Ground Segment System Engineer for IRIS²

Please ensure that your CV clearly explains how you meet the mandatory requirements. If it doesn’t align completely with the essential criteria, it could result in rejection. 

• Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Telecommunications, Electronics, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field; 

• Minimum 5 years of experience in satellite ground segment engineering, satellite communications, mission control, network management, or related activities; 

• Experience with Mission Control Systems (MCS), Network Management Systems (NMS), and their integration within satellite ground segments; 

• Strong understanding of satellite operations, ground infrastructure, TT&C systems, satellite communications architectures (GEO, MEO, and/or LEO), and satellite-to-ground interfaces; 

• Experience across the system lifecycle, including requirements engineering, interface management, integration, testing, verification, and validation; 

• Knowledge of networked and distributed systems, including IP networking, virtualization, cloud and container technologies, automation, and cybersecurity principles; 

• Ability to analyse complex technical issues, coordinate multidisciplinary activities, and communicate effectively in English;

• Fluency in English, both written and spoken,

• Candidates must be eligible to work in the EU. 

• Experience with commercial satellite operators, satellite constellations, or LEO broadband/high-throughput satellite programmes; 

• Knowledge of satellite resource management, payload control, beam management, or dynamic capacity allocation; 

• Experience with operational simulations, digital twins, automated testing environments, or advanced ground segment automation; 

• Experience working with international customers, equipment manufacturers, and system integrators. 

Please submit your application in English via the apply button below. Applications submitted in other languages will not be considered. 

We are looking for a Ground Segment System Engineer on behalf of and in support to our client for their location in Arganda del Rey (Madrid), Spain or Noordwijk, The Netherlands.

The successful candidate will contribute to ground segment architectures supporting satellite fleet operations, mission planning, telemetry and telecommand, network management, and service delivery. The role requires a strong understanding of satellite operations and the interfaces between spacecraft, mission control systems, communications networks, and terrestrial infrastructure.

You will work with multidisciplinary engineering teams, satellite operators, system integrators, and technology suppliers to deliver reliable, scalable, and secure solutions for next-generation satellite communication services.

The successful candidate will be tasked with, but not limited to:

• Define and maintain ground segment system requirements, architectures, functional specifications, and interface control documents;

• Translate mission and operational needs into system-level requirements and technical solutions;

• Support end-to-end system design, including interfaces between satellites, ground stations, mission control, network management, and service delivery platforms;

• Manage technical interfaces across system elements, suppliers, and external stakeholders; conduct trade-off analyses and architecture reviews.

• Specify, integrate, and validate Mission Control Systems supporting satellite constellation operations;

• Support telemetry and telecommand (TM/TC), satellite monitoring, command execution, anomaly management, and operational procedures;

• Contribute to mission planning, fleet management, automation, and operational workflow optimization;

• Integrate spacecraft control systems with ground infrastructure and operational tools.

• Support the design and integration of Network Management Systems for satellite communication networks;

• Work on network configuration, monitoring, fault management, performance management, and service assurance;

• Coordinate interfaces between satellite network management, gateways, ground infrastructure, and terrestrial IP networks.

• Support large-scale, multi-satellite communication architectures and their operational dependencies.

• Develop system verification strategies, test plans, test procedures, and acceptance criteria;

• Coordinate integration and testing across software, hardware, network, and operational subsystems;

• Support Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), Site Acceptance Tests (SAT), System Integration Tests (SIT), and end-to-end validation;

• Investigate anomalies, perform root-cause analysis, and support corrective actions;

• Maintain traceability between system requirements, implementation, and verification evidence.

• Support commissioning, operational readiness, and transition to routine constellation operations;

• Identify opportunities to improve system availability, automation, scalability, and operational efficiency;

• Contribute to system evolution, software upgrades, and integration of new constellation capabilities;

• Apply appropriate engineering standards, configuration management, cybersecurity, and lifecycle processes.