Telecom Engineer

PAVE Space SA.; Schweiz; Remote; CHF 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

PAVE Space SA is defining telecom infrastructure for LYOBA and IBEX, seeking an engineer to own RF link budgets and translate them into spacecraft hardware requirements. You will source equipment, lead subsystem tests, and coordinate with authorities for radio licensing in a fast-paced, on-site role in Villeneuve (VD), Switzerland.

The role emphasizes hands-on RF lab work, integration constraints, and clear English communication, with value placed on prior space industry exposure and ECSS

Qualifications

• Degree in Telecommunications or equivalent.
• 2+ years hands-on telecom engineering, integration and testing.
• Strong RF link budgeting experience translating budgets into hardware requirements.
• Knowledge of space communication regulation.
• Experience specifying and integrating spacecraft telecom hardware.
• Hands-on with RF lab equipment (spectrum analyzer, power meter, VNA).
• Familiarity with spacecraft environmental and integration constraints (thermal, vibration, radiation).
• Clear and effective English communication.
• Nice to have: space industry experience, ECSS standards, EMI/EMC, MATLAB/Python, CST/HFSS, space communication protocol knowledge, French.

Responsibilities

• Define, maintain, and own RF link budgets across various scenarios.
• Establish requirements and specifications for the telecom subsystem.
• Source and select telecom equipment.
• Establish and participate in subsystem and spacecraft test campaigns.
• Collaborate with ground segment stakeholders to ensure end-to-end performance and flight readiness.
• Coordinate with local and international authorities for radio licensing and ITU filings.

Skills

RF link budgeting

telecom engineering

spacecraft integration

RF lab equipment

English communication

Education

Degree in Telecommunications

Tools

Spectrum analyzer

Power meter

Vector Network Analyzer

Job description

PAVE Space is building LYOBA, a heavy kick stage moving up to 4-tonne payloads from LEO to high-energy orbits in under 24 hours. We're also developing IBEX, a high mobility spacecraft.

We're starting to define requirements for telecom hardware and beginning ITU filing groundwork. The subsystem needs an owner who can take it from link budget through to qualified hardware on the spacecraft.

You will own

• Define, maintain, and own RF link budgets across various scenarios
• Establish requirements and specifications for the telecom subsystem
• Source and select telecom equipment
• Establish and participate in subsystem and spacecraft test campaigns
• Collaborate with ground segment stakeholders (ground stations, operations) to ensure end-to-end performance and flight readiness
• Coordinate with local and international authorities for radio licensing and ITU filings

What we are looking for

• Degree in Telecommunications or equivalent earned in practice
• 2+ years of hands-on telecom engineering, integration, and testing
• Strong experience building RF link budgets and translating them into hardware requirements
• Knowledge of space communication regulation
• Experience specifying and integrating spacecraft telecom hardware
• Hands-on with RF lab equipment (spectrum analyzer, power meter, VNA, etc.)
• Familiarity with spacecraft environmental and integration constraints (thermal, vibration, radiation)
• Clear and effective English communication
• Nice to have: space industry experience, familiarity with ECSS standards, EMI/EMC, MATLAB/Python, CST/HFSS, space communication protocol knowledge, French.

You will fit if

You'd rather own the full chain than hand off at each boundary.

You're comfortable making equipment decisions when timelines are measured in weeks.

You step outside the RF domain when integration demands it.

You want your work on a spacecraft that actually flies.

This is fully on-site in Villeneuve (VD). The telecom subsystem is in the early stage and some decisions will need to be made before all the answers are clear. What makes that worth it: you'll own the communications architecture of a kick stage that reaches high-energy orbit in hours, from first link budget to flight-proven hardware. The team around you ships at a pace that means your choices show up in test campaigns within weeks, not years.