Senior Telecommunications Engineer (CELESTE Optical Comms)

Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC); San Cristóbal de La Laguna; On-site; EUR 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Institute of Astronomy of the Canary Islands (IAC) is hiring a Senior Engineer (Telecommunications) in La Laguna, Tenerife, for the CELESTE project. The role oversees the Optical Communications Laboratory, drives R&D contracts, and manages IP in free-space optical communications.

The position, funded partly by the European Commission, offers a path to progress and collaboration with ESA, with a focus on advanced optomechanical technologies for telescopes and satellites.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in electrical/electronic/ telecommunications engineering (MECES level 3).
• Bachelor's degree in electrical/electronics/ telecommunications engineering (MECES level 2) with homologation or equivalence if earned abroad.
• Spanish nationality or EU nationality, or equivalent residency as per call; Spanish language proficiency may be required.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical management and supervision of the Optical Communications Laboratory within CELESTE.
• Contribute to generating and managing R&D contracts and IP related to free-space optical communications.
• Liaise with the European Space Agency to coordinate knowledge sharing and collaboration.

Education

Master's MECES level 3

Bachelor's MECES level 2

Job description

Location: IACTEC, Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
Contract: Indefinite-duration scientific-technical employment contract (Art. 23 bis, Spanish Science Law 14/2011), linked to the research line; 6-month probation period
Salary: €44,267.02 gross per year
Start: Estimated Q4 2026
Reference: PS-2026-063
Deadline: 10 November 2026

The IAC is hiring one Senior Engineer (Telecommunications) for the research line Advanced optomechanical technologies for telescopes and satellites. The position is funded by the European Commission through the CELESTE project (Cutting Edge Leap to Excellence in Space and Optics Technology, ref. 101136736, running from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2030).

Main activities

• Technical management and supervision of the Optical Communications Laboratory within the CELESTE project.
• Contribute to generating and managing R&D contracts, and to creating and managing intellectual property in the field of free-space optical communications.
• Liaise with the European Space Agency, a participant in CELESTE as an institution of excellence, to organise the flow of knowledge and collaboration between the two institutions.

Specific duties in the research line

• Support the principal investigator (PI) of the research line in formalising and following up its activities, and in launching CELESTE.
• Organise CELESTE activities relating to the Free-Space Optical Communications Laboratory, especially those related to R&D contracts.
• Take charge of preparing progress reports, organising the input of the members of the research line, as well as the periodic justifications agreed with funding agencies or companies.
• Support the PI and other project members in preparing the reports and documentation required for the research line's activities.
• Take part in the design, simulation, development, verification and testing activities carried out by the Free-Space Optical Communications Laboratory in CELESTE.
• Help organise and manage activities related to communications with and operation of the ALISIO-1 satellite and any others the IAC collaborates with.
• Take part in organising and managing activities to build the IAClink infrastructure between the Roque de los Muchachos and Teide observatories.
• Carry out the duties of an Engineer in the unit from a more senior perspective, including supervising and following up the work of less experienced staff in the specialty.

General duties

• Design and develop highly complex equipment, software or instruments, solve technical problems arising during projects, and help manage and supervise project execution.
• Analyse the market for the project's needs in the area of specialisation, and analyse the needs for the required equipment, software and instruments.
• Design, develop and commission the equipment, software and instruments the projects require.
• Coordinate and supervise assigned staff, and supervise work commissioned internally and externally.
• Control the quality of the developed product through the appropriate tests.
• Be responsible for the equipment and materials assigned to their part of the project.
• Document the instruments, equipment or software developed, and write technical reports and/or scientific-technical papers on results and project status.
• Advise on acquiring and introducing new technologies, and carry out feasibility studies.
• Train and advise less experienced staff.
• Depending on the number and size of projects, may be assigned as Project Manager.
• Carry out occupational risk prevention duties delegated by the Head of Department and ensure preventive procedures and rules are followed.

Requirements

• Degree at MECES level 3 (Master's) and degree at MECES level 2 (Bachelor's) in electrical engineering, electronic engineering or telecommunications engineering. Both degrees are required. Degrees obtained abroad need the corresponding recognition (homologación) or certificate of equivalence.
• Spanish nationality, nationality of an EU member state, or the other cases listed in the call (e.g. family members of EU nationals, or foreign nationals legally resident in Spain).
• Applicants who are not Spanish nationals must have adequate knowledge of Spanish and may be asked to pass a Spanish language test.

Selection process

Two phases: a merit assessment (up to 90 points, minimum 50 to pass) and an interview of up to 20 minutes in English and Spanish (up to 10 points). Merits valued include:

• Work experience related to optical communications, R&D in astrophysics, or the design and construction of scientific instrumentation (valued when it totals at least six years). Experience in the last 10 years in the design and development of free-space optical communication systems and of adaptive optics systems is valued, as is experience in communication systems design in general and in managing R&D contracts, teams and people (up to 50 points).
• Publications, and teaching or speaking at courses, conferences and seminars (up to 5 points).
• Academic record of the required degree, especially related to optical communications (up to 20 points).
• Courses, seminars and conferences attended (up to 5 points).
• English level, from B1 (4 points) to C2 (10 points).

Salary and conditions

• Gross annual salary of €44,267.02: base salary €31,777.08 (12 payments of €2,648.09), two extra payments of €2,648.09 each, productivity bonus €4,663.20 per year, and residence allowance €2,530.56 per year.
• Relocation assistance of up to €2,500 for travel and accommodation costs, for a selected candidate who does not live on the island of the workplace when the call is published (subject to the conditions in the call).