Communications Systems Engineer (volunteer, unpaid)

About us:
Team Tumbleweed is a new space pioneering team of young scientists and engineers from across the world, with the main goal of disrupting conventional Martian exploration methods, by developing a swarm of foldable, lightweight rovers. Our innovative approach will reduce cost, risks and will provide valuable scientific data from different points in space-time of the Martian surface.

Job description:
We are looking for a highly motivated and result oriented unpaid volunteer to help with the transmission and receive sub-system of our Tumbleweed Rovers. The Tumbleweed rovers will collect a lot of scientific data and we need to be able to transmit this back to Earth using relay satellites orbiting Mars.

Tasks to be Performed

System Design & Development:

• Design, development and test of spacecraft transponder module and antenna systems

• Define mission communication architecture, including transceiver and receiver modules with their interfaces to power distribution systems and onboard data handling computers

• Develop simulation blocks for system analysis within the Martian environment (transceiver, receiver, RF front-end, antenna, power management system) for independent evaluation of critical power budgets and data rates

Research & Development and Lab Support:

• Support laboratory activities concerning design and development or verification of hardware-in-loop test architectures

• Active involvement in critical R&D activities supported by simulation of communication windows and data rates, worst case analysis and laboratory testing of overall system or critical sub-components

• Participate in make-or-buy decisions by systematically performing trade-off analysis and market research for potential sub-component candidates

Required Background & Experience

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Electronics or Software Engineering

• Python Programming course is a requirement. Please indicate on your CV in which degree you took the course.

• Master's degree that includes space/satellite communications as subject would be an advantage

Technical Skills:

• Experience in the development of computer model-based simulators

• Good Python programming knowledge is a requirement

• Good knowledge of digital and analog electronics and digital communication techniques

• Signal processing techniques and secure communication techniques

Specialized Knowledge - Familiarity Required:

• Telemetry, tracking and command systems

• Analog and Digital Electronics (RF Electronics is an asset)

• Digital communication techniques, signal processing techniques and secure communication techniques

• High speed payload data transmitters

• Transponders and PCB design

Soft Skills

• Excellent spoken and written English

• Good communication abilities and comfortable working in a diverse and multinational team environment

• Solution driven and technical enthusiast

• Passion for space exploration and innovation

• Intrinsic motivation for solving challenging problems

What we offer:

• Work in a dynamic, international and collaborative environment.

• Possibility of publishing technical academic papers and participating in space related conferences.

• Networking and propelling your career in aerospace engineering

Check other perks and apply on the following: https://www.teamtumbleweed.eu/apply/