Microwave Radiometer RF Arhitect

Airbus; Getafe; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Life insurance

Health insurance

Employee stock options

Retirement plan

On-site facilities

Job summary

Airbus Defence and Space SAU in Getafe (Madrid) seeks a Microwave Radiometer RF Architect to define and drive the RF system architecture for microwave/mmWave radiometer payloads across current and next-generation satellite missions, from concept to in-orbit commissioning support.

You will lead end-to-end instrument design, model and verify RF systems, and coordinate with ESA milestones while ensuring robust design and test campaigns in alignment with ECSS standards.

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in Telecommunications, Electrical, RF/MW Engineering, or Physics.
• 5–10 years of remote sensing microwave instrument design experience.
• Strong RF design, calibration, and simulation knowledge.
• Ability to interface with customers and lead multi-project work.
• Advanced English; Spanish helpful; other languages desirable.

Responsibilities

• Define baseline architectures for spaceborne radiometer payloads.
• Design high-sensitivity receivers and calibration subsystems with end-to-end budgets.
• Develop EM and circuit simulations using ADS, CST, HFSS.
• Create Verification Control Documents and lead TRL assessments.
• Lead AIT and testing campaigns and define in-orbit roadmaps.
• Represent RF engineering in ESA milestones and future proposals.

Skills

RF Microwave Eng

System Architecture

EM Modeling

Leadership

English Proficiency

Education

MSc/PhD in RF/Telecom Eng

Tools

ADS

CST Studio

HFSS

Job description

Job Description: An opportunity for a Microwave Radiometer RF Architect has arisen within Airbus Defence and Space, Getafe (Madrid). The selected candidate will join the Microwave Instrument Engineering Team, a specialized multidisciplinary department at the forefront of spaceborne Earth Observation (EO) payload engineering. In this technical leadership role, you will define and drive the RF system architecture for cutting-edge microwave and millimetre-wave (mmWave) radiometer payloads across current and next-generation satellite missions. You will steer end-to-end instrument design from early concept, TRL maturation, and customer milestones through to payload verification, ground testing, and in-orbit commissioning support.

Responsibilities

• RF Architecture Definition & Trade-Offs: Define baseline architectures for spaceborne radiometer payloads (L-band up to sub-THz) and lead technical trade-offs balancing RF performance, mass, DC power, and thermal constraints.
• Front-End & Calibration Engineering: Design and optimize high-sensitivity low-noise receivers, RF front-ends, and internal/external radiometric calibration subsystems, maintaining end-to-end budgets (noise figure, noise temperature, dynamic range, and sensitivity).
• System Modeling & Simulation: Develop high-fidelity electromagnetic and circuit-level simulations using tools such as Keysight ADS, CST Studio, and ANSYS HFSS to validate architecture concepts under operational flight conditions.
• Verification & Technical Governance: Generate and maintain Verification Control Documents (VCD), lead Technology Readiness Level (TRL) assessments, and establish ground support equipment (EGSE/MGSE) specifications.
• AIT & Test Campaign Leadership: Steer payload Assembly, Integration & Testing (AIT), environmental validation campaigns, and define in-orbit commissioning roadmaps in alignment with ECSS standards.
• Milestone Leadership & Proposal Elaboration: Represent RF engineering in formal ESA/customer milestones (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, TRB) and lead the technical baseline for future Earth Observation active and passive instrument proposals.

Skills

• Education: Master’s degree (MSc) or PhD in Telecommunications Engineering, Electrical Engineering, RF/Microwave Engineering, or Physics.
• Experience: 5 to 10 years of professional experience in remote sensing microwave instrument design and payload development for space applications.
• Technical Knowledge: Deep command of passive microwave sensing, brightness/noise temperature theory, calibration topologies, active/passive antenna interfaces, and advanced RF simulation suites (ADS, CST, HFSS).
• Soft Skills: Proven technical leadership, strong capacity to interface with external customers, high autonomy in multi-project environments, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Languages: Advanced / Negotiation level in English (mandatory, written and spoken). Fluent Spanish is valuable; French or German is desirable.
• Valuable / Nice to Have: Solid understanding of ESA development lifecycles and space engineering standards (ECSS, MIL-STD, CCSDS). Hands-on experience with RF flight equipment testing and requirements management tools (IBM DOORS). Direct track record in satellite hardware qualification and international space project consortia. Availability to travel for test campaigns and customer review meetings.

Which Benefits Will You Have as an Airbus Employee?

• Vacation days plus additional days-off along the year.
• Attractive salary.
• Hybrid model of working when possible.
• Collective transport service subject to working calendar/home location.
• Benefits such as life insurance, health insurance, employee stock options, retirement plan, or study grants.
• On-site facilities (among others): free canteen, kindergarten, medical office.
• Possibility to collaborate in different social and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
• Excellent upskilling opportunities and great development prospects in a multicultural environment.
• Option to access special rates in products & benefits.

#MYCYM 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 SAU Employment Type: Permanent ------- Experience Level: Professional Job Family: Elec.Electron.&Electromag,Optics&Optron.

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.

Airbus pioneers sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world. The Company constantly innovates to provide efficient and technologically-advanced solutions in aerospace, defence, and connected services. In commercial aircraft, Airbus offers modern and fuel-efficient airliners and associated services. Airbus is also a European leader in defence and security and one of the world's leading space businesses. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions and services worldwide.