prepare for and participate in field trials, analyse measurement data, and compare experimental results with model predictions.
• Assess laser safety requirements and develop appropriate operating procedures and protective measures for the applications under study.
• Review current approaches (state of the art) to high‑power laser safety and contribute to the assessment of safety requirements, operating procedures and protective measures for laboratory and field activities.
• Contribute to the concept study for long-distance optical power transfer to high‑altitude pseudo‑satellites.
• Prepare technical reports and scientific publications, and present results at consortium meetings, conferences and stakeholder meetings.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Applicants should hold a master’s degree in physics, photonics, optical engineering, electrical engineering or a related discipline, with relevant knowledge of lasers and optical systems.

Applications are welcome from recent graduates to candidates with research and/or industrial experience.

“MUST HAVE” skills

• A sound understanding of lasers, optics and beam propagation.
• Practical experience with optical experiments or instrumentation, gained through academic projects, a thesis, an internship or employment.
• Ability to analyse experimental data and interpret results using physical principles.
• Ability to prepare clear technical and scientific documents.
• Good spoken and written English is essential.

Experience in one or more of the following areas would be an advantage:

• Optical alignment, beam profiling and laser power measurements.
• Free‑space optical communications or optical power transfer.
• Atmospheric propagation modelling or measurements.
• Photodetectors, optical receivers and data acquisition.
• Python, MATLAB or LabVIEW for modelling, instrument control or data analysis.
• Training or experience in the use of high-energy lasers.
• Laser safety, particularly for high‑power laser systems, would be an asset

Personal skills

• You work carefully and systematically, with attention to experimental quality and safety.
• You take initiative and progressively develop independence, with guidance from experienced researchers.
• You collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary and international team.
• You communicate methods and results clearly.
• You respect confidentiality requirements when handling consortium information and intellectual property.
• Knowledge of Dutch and/or French is an added value.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

• The position may involve access to classified information. The successful candidate must therefore be willing to undergo the background checks required for security clearance conducted by Belgian Defense.
• Applicants must hold the nationality of an EU member state and reside in Belgium for the duration of their employment.
• Working for the Patrimony requires living in Belgium for the duration of the study.

CONTRACT

• Probable date of recruitment: From 01/02/2027, [CS1] in consultation with the applicant.
• Status: Full-time employment based on an open-ended contract with the Patrimony of the Royal Military Academy (you will not be a civil servant).
• Wage scale: Salary scale: wage scale NA11 (holder of a Master's degree in Science or equivalent), or NA21 (holder of an Ir degree or equivalent Master's in Engineering Sciences, doctor’s degree in the same area of expertise), with valuable / relevant seniority. A salary simulation can be done here: Simulateur de salaire. RMA applies a merit-based research career track, allowing researchers to advance in wage scale based upon annual evaluations.
• Holiday pay.

EXTRA LEGAL BENEFITS

• Possibility to benefit from a bilingualism allowance (Dutch/French) following a SELOR test
• End-of-year bonus
• Free DKV hospitalization insurance. Possibility of additional affiliation for one or more persons living under the same roof: spouse, child(ren) (50% of the price per additional member)
• Bike allowance / Free public transport (home-work commute);
• Free access to campus sports facilities outside working hours;
• On‑campus restaurant and cafeteria with affordable prices (discount on the daily menu);
• Flexible working hours within the 38-hour week;
• Teleworking possible with allowance (2 days / week max);
• Holidays:
• 29 days of annual leave per year from the 1st year of contract (then from 45 years: +1 day holiday every 5 years)
• Additional closure between Christmas and New Year, separate from annual leave entitlement).
• Advantages and interesting offers thanks to the Benefits@work card (discounts, vouchers...);
• Entitlement to services offered by the ‘Office Central d'Action Sociale et Culturelle de la Défense’ (OCASC): among others holiday centres, discount on travel organised by the tour operator...;
• Possibility to benefit from the nursery funded by Belgian Defence (subject to availability).

WORKPLACE

The position is based at the Royal Military Academy in Brussels (Avenue de la Renaissance 30, 1000 Brussels). Work will combine optical modelling, laboratory experiments and participation in field measurement campaigns. Occasional travel within Belgium and abroad is required for testing, consortium meetings and scientific conferences.

You will work alongside experienced laser and optronics researchers, develop practical expertise in optical systems, and contribute to international experimental demonstrations. The position offers opportunities to publish research and present results at scientific conferences.

[CS1]Unfortunately, a starting date in January 2027 is not feasible on our side.

As a rule, we require approximately three months to complete a recruitment process from publication to onboarding. In addition, the end-of-year holiday period significantly limits the possibility of finalizing administrative procedures in time for a January start.

More specifically, we need at least six weeks between the receipt and validation of the recruitment report and the actual entry into service of the researcher. If the publication closes on 10 November 2026, the subsequent interviews, evaluation process, and preparation of the recruitment report would leave insufficient time to meet this requirement.

For these reasons, we would prefer to propose a starting date of 1 February 2027. This would allow us to complete all recruitment and administrative steps properly and ensure that the successful candidate can be welcomed and onboarded under the best possible conditions.