RF Systems Architect: Modem-to-Antenna for Ku/Ka Satellites

Eutelsat Communications SA; Issy-les-Moulineaux; Hybride; EUR 90 000 - 140 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Eutelsat Communications SA is seeking an RF Systems Architect to own the radio chain for next-generation LEO multi-orbit terminals, from modem to antenna interface, with budgets and interfaces defined in collaboration with external partners.

The role focuses on RF performance, measurements, calibration strategies, and rigorous verification against budgets, while building in-house capability for future expansion. Paris, London or Turin-based roles offered.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree or MSc in electronics, RF engineering, electromagnetics or telecoms.
• 7+ years in RF systems or RF hardware engineering with architecture/budgets responsibility.
• Solid command of RF budgeting: noise figure, gain cascade, linearity, EIRP, G/T.
• Knowledge of phase noise/jitter and clocking implications for modulated signals.
• Understanding of antenna fundamentals and phased array behaviour.
• Experience interfacing RF hardware with digital baseband and data converters.
• Hands-on measurement experience: spectrum and vector signal analysers, network analysers.
• Ability to build and maintain quantitative budget models in Matlab or Python.
• Experience writing/maintaining ICDs and anchoring designs to budgets.
• Proven ability to review and challenge designs with data and analysis.
• Export control eligibility under European and US regimes.
• Fluent professional English.

Responsabilités

• Own the modem-to-antenna interface control document throughout the programme, including digital/analogue interfaces, JESD204D/E lanes, latency, IQ options, sampling/clocking, and calibration data flow.
• Own end-to-end RF budgets and their traceability to service performance (G/T, EIRP, NF, gain cascade, linearity, spurious, image rejection).
• Own the phase-noise budget across reference oscillators, PLLs, and synths; translate to effects on carrier phase tracking and demodulation margin.
• Allocate impairment budgets between radio and physical layer; arbitrate silicon vs hardware trade-offs.
• Assess electronically steered antenna designs: beamforming, patterns, scan loss, sidelobes, calibration drift, pointing accuracy, beam switching time.
• Review modem module radio chain: transceiver RFIC, up/down conversion, filtering, gain distribution, isolation, shielding.
• Assess thermal/power/mechanical constraints as RF performance limits under real conditions.
• Define RF/over-the-air measurement plans; supervise campaigns and verify against budgets.
• Define acceptance criteria for RF deliverables and lead technical reviews with partners.
• Contribute to architecture and sourcing decisions: RF front-end/antenna options and SWaP-C trade-offs.
• Build in-house RF competence: budgets, interface docs, measurement practices, and land data from partners.

Formation

Engineering degree or MSc in electronics, radio frequency engineering, electromagnetics or telecommunications

7+ years in RF systems or RF hardware engineering

RF system budgeting (noise figure, gain cascade, EIRP, G/T)

Phase noise and jitter knowledge

Antenna fundamentals and phased array understandings

Interface between RF hardware and digital baseband

Practical RF measurements (spectrum, VSA)

Budget models in Matlab/Python

Interface control documents (ICD) experience

Ability to review and challenge external designs with analysis

Export control eligibility (EU/US)

Fluent professional English

Outils

Matlab

Python

Description du poste

Eutelsat Communications SA is seeking an RF Systems Architect to own the radio chain for next-generation LEO multi-orbit terminals, from modem to antenna interface, with budgets and interfaces defined in collaboration with external partners.

The role focuses on RF performance, measurements, calibration strategies, and rigorous verification against budgets, while building in-house capability for future expansion. Paris, London or Turin-based roles offered.