RF Front-End Engineer, MEO (Betzdorf, LU)

Senior Engineer, RF Front-End, MEO
Role Description
MEO100 is the next generation of SES's Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite constellation. It will provide secure connectivity services to governmental entities, private companies, and commercial customers, while delivering high-speed broadband internet to eliminate connectivity dead zones.
We are seeking a dynamic and visionary leader to join our rapidly growing aerospace team. To accelerate schedules, reduce costs, and guarantee quality, SES is internalising a critical segment of the supply chain: the final integration of partner satellite platforms with SES's software-defined payload, all within a state-of-the-art manufacturing and test facility.
You will contribute to the development of next-generation non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) communication payloads. We are seeking a highly skilled engineer to contribute to the development and qualification of the Transmit and Receive RF Front-End Subsystems for a Ka-band Direct Radiating Antenna (DRA) payload. The role focuses on GaN and GaAs-based RF electronics, with thousands of front-end units per satellite, requiring a strong emphasis on design for manufacturing, repeatability, and reliability. You will be responsible for subsystem performance, industrialization, and integration across the satellite lifecycle.
As a Senior Engineer, RF Front-End, MEO, you will be in charge of:
Subsystem Ownership

• • Define and manage requirements for the Ka-band RF front-end transmit and receive chains, including Noise Figure (NF), Gain, flatness and band-pass response, Power Added Efficiency (PAE), Linearity (e.g., NPR).
  • Ensure compatibility with digital beamforming ASICs based subsystem and antenna architecture.
• Hardware Development & Qualification
  • Lead the development and qualification of space-grade RF front-end modules based on GaN (Tx) and GaAs (Rx) technologies.
  • Oversee design reviews, performance trade-offs, and compliance with space environmental constraints (thermal, radiation, EMC, mechanical).
  • Define and validate test plans for RF performance, reliability, and environmental qualification.
• Design for Manufacturing (DfM)
  • Drive industrialization of front-end modules to support \ high-volume production (thousands of units per satellite).
  • Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing teams to optimize for yield, cost, and repeatability.
  • Implement design practices that support automated assembly, test, and screening.
• Supplier Management
  • Manage external suppliers for RF front-end components, including technical oversight, schedule tracking, and quality assurance.
  • Review and approve design documentation, test results, and qualification reports.
• Integration & Verification
  • Support payload-level integration and test campaigns, including:
    • RF chain validation
    • Functional testing of Tx/Rx modules
    • Troubleshooting and anomaly resolution during AIT and in-orbit commissioning
• Cross-functional Collaboration
  • Interface with system engineering, antenna, digital, thermal, and mechanical teams to ensure subsystem compatibility.
  • Contribute to payload-level budgets and system performance optimization.
• Documentation & Reporting
  • Prepare technical documentation, compliance matrices, and customer deliverables.
  • Present technical status and findings to internal leadership and external stakeholders.

YOUR PROFILE

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related discipline.
• 10+ years of electronic equipment design experience, preferably in the space sector and/or involving high frequency electronics.
• Fluency in English; additional languages are an asset.

COMPETENCIES

• Technical:
• Experience with GaN and GaAs technologies, including high-power amplifiers, low-noise amplifiers, and RF filtering.
• RF & Microwave Hardware: Experience with space-qualified RF components such as SSPAs, LNAs, filters, and couplers. Understanding of RF chain design and performance validation.
• Strong background in RF front-end design and integration for Ka-band satellite payloads.
• Electronic Space Hardware: Strong background in the development, integration, and qualification of electronic hardware for space applications, including compliance with thermal, mechanical, radiation, and EMC constraints.
• Design for Manufacturing
• Proven experience in high-volume RF hardware development, including yield optimization, test automation, and industrialization.
• Knowledge of PCB layout, packaging, and thermal management for spaceborne RF electronics.
• Tools & Analysis
• Proficiency in RF simulation and analysis tools (e.g., ADS, HFSS, CST, MATLAB, Altium).
• Experience with RF test equipment and automated test setups.
• Soft Skills
• Strong leadership and ownership mindset.
• Excellent communication and coordination skills across multidisciplinary teams.
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving capabilities in complex system environments.

Other requirements

• The candidate must be eligible for a "SECRET" security clearance, in accordance with the "loi modifiée du 15 juin 2004 relative à la classification des pièces et aux habilitations de sécurité", as well as EU/ESA/NATO equivalents
• Willing to work at least 60% onsite from office
• Travel as required for project realization purposes

The job responsibilities outlined in this document are not exhaustive and may evolve over time and be reviewed according to business needs.
SES and its Affiliated Companies are committed to providing fair and equal employment opportunities to all. We are an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law.
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