Principal Digital Payload & 5G NTN Architect

SWISSto12 is one of the world’s fastest-growing aerospace companies, evolving from its pioneering use of 3D printing technologies for high-performance Radio Frequency (RF) products and applications to recently announcing the manufacture of entire geostationary telecom satellites, called HummingSat, that define a new category in space.

HummingSat is the world’s first commercial telecom GEO SmallSat developed in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA). Its uniquely compact size combined with highly capable telecom payloads allows telecommunications operators to deploy a cost-efficient, compact, and agile asset without sacrificing performance or security. HummingSat has been selected by Intelsat to build the I-45 satellite, by Inmarsat to build three I-8 satellites, and recently by Astrum Mobile to build the NEASTAR-1 satellite.

SWISSto12 is also a leading provider of Radio-Frequency (RF) products and sub-systems for satellite communication and remote sensing applications. The company’s patented 3D printing technologies and associated product designs are unique to deliver lightweight, compact, highly performing, and competitive RF products.

We are seeking a highly motivated digital payload architect to join our team to help develop flexible communications payloads for GEO, MEO and LEO. The ideal candidate will have deep experience with signal processing algorithm development relative to software defined radios and communications systems, as well as knowledge of FPGA and System on Chip platforms.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the architecture of next-generation digital satellite payloads, including regenerative and transparent GEO, MEO and LEO payload solutions for broadband, Direct-to-Device (D2D), 5G NTN and SATCOM applications.
• Lead the definition, design and development of On-Board Processing (OBP) systems based on FPGA, RFSoC, SDR and embedded processing technologies.
• Define and manage payload-level system architectures, requirements, performance budgets, interfaces and trade-offs across RF, digital processing, software and spacecraft segments.
• Lead the development and integration of 5G NTN air interfaces and protocols within satellite payloads, ensuring compliance with 3GPP standards and future evolution roadmaps.
• Perform system-level analyses, modelling, simulations and performance assessments to optimize payload capacity, flexibility, spectral efficiency and overall mission performance.
• Define technical roadmaps for digital payload technologies, including software-defined payloads, virtualization, digital beamforming, regenerative processing and advanced waveform implementations.
• Prepare payload and subsystem specifications, requirements flow-down, compliance matrices, technical documentation and review data packages for major program milestones (SRR, PDR, CDR, QR and Acceptance Reviews).
• Lead FPGA, firmware, software and hardware development activities, ensuring optimal allocation of processing resources and efficient implementation of payload functions.
• Manage payload interfaces with spacecraft platforms, ground segments, user terminals and network infrastructure.
• Support payload technology selection, make-or-buy decisions, supplier evaluations and technical assessments of new products and technologies.
• Coordinate technical activities with suppliers, partners, customers and internal multidisciplinary teams throughout design, development, integration, validation and qualification phases.
• Lead technical risk assessment, mitigation planning and de-risking activities for innovative payload concepts and development programs.
• Mentor engineering teams and provide technical leadership across system engineering, FPGA, software, RF and payload disciplines.

Requirements

• Minimum 10 years of experience in satellite communications systems, digital payloads, ground segment technologies and SATCOM engineering.
• Proven experience defining and developing digital payload architectures, including On-Board Processing (OBP), regenerative payloads and software-defined satellite systems.
• Strong expertise in FPGA, RFSoC and SDR-based implementations for space and communications applications.
• Extensive knowledge of 3GPP 5G NTN standards, D2D architectures and broadband satellite communications systems.
• Demonstrated experience conducting system trade-offs, performance optimization and architecture studies for complex satellite communication systems.
• Hands-on experience with payload development throughout the full lifecycle, from concept definition to integration, validation and operational deployment.
• Strong understanding of RF communications, waveform design, DVB standards, digital signal processing and communications system architecture.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and coordinating technical activities with external suppliers and partners.
• Demonstrated ability to define technology roadmaps and drive innovation in advanced satellite communications products.

Benefits

Further details to be shared by our recruitment team.

More about SWISSto12:

SWISSto12 has successfully established contracts with Intelsat, Inmarsat, Astrum Mobile and ESA for HummingSat as well as contracts for their RF product line in Europe, and the US with prominent partners and customers such as Thales, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, SES and the ESA. SWISSto12 is a spin off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), is privately owned and backed by prominent Swiss and European Investors. SWISSto12 is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and operates a US and European-subsidiariesy in Foster City California. The company is well funded for its near and mid-term developments and backed by a solid customer revenue stream.