Fully funded PhD project under Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Networks "FOCAL": Multi-user space/[...]

Organisation/Company Tesat-Spacecom GmbH & Co. KG Department Laser Systems Development Research Field Physics » Quantum mechanics Technology » Quantum technology Engineering » Aerospace engineering Technology » Communication technology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country Germany Application Deadline 1 Aug 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Berlin) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Jun 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number 101169042 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Tesat-Spacecom (TESAT) is offering a PhD position in the field of free-space optical quantum communication with a focus on multi-user space/aerial QKD network architecture design based on trusted nodes. The fully funded position is part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network “FOCAL” which consists of a consortium of European research institutes, universities and industry partners. The academic supervision of the candidate will be provided by Dr. Christian Deppe in combination with an enrollment in the PhD program of the Technical University Braunschweig (TUBS). Over the course the thesis, the candidate will have the opportunity to get in contact and collaborate with consortium partners. Currently, two secondments are planned at DLR-IKN (Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany) and Fraunhofer HHI (Berlin, Germany), as well as short visits to ThinkQuantum (Padua, Italy) and University of Edinburgh.

About TESAT:

TESAT is an independent subsidiary of Airbus Defence and Space, focusing on the development, production and testing of communication payloads for the international satellite market. In particular, TESAT spearheads the commercialization of laser communication terminals for inter-satellite and down-to-earth links. TESATs interest in quantum communication dates back to 2007 with the participation in the ESA study QIPS together with leading researchers in the field. Since then, TESAT has shown continuous interest in a space commercialization of QKD and is currently a major contributor to the EAGLE-1 mission and the ESA SAGA program. As of April 2023, TESAT has formed a dedicated quantum technology team and is currently setting up a quantum test laboratory for the development and testing of quantum payloads. Since more than 20 years, TESAT is pioneering the development and production of space borne laser communication terminals.

About TUBS:

The Technical University of Braunschweig is a medium-sized university in Germany with around 16,800 students on 84 degree courses. It dates back to the Collegium Carolinum, founded in 1745, and thus has the longest tradition of any technical university in Germany. The university is a member of the association of the nine leading technical universities in Germany (TU9 German Institutes of Technology e. V.). The Institute of Communications Technology (ICT) at the TUBS is involved in various national and international research projects and maintains contacts with companies and research institutions worldwide. Among other things, we are involved in EU, BMBF, BMWi & BMVI projects and are part of the German Research Foundation (DFG). Research in the field of quantum communication at the IfN is led by Dr. Christian Deppe.

About the MSCA Doctoral Network “Free-space Optical Communications for Aerial-sateLlite networks” (FOCAL):

With currently 3 billion people lacking access to broadband internet worldwide, European operators are struggling to fill the white areas with insufficient or nonexistent connectivity. In light of the early promises of 6G wireless networks, it is tempting to consider non-terrestrial networks as complementary to the ground-based radio and fiber infrastructure. However, radio frequency-based satellite systems are nearing their capacity limits and cannot be scaled further. Free-space optical technology is a natural alternative to deliver greater capacity and to better address data security needs by leveraging quantum communications. The first optical intersatellite links are being deployed in commercial networks at relatively low data rate (10 Gbps). However, once the most important remaining research challenges are resolved, they could rapidly expand and serve as a catalyst for the development of a new communication backbone in the sky, consisting of aerial and space optical nodes at different altitudes.

The overarching aim of the FOCAL project is to train a new generation of highly qualified doctoral candidates in developing innovative aerial and space optical wireless technologies that will provide future telecommunication networks with ubiquitous connectivity, resilience, and quantum-proof security. In addition to contributing to the fundamental understanding and technical know-how of such networks through co-supervised individual research projects, FOCAL will train talented and innovative researchers with multidisciplinary expertise and skills that are desirable in this European industrial sector. This will be achieved through a combination of theoretical and hands-on research training provided by a unique consortium of 16 academic and 10 industrial partners from 8 countries, resulting in collaborative research including co-supervision and secondments, as well as transferable training skills, which is necessary for prosperous careers in this prominent R&I area.

More information on the project can be found on the following URL:

Applications have to be submitted through the Airbus Workday Website as listed below.

We are looking for an excellent candidate with:

• a Master’s Degree in physics, mathematics, photonics engineering, communications engineering or other related STEM fields
• analytical thinking
• a willingness to work in a team in multi-partner project structures
• a willingness for short-term stays ("secondments") in partner institutions
• a solid understanding of the concepts of quantum physics, in particular, quantum optics
• a very good English language proficiency (oral and written expression)

Additional Information

Eligibility criteria

Candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria (MSCA Mobility Rule):

1) be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers;

2) be of any nationality, but not having resided or carried out their main activity in the country of the host institution of the position they are applying to for more than 1 year in the past 3 years (MSCA Mobility Rule);

3) have not yet been awarded a PhD degree.

Selection process

Also, the applicants must fill the application form following the URL below,