Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Performance Engineer

Job Description:

An opportunity for a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Performance Engineer has arisen within Airbus Defence and Space, Getafe (Madrid).

The selected candidate will join the Microwave Instrument Engineering Team, a specialized multidisciplinary department dedicated to Earth Observation payload design and development. In this role, you will be responsible for defining, modeling, and optimizing end-to-end SAR system performance from early concept through to mission operations. You will act as a key technical reference across the SAR processing chain, image quality evaluation, and calibration/validation (Cal/Val) campaigns, working in close collaboration with RF, antenna, payload, and data processing teams on major international space programs.

Responsibilities

The main tasks of the jobholder will be:

• End-to-End Performance Modeling: Develop, implement, and maintain system-level models and simulators (covering signal, geometry, propagation, and noise) to predict end-to-end SAR performance and establish requirement allocations.
• Image Quality Evaluation & Budgets: Generate and monitor comprehensive instrument-level performance budgets, assessing key radar metrics including spatial resolution, NESZ, radiometric accuracy, and ambiguity ratios (range/azimuth).
• System Architecture & Trade-Offs: Perform advanced trade-off analyses (orbit parameters, frequency bands, PRF selection, and antenna configurations) to support mission definition and instrument design optimization.
• Calibration & Processing Support: Drive SAR processing chain verification, focusing algorithms, and calibration/validation (Cal/Val) strategies using in-orbit and ground campaign data.
• AIT & V&V Integration: Define and support Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) as well as payload Verification and Validation (V&V) activities across laboratory and environmental test phases.
• Project Milestones & Technical Leadership: Deliver key performance documentation and represent the system engineering team in formal reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR/TRB) as well as customer-facing technical exchanges and future mission proposals.

Skills

Is your profile aligned to the following list of skills? Apply! We are looking forward to getting to know you:

• Education: Master’s degree (MSc) or PhD in Telecommunications Engineering, Electrical Engineering, RF/Microwave Engineering, or Physics.
• Experience: 5 to 10 years of professional experience in remote-sensing microwave instrument development, with a deep focus on SAR systems and radar signal processing.
• Technical Knowledge: Deep command of SAR principles, radar performance metrics (NESZ, SNR, ambiguity suppression), end-to-end signal processing chains, and advanced numerical modeling/simulation using Python, MATLAB, or equivalent.
• Soft Skills: Strong analytical problem-solving abilities, high autonomy in managing workload across multiple projects, and proven collaborative skills within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Languages: Advanced / Negotiation level in English (mandatory, written and spoken). Fluent Spanish is valuable; French or German is desirable.
• Valuable / Nice to Have:Solid understanding of ESA development lifecycles and space engineering standards (ECSS, MIL-STD, CCSDS).Requirements engineering experience using tools such as IBM DOORS.Complementary knowledge of passive microwave instruments or radiometer systems.Experience in international space projects or customer-facing environments.Availability to travel for test campaigns and project milestone reviews.

Which Benefits Will You Have as an Airbus Employee?

At Airbus we are focused on our employees and their welfare. Take a look at some of our social benefits:

• Vacation days plus additional days-off along the year.
• Attractive salary.
• Hybrid model of working when possible.
• Collective transport service subject to working calendar/home location.
• Benefits such as life insurance, health insurance, employee stock options, retirement plan, or study grants.
• On-site facilities (among others): free canteen, kindergarten, medical office.
• Possibility to collaborate in different social and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
• Excellent upskilling opportunities and great development prospects in a multicultural environment.
• Option to access special rates in products & benefits.

#MYCYM

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

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