PhD student (d/f/m) in the field of Advanced Navigation Payloads

Airbus; München; On-site; EUR 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Airbus Defence and Space GmbH in Munich area is offering a PhD position focused on Advanced Navigation Payloads. You will work on digital beamforming, RF modelling, and onboard signal processing for Galileo payloads, aiming to reduce SWaP and improve SiS performance.

The role involves Matlab-based simulations, hardware validation, and potential implementation in FPGA/FPGA-software. A Master's in EE/CS/Physics and English fluency are required, with German a plus.

Qualifications

• Masters’ Degree in Electrical Engineering, Communication and Signal Processing, Physics or equivalent.
• Fluent in English; German a plus.
• Experience in Satellite Communication/Navigation desirable.
• Deep knowledge of digital signal processing and RF channel modelling.
• Ability to convert signal processing/RF models to Matlab scripts for analysis.
• Knowledge of GNSS signals is advantageous.
• Hands-on FPGA programming (VHDL) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and improve Digital Beamforming concepts and architectures.
• Develop MATLAB-based simulator for GNSS payloads.
• Model and simulate RF-chain, antenna performance and signal distortion.
• Implement algorithms in hardware/software/FPGA for validation.
• Collaborate with teams on hardware validation and test demos.

Skills

English fluency

DSP & RF modelling

Matlab scripting

GNSS signals

FPGA programming

VHDL

Education

Masters’ Degree in Electrical Engineering or related

Tools

None

Job description

Job Description:

In order to support the technology development and product improvement for future satellite navigation payloads, Airbus Defence and Space is looking for a

PhD student in the field of Advanced Navigation Payloads (d/f/m)

• Location: Taufkirchen

• Start: 01.04.2026

• Duration: 3 years

Your location

Our site is just a stone's throw away from Munich, the beautiful capital of Bavaria. Are you into sports and other outdoor activities? The Alps and Lake Starnberg are within an hour’s reach, offering a multitude of recreational options.

Your benefits

• An exciting topic with the potential that your found solutions will become state-of-the-art to be implemented in next generation navigation/telecom satellites.

• Attractive salary and work-life balance with an 35-hour week (flexitime).

• International environment with the opportunity to network globally.

• Work with modern/diversified technologies.

• At Airbus, we see you as a valuable team member and you are not hired to brew coffee, instead you are in close contact with the interfaces and are part of our weekly team meetings.

• Opportunity to participate in the Generation Airbus Community to expand your own network.

Your tasks and responsibilities

Airbus Defence and Space is currently designing and manufacturing the second-generation of Galileo satellites. The digital processed navigation payload with active antenna is in charge of generating the GNSS signal with low distortions in order to meet the challenging Signal-In-Space (SiS) performance requirements.

This PhD thesis is aiming towards the next batch of G2 payloads with the overall objective to support reducing payload Size, Weight and Power (SWaP), simplifying RF performance requirements towards amplifiers and antenna, improving SiS performance and enhancing on-board autonomous detection of failure and signal impairments.

In order to approach those objectives, the PhD thesis tasks may include:

• Analysis and Improvement of Digital Beamforming

  • Analysis of architectural concepts

  • Definition for an efficient Beamforming processing with particular need for low distortions and robustness to RF chain and Navigation Antenna performance variations

• Analysis and Improvement of advanced On-Board autonomous signal distortion equalisation techniques

  • Representative modelling, in particular for non-linear, frequency dependent channel characteristics of high-power amplifiers

  • Analysis of concepts and definition of improved equalisation technique for GNSS signals in digital beam-formed payload

  • Improve knowledge of specific performance topics of new G2 signals (e.g. understanding SiS performance for small bandwidth signal)

• Modelling of navigation signal generator, beamforming, equalisation, RF payload and navigation antenna

  • Development of Matlab-based simulator

  • Validation on hardware

• Implementation in Hardware, Software and FPGA and Validation

  • Trade-offs for Space Implementation incl functional architecture with space-grade FPGAs

  • Implementation in COTS hardware, FPGA and software

  • Validation with on-ground demonstrator

Desired skills and qualifications

• Masters’ Degree in the area of Electrical Engineering, Communication and Signal Processing, Mathematics, Physics or an equivalent field of study.

• Fluent in English, fluency in German would be a plus.

• First practical experience in the field of Satellite Communication or Satellite Navigation is desirable.

• Deep Knowledge of digital signal processing and RF channel modelling would be a key asset

• The skill to transform candidate signal processing and RF-chain models efficiently into clean Matlab scripts for sensitivity analysis is key

• Preferably good knowledge of GNSS signals

• Preferably hands-on with FPGA programming, ideally VHDL know-how

Not a 100% match? No worries! Airbus supports your personal growth.

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Company:

Airbus Defence and Space GmbH

Employment Type:

PHD, Research

Experience Level:

Student

Job Family:

Computing&Comm and Info& Data Processing

Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

At Airbus, we support you to work, connect and collaborate more easily and flexibly. Wherever possible, we foster flexible working arrangements to stimulate innovative thinking.