User Terminal Architect

Open Cosmos; Harwell; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Open Cosmos is seeking a User Terminal Architect to own the end-to-end architecture and technical definitions for satellite user terminals across fixed, mobility, and low-power devices.

You will define architectures, translate requirements into verifiable specs, and drive integration of RF chains, antennas, and power management while balancing performance, manufacturability, and cost. This role is UK or Spain based.

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of end-to-end satellite user terminal architectures across fixed, mobility, and low-power form factors.
• Strong knowledge of antenna systems and phased arrays.
• Experience with RF transceiver chains, modems, and power management architectures.
• Ability to translate commercial and system-level needs into mass-producible technical specifications.
• Familiarity with test strategies for OTA performance and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Define the complete architecture and technical specifications for all user terminal types.
• Translate requirements into verifiable technical requirements across terminal subsystems.
• Lead the integration of antenna systems, RF front ends, modems, and digital processing.
• Drive trade-offs across performance, size, weight, power, manufacturability, cost and reliability.
• Ensure terminal designs meet link performance, reliability, and regulatory constraints.
• Define activation, acquisition, tracking, handover, and remote management concepts.
• Specify autonomous operation, interference mitigation, diagnostics, and firmware updates.
• Define test strategies, type approval, and QA.

Skills

Terminal architectures

RF systems knowledge

Antenna systems

Phased arrays

Modem integration

Power management

System modelling

Trade-off analysis

OTA testing

Job description

Aim high, go beyond!

At Open Cosmos we are solving the world’s biggest challenges from space, providing businesses, governments and researchers access to more readily available information than ever before - ready for the challenge? Then read on…

Working in the Satcom Team

The Satcom Team is responsible for modelling, simulating, and continuously optimising the performance of Open Cosmos’ satellite communication infrastructure. This includes the space segment, inter-satellite links, terminals, and ground connectivity, ensuring our end-to-end systems deliver reliable, efficient, and scalable service under dynamic conditions.

We work with cutting-edge technologies such as digital twins, autonomous networks, and large-scale constellation models. The team plays a key role in design validation, mission planning, and performance-driven engineering decision-making.

What will you be doing?

As a User Terminal Architect, you will own the end-to-end architecture and technical definition of Open Cosmos’ satellite user terminal portfolio, spanning fixed, mobility, and highly integrated low-power devices.

You will:

• Define the complete architecture and technical specifications for all user terminal types, including fixed enterprise terminals, vehicular and aeronautical mobility solutions, and compact IoT and handheld devices.

• Translate commercial, service, and system-level requirements into clear, verifiable technical requirements across all terminal subsystems.

• Lead the technical definition and integration of antenna systems, RF front ends, modems, digital processing, and power management architectures.

• Drive critical trade-offs across performance, size, weight, power, manufacturability, cost, and reliability, ensuring designs are suitable for mass production.

• Ensure terminal designs meet required link performance, operational reliability, and regulatory constraints.

• Define operational concepts for terminal activation, acquisition, tracking, handover, and remote management.

• Specify requirements for autonomous operation, interference mitigation, diagnostics, and firmware or configuration updates.

• Define test strategies and specifications covering type approval, over-the-air performance validation, EMC compliance, and quality assurance.

• Provide technical models, data, and assumptions to support end-to-end system and network performance modelling.

• Work closely with system, payload, RF, modem, manufacturing, and test teams to ensure successful delivery of scalable, mass-producible terminals.

What You’ll bring

• Deep understanding of end-to-end satellite user terminal architectures across fixed, mobility, and low-power form factors.

• Strong knowledge of antenna systems, including electronically steerable phased arrays and integrated low-gain antennas.

• In-depth understanding of RF systems, including link budgets, noise figure, linearity, self-interference, and cascade effects.

• Confidence defining RF transceiver chains, modem integration, and power management architectures.

• Strong grasp of digital modem and PHY-layer processing

• The ability to translate commercial and system-level needs into mass-producible technical specifications.

• Comfort making informed trade-offs across performance, SWaP, manufacturability, cost, and reliability.

• Understanding of user terminal operational concepts, including acquisition, tracking, handover, and remote management.

• Familiarity with test strategies for OTA performance, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance.

• Capability to develop and communicate system models and assumptions to support network-level optimisation.

This role will be based in the UK or Spain.

Why Open Cosmos?

• Work at the cutting edge of space technology with customers around the globe.

• A mission-driven company making space accessible to help solve real-world challenges.

• A diverse, ambitious, and supportive team.

Equal opportunity employer

At Open Cosmos, we are dedicated to fostering a workplace built on respect, dignity, and belonging. As an equal opportunity employer, we actively challenge bias to ensure every candidate and employee feels truly welcome. We celebrate diversity in all its forms and are committed to maintaining an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.