Researcher engineer on development of GNSS RFI models

ENAC - Ecole Nationale de l'Aviation Civile; Toulouse; On-site; EUR 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

ENAC - Ecole Nationale de l'Aviation Civile in Toulouse seeks a Research Engineer for a 1-year position. The engineer will develop and validate models describing the impact of radio-frequency interference on GNSS receivers used in civil aviation and contribute to ongoing standardization efforts.

Responsibilities include building simulation tools in MATLAB/Python, analyzing interference environments, and presenting findings to DGAC, EUSPA, and international journals. Strong English, French a plus.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in signal processing, telecommunications, aerospace engineering, or a related field.
• Solid background in digital signal processing, statistical modeling, and GNSS signal structure and receiver architectures.
• Good written and spoken English; working knowledge of French is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine models of interference-to-noise power spectral density ratios, spectral separation coefficients, and their impact on receiver performance.
• Implement and validate simulation tools (MATLAB/Python) to assess aggregate interference under realistic scenarios.
• Contribute to defining interference protection criteria and thresholds for standardization (ICAO, RTCA, EUROCAE).
• Analyze measurement campaigns or spectrum data to characterize real-world interference environments.
• Present results in technical groups and contribute to deliverables for DGAC, EUSPA, and academic journals.

Skills

Digital signal processing

GNSS signal processing

Statistical modeling

English communication

Education

Master's degree or PhD in signal processing, telecommunications, aerospace engineering, or a related field

Tools

MATLAB

Python

Job description

Pour soutenir sa dynamique en faveur de la promotion de la diversité, l’ENAC facilite l’accueil et l’intégration des travailleurs en situation de handicap. The SIGNAV Research Group, Part Of ENAC's TELECOM Laboratory, Has Activities In Signal Processing And Satellite Navigation For Civil Aviation. One Important Source Of Degradation Of Airborne Civil Aviation GNSS Receiver Is Radio Frequency Interference. Civil Aviation Standards Currently Under Preparation Are Standards For Dual Frequency Multi Constellation GNSS Receivers, And The Assessment Of Jamming And Spoofing Threats To These Receivers Is An Important Part Of The Activity For The Elaboration Of These Standards. ENAC Contributions To These Standards Mostly Relate To The Prediction Of Bounding Of The Impact Of Radio-frequency Interference. ENAC Is Therefore Opening a Position For a Resarch Engineer For 1 Year, For Which The Overall Goal Would Be To Contribute To The Development, Validation, And Application Of Models Characterizing The Impact Of Radio-frequency Interference On GNSS Receivers Used In Civil Aviation, Addressing Both Established And Emerging Interference Sources

• DME/TACAN pulsed interference in the L5/E5a band
• JTIDS/MIDS
• Intra- and inter-GNSS interference, including cross-correlation and spectral separation between GPS, GALILEO, and other constellations signals
• Terrestrial emitters
• Portable electronic devices (PEDs) carried on board aircraft
• LEO PNT

L’ENAC, École Nationale de l’Aviation Civile, est la plus importante des Grandes Écoles ou universités aéronautiques en Europe. Elle forme à un spectre large de métiers : des ingénieurs ou des professionnels de haut niveau capables de concevoir et faire évoluer les systèmes aéronautiques et plus largement ceux du transport aérien ainsi que des pilotes de ligne, des contrôleurs aériens ou encore des techniciens aéronautiques. Ses laboratoires de recherche sont à la pointe de l’innovation et travaillent activement en coopération avec des universités internationales de haut niveau pour un transport aérien toujours plus sûr, efficace et durable. L’ENAC est un établissement public à caractère scientifique, culturel et professionnel – grand établissement (EPSCP-GE), sous tutelle de la DGAC (Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile), Direction du Ministère de la Transition Écologique et Solidaire. L’ENAC comprend une direction générale localisée à Toulouse et 8 sites en France. Pour soutenir sa dynamique en faveur de la promotion de la diversité, l’ENAC facilite l’accueil et l’intégration des travailleurs en situation de handicap. The SIGNAV Research Group, Part Of ENAC's TELECOM Laboratory, Has Activities In Signal Processing And Satellite Navigation For Civil Aviation. One Important Source Of Degradation Of Airborne Civil Aviation GNSS Receiver Is Radio Frequency Interference. Civil Aviation Standards Currently Under Preparation Are Standards For Dual Frequency Multi Constellation GNSS Receivers, And The Assessment Of Jamming And Spoofing Threats To These Receivers Is An Important Part Of The Activity For The Elaboration Of These Standards. ENAC Contributions To These Standards Mostly Relate To The Prediction Of Bounding Of The Impact Of Radio-frequency Interference. ENAC Is Therefore Opening a Position For a Resarch Engineer For 1 Year, For Which The Overall Goal Would Be To Contribute To The Development, Validation, And Application Of Models Characterizing The Impact Of Radio-frequency Interference On GNSS Receivers Used In Civil Aviation, Addressing Both Established And Emerging Interference Sources

• DME/TACAN pulsed interference in the L5/E5a band
• JTIDS/MIDS
• Intra- and inter-GNSS interference, including cross-correlation and spectral separation between GPS, GALILEO, and other constellations signals
• Terrestrial emitters
• Portable electronic devices (PEDs) carried on board aircraft
• LEO PNT

The Main Tasks To Cover Would Be

• Develop and refine models of interference-to-noise power spectral density ratios, spectral separation coefficients (SSC), and their impact on receiver acquisition, tracking, and demodulation performance
• Implement and validate simulation tools (MATLAB/Python) assessing aggregate interference impact under realistic operational scenarios
• Contribute to defining interference protection criteria and thresholds supporting standardization activities (ICAO, RTCA, EUROCAE)
• Analyze measurement campaigns and/or spectrum monitoring data to characterize real-world interference environments
• Present results in technical working groups, contribute to deliverables for institutional and industrial partners (DGAC, EUSPA), and publish in international conferences and journals

Required Profile

• Master's degree or PhD in signal processing, telecommunications, aerospace engineering, or a related field
• Solid background in digital signal processing, statistical modeling, and/or GNSS signal structure and receiver architectures
• Proficiency in MATLAB and/or Python for scientific computing
• Familiarity with radio-frequency interference, spectrum compatibility analysis, or link-budget modeling is a strong asset
• Good written and spoken English; working knowledge of French is a plus
• Rigorous, autonomous, comfortable working within a multidisciplinary research team