PhD student (dfm) in the field of Advanced Navigation Payloads

Airbus; Taufkirchen; Vor Ort; EUR 35.000 - 45.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A leading aerospace firm in Taufkirchen seeks a PhD student for advanced navigation payloads development. The successful candidate will analyze digital beamforming techniques and develop simulation models while working closely with modern technologies. Candidates should have a Master's degree in a relevant field and strong skills in digital signal processing and Matlab scripting. Join a dynamic team with an attractive salary and flexible work-life balance.

Leistungen

Attractive salary

Work-life balance

International networking opportunities

Qualifikationen

• Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering or related field is required.
• Fluency in English; German is a plus.
• Experience in Satellite Communication or Navigation is desirable.
• Deep understanding of digital signal processing is essential.
• Ability to develop clean Matlab scripts for analysis.
• Familiarity with GNSS signals is preferred.
• Hands-on experience with FPGA, ideally VHDL.

Aufgaben

• Support technology development for satellite navigation payloads.
• Analyze and improve digital beamforming techniques.
• Develop simulation models for performance evaluation.
• Implement hardware solutions with space-grade FPGAs.
• Conduct validation with on-ground demonstrators.

Kenntnisse

Electrical Engineering

Communication and Signal Processing

Mathematics

Physics

Digital Signal Processing

RF Channel Modelling

Matlab Scripting

GNSS Signals

FPGA Programming

VHDL

Ausbildung

Master's Degree in a relevant field

Tools

Matlab

FPGA

Jobbeschreibung

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

Overview

Our site is just a stone 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 reach offering a multitude of recreational options.

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 a 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.

• 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

• Master's 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.
• Please upload the following documents: cover letter, CV, relevant transcripts, enrolment certificate.

Key Skills

• Anti Money Laundering
• Access Control System
• Catering
• Assessment
• Communication

Employment Type

PHD Research

Experience Level

Student

Job Family

Computing & Comm and Info & Data Processing

EEO Statement

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.

Airbus is and always has been committed to equal opportunities for all. As such we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to.

Contact

Airbus Defence and Space GmbH

Application Guidance

By submitting your CV or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus.