Propagation Engineer - European Space Agency (Noordwijk)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Space Agency on the official vacancy notice. Our own analysis — salary realism, comparable openings, career trajectory, language profile — follows further down the page.

Key responsibilities

According to the vacancy notice, the role centres on the following duties:

• Provide expert technical support and consultancy to ESA projects, programmes and general studies throughout all project phases
• Participate in feasibility studies, project reviews and evaluation of procurement proposals
• Identify critical development problems and assist in their resolution
• Contribute to the definition of technology development requirements and work plans for the Agency's technology programmes
• Define, initiate and manage R&D activities covering both long- and short-term needs
• Foster new application areas for multidisciplinary activities, placing emphasis on innovative concepts, cutting-edge technologies and system architectures
• Conduct laboratory activities as required
• Monitor applicable scientific and technological trends and maintain state-of-the-art expertise

Are you eligible?

Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:

• Education: Master's degree in a relevant domain
• Experience: 5 years of relevant professional experience
• Key skills: Wave propagation modelling (RF and optical) relevant to telecommunications and/or navigation, Characterisation of the propagation environment, Telecommunications and navigation concepts, including signal structure, Remote sensing concepts, Development of propagation channel models, Deriving environment-related requirements for navigation receivers and reference stations, Definition and use of performance simulation tools, Conducting simulations and end-to-end performance analyses, Definition and implementation of laboratory tests and propagation campaigns, Project environment experience with procurement and monitoring of industrial activities

Selection process

The notice describes the following selection steps:

• Feasibility studies
• Project reviews
• Evaluation of procurement proposals

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: 4 years, extendable to indefinite.

Hiring unit: Wave Interaction and Propagation Section, Radio Frequency Payloads and Technology Division, Electrical Department, Dire….

Position details

Reference

1447668733

Last Verified

18 October 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Propagation Engineer at ESA based in Noordwijk (Other). The vacancy reference is 1447668733.

Job Requisition ID:20928

Date Posted:14 October 2026

Closing Date:4 November 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication Method:Internal & External

Type of Appointment (learn more):4 years, extendable to indefinite

Directorate:Technology, Engineering and Quality

Location ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

Propagation Engineer in the Wave Interaction and Propagation Section, Radio Frequency Payloads and Technology Division, Electrical Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

Duties

The Wave Interaction and Propagation Section provides functional support to ESA projects and carries out technological research (R&D) in the field(s) of:

- wave propagation relevant to space communications, navigation and remote sensing; - wave interaction for active, passive and combined remote sensing of the ocean, land and atmosphere of the Earth and other planets; - in situ characterisation of the interaction/propagation environment; - data processing and data science techniques, simulation and performance evaluation tools;

relating to:

- modelling and experimental validation; - associated processing, mitigation, retrieval, correction and calibration algorithms for product generation. For remote sensing, this includes algorithmic developments relevant to Lvl1 and Lvl2 ground processing; - remote sensing, design and validation of onboard processing functions/algorithms for payload data products, image processing and optical payload data compression; - relevant end-to-end performance assessment, including contributions to data product quality monitoring and improvement.

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

- providing expert technical support and consultancy to ESA projects, programmes and general studies throughout all project phases; - participating in feasibility studies, project reviews and the evaluation of procurement proposals; - identifying critical development problems and assisting in their resolution; - contributing to the definition of technology development requirements and work plans for the Agency's technology programmes; - defining, initiating and managing R&D activities covering both long- and short-term needs; - fostering new application areas for multidisciplinary activities, placing emphasis on innovative concepts, cutting-edge technologies and system architectures; - laboratory activities as required; - monitoring applicable scientific and technological trends and maintaining state-of-the-art expertise; - 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 area of competence.

Technical competencies

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

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

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

Project support experience in a relevant domain

Experience with laboratory or field campaigns

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

Behavioural competencies

Education and professional experience

A master's degree in a relevant domain is required for this post together with 5 years of relevant professional experience.

Additional requirements

- Strong experience in wave propagation modelling (RF and optical) relevant to telecommunications and/or navigation and in the associated characterisation of the propagation environment - Knowledge of telecommunications and navigation concepts, including signal structure, and awareness of related remote sensing concepts - Experience in the development of propagation channel models - Knowledge of deriving environment-related requirements for navigation receivers and reference stations - Experience in defining and using performance simulation tools and in conducting simulations and end-to-end performance analyses - Familiarity with the definition and implementation of laboratory tests and propagation campaigns - Experience in a project environment working on procurement and monitoring of industrial activities - Awareness of standardisation bodies relevant to the field of wave propagation, such as ITU-R and 3GPP

Particular importance will be attached to the ability to interact with both the scientific and engineering communities.

A PhD in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline would be considered advantageous.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 18 October 2026, today.

The application deadline is 4 November 2026, 15 days from today. Late applications are not accepted, so submit through the official EU Careers portal well in advance.

Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 18 October 2026.

Where to learn more

For headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at ESA see the ESA institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Noordwijk see our Noordwijk location page.

New to EU careers? Our beginner's guide walks through entry routes, EPSO competitions, and what to prepare. For application logistics see application tips and EPSO competitions.