Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Performance Engineer

Airbus; Getafe; Hybrid; EUR 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Life insurance

Health insurance

Employee stock options

On-site facilities

Job summary

Airbus Defence and Space SAU in Getafe, Spain, seeks a SAR Performance Engineer to define, model and optimize end-to-end SAR system performance from concept to mission operations. You will be the technical reference across SAR processing, image quality budgets, and Cal/Val campaigns, collaborating with RF, antenna, payload and data processing teams on major international space programs.

The role requires a MSc or PhD in a relevant field, 5–10 years in remote-sensing microwave instruments, and

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in Telecommunications, Electrical or RF/Microwave Engineering, or Physics.
• 5–10 years of professional experience in remote-sensing microwave instrumentation with SAR focus.
• Strong knowledge of SAR principles, NESZ, SNR, and end-to-end signal processing.
• Experience with Python or MATLAB for modeling/simulation and with IBM DOORS is a plus.

Responsibilities

• End-to-End Performance Modeling: develop models and simulators to predict end-to-end SAR performance.
• Image Quality Evaluation & Budgets: monitor instrument-level budgets and key radar metrics.
• System Architecture & Trade-Offs: perform advanced trade-offs to inform mission definition.
• Calibration & Processing Support: drive SAR processing verification and Cal/Val strategies.
• AIT & V&V Integration: support integration and testing activities across phases.
• Project Milestones & Technical Leadership: contribute to reviews and customer-facing exchanges.

Skills

SAR concepts

Radar processing

End-to-end modeling

Python

MATLAB

System engineering

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Advanced English

Education

Master’s or PhD in relevant field

Tools

Python

MATLAB

IBM DOORS

Job description

Job Description: An opportunity for a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Performance Engineer has arisen within Airbus Defence and Space, Getafe (Madrid). The selected candidate will join the Microwave Instrument Engineering Team, a specialized multidisciplinary department dedicated to Earth Observation payload design and development. In this role, you will be responsible for defining, modeling, and optimizing end-to-end SAR system performance from early concept through to mission operations. You will act as a key technical reference across the SAR processing chain, image quality evaluation, and calibration/validation (Cal/Val) campaigns, working in close collaboration with RF, antenna, payload, and data processing teams on major international space programs.

Responsibilities

• End-to-End Performance Modeling: Develop, implement, and maintain system-level models and simulators (covering signal, geometry, propagation, and noise) to predict end-to-end SAR performance and establish requirement allocations.
• Image Quality Evaluation & Budgets: Generate and monitor comprehensive instrument-level performance budgets, assessing key radar metrics including spatial resolution, NESZ, radiometric accuracy, and ambiguity ratios (range/azimuth).
• System Architecture & Trade-Offs: Perform advanced trade-off analyses (orbit parameters, frequency bands, PRF selection, and antenna configurations) to support mission definition and instrument design optimization.
• Calibration & Processing Support: Drive SAR processing chain verification, focusing algorithms, and calibration/validation (Cal/Val) strategies using in-orbit and ground campaign data.
• AIT & V&V Integration: Define and support Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) as well as payload Verification and Validation (V&V) activities across laboratory and environmental test phases.
• Project Milestones & Technical Leadership: Deliver key performance documentation and represent the system engineering team in formal reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR/TRB) as well as customer-facing technical exchanges and future mission 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 development, with a deep focus on SAR systems and radar signal processing.
• Technical Knowledge: Deep command of SAR principles, radar performance metrics (NESZ, SNR, ambiguity suppression), end-to-end signal processing chains, and advanced numerical modeling/simulation using Python, MATLAB, or equivalent.
• Soft Skills: Strong analytical problem-solving abilities, high autonomy in managing workload across multiple projects, and proven collaborative skills within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• 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). Requirements engineering experience using tools such as IBM DOORS. Complementary knowledge of passive microwave instruments or radiometer systems. Experience in international space projects or customer-facing environments. Availability to travel for test campaigns and project milestone reviews.

Benefits

• 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.

Company Overview

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.

Employment

Company: Airbus Defence and Space SAU

Employment Type: Permanent

Experience Level: Professional

Job Family: Elec.Electron.&Electromag,Optics&Optron.

Consent

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.

Equal Opportunity

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 [e-mail].

Company Values

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. 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.

Application Information

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