Senior Software Engineer – 5G NTN RAN (L2/L3)

Aerospacelab; Toulouse; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Aerospacelab in Toulouse is seeking a skilled engineer to design, implement, and deploy 5G protocol stack components for Non-Terrestrial Networks. You will work on gNB software and contribute to performance and reliability.

You are an autonomous, collaborative developer with hands-on experience in 5G, C/C++ or Rust, and DPDK. You’ll collaborate with hardware, systems, and test teams to advance NTN solutions.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in 5G stack development, especially L2/L3 layers.
• Deep understanding of 3GPP 5G NR specifications.
• Strong software engineering in C/C++ or Rust with debugging.
• Experience with DPDK for high-throughput data processing.
• Practical experience with embedded systems or performance-critical networking software.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills for low-level bottlenecks.
• Autonomous, analytical mindset with a drive to deliver impactful solutions.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement and validate 5G NR NTN gNB L2/L3 features in line with 3GPP specifications
• Develop Aerospacelab-specific enhancements to optimize performance and reliability
• Actively contribute to architecture, design and code review of the gNB software stack
• Build performance tests, unit tests, logging, and support infrastructure to ensure software quality
• Collaborate with system architects, hardware engineers, and test teams to ensure robust and scalable NTN solutions
• Analyze and contribute to the evolution of 3GPP standards

Skills

5G stack development

L2/L3 layers

C/C++ / Rust

DPDK

Embedded systems

Debugging

Architecture

Troubleshooting

Tools

OpenAirInterface

srsRAN

Open-source 5G stacks

Job description

About Aerospacelab

Our mission is supported by an ambitious vertically integrated approach: design & manufacture of small satellites combined with development of earth observation services.

Since its creation in 2018, the company has already grown substantially. Our team gathers more than 25 engineering expertise, from hardware design to software development & data science.

In 2025, Aerospacelab counts offices in Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium), Toulouse (France), Lausanne (Switzerland) and US West Coast with more than 350 full-time employees, with the ambition to position itself as the European leader in small satellites.

Your Mission

We are building the future of 5G connectivity in space. As part of Aerospacelab, you will design, implement, and deploy 5G protocol stack components tailored for Non-Terrestrial Networks. Your work will directly contribute to enabling reliable, high-performance wireless communication over satellite links.

You are a self-driven, adaptable engineer who thrives in a collaborative environment. You’re curious by nature, eager to explore new technologies and development methods, and comfortable stepping into uncharted technical territory.

Duties

• Design, implement and validate 5G NR NTN gNB L2/L3 features in line with 3GPP specifications
• Develop Aerospacelab-specific enhancements to optimize performance and reliability
• Actively contribute to architecture, design and code review of the gNB software stack
• Build performance tests, unit tests, logging, and support infrastructure to ensure software quality
• Collaborate with system architects, hardware engineers, and test teams to ensure robust and scalable NTN solutions
• Analyze and contribute to the evolution of 3GPP standards

Must have

• Proven experience in 5G stack development, especially L2/L3 layers
• Deep understanding of 3GPP 5G NR specifications
• Strong software engineering skills in C/C++ or Rust, architecture and debugging
• Experience with DPDK for high-throughput data processing
• Practical experience with embedded systems or performance-critical networking software
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills for low-level performance bottlenecks
• Autonomous, analytical mindset with a drive to deliver impactful solutions

Nice to Have

• Experience in embedded software development or software architecture
• Hands-on experience with open-source 5G stacks (e.g., OpenAirInterface, srsRAN)
• Familiarity with 5G NTN concepts and satellite communications
• Experience in 5G PHY development