Microwave Engineer

Location: Noordwijk

Closing Date: 31 July 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Directorate:
Technology, Engineering and Quality

Microwave Engineer in the Radio Frequency (RF) Equipment and Technology Section, Radio Frequency Payloads and Technology Division, Electrical Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

The RF Equipment and Technology Section provides engineering support to ESA projects and carries out technological research (R&D) in the fields of ground and space-borne RF equipment and its building blocks, RF active and RF passive technologies, time and frequency generation and distribution, RF testing, instrumentation and related design and characterisation tools.

Duties
Reporting to the Head of Section and within the technical fields described above, your main tasks and responsibilities will include:

contributing to the design, development and performance evaluation of RF equipment, subsystems, components and technologies applicable to space and ground segments;

providing expert technical support and consultancy to ESA projects, programmes and general studies in the field of RF equipment and technologies throughout all project phases;

participating in feasibility studies, project reviews and the evaluation of procurement proposals;

contributing to the definition of technology development roadmaps and work plans for the Agency’s technology programmes;

defining, initiating and managing R&D activities, from early conceptual studies to full hardware development;

fostering new application areas for multidisciplinary activities, placing emphasis on innovative concepts, cutting‑edge technologies and system architectures;

end‑to‑end laboratory activities as required in support of industry, as well as ESA projects and programmes;

monitoring applicable scientific and technological trends, liaising with universities and research institutes in order to maintain state‑of‑the‑art engineering expertise in the Section’s technical domains;

supervising students and trainees for analysis, simulation and development of advanced concepts in the Section’s technical domains;

contributing to the dissemination of the results of the activities performed and the transfer of knowledge across the Agency.

Your duties may also include supporting other activities within your field of competence.

General background and specific experience in the technical domains covered by the position

Hands‑on laboratory and hardware experience

Experience with the design, development and application of relevant tools and methods

Understanding of related technologies, R&D trends and the industrial landscape

Project support experience in a relevant domain

Experience in the preparation of procurement activities for technology development and innovation, such as technology roadmap definition, statements of work and proposal evaluation

Experience in the management and monitoring of industrial activities, including participation in reviews

Result Orientation

Operational Efficiency

Fostering Cooperation

Relationship Management

Continuous Improvement

Forward Thinking

A master's degree in telecommunication, electronic, microwave engineering or physics is required for this post together with five years of relevant professional experience.

Additional requirements
More than five years’ experience in:

the design and development of RF equipment and technologies for space and ground applications from low to high TRL levels, in either of these two fields
High‑Power Amplifiers (Vacuum‑tube amplifiers, solid‑state power amplifiers or integrated RF output sections)

Time and Frequency generation and distribution equipment

project activities throughout all project phases

the definition of R&D roadmaps in the field of RF equipment and technologies for space applications.

A PhD in a relevant domain is an asset.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.

At the Agency we value diversity, and we…