Senior Architect, IRIS2 User Terminal

Senior Architect, IRIS2 User Terminal

IRIS2 is the new European Union secure satellite constellation. This project is the European Union's answer to the pressing challenges of tomorrow to provide secure connectivity services and enhanced communication capacities to the EU and its Member States as well as to governmental users, private companies and European citizens while ensuring high-speed internet broadband to cope with connec-tivity dead zones.

SES – together with other consortium partners and core members - was selected by European Commission to build and to operate the IRIS2 multi-orbit satellite constellation. As the project enters its next phase, our team is expanding to support the development of future services and products enabled by the IRIS2 system. We are now seeking skilled professionals to help shape the service provisioning landscape and ensure the successful deployment of cutting-edge sat-ellite connectivity solutions.

Role Description Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Flat Panel User Terminal Architect to lead the design and development of advanced ground terminals for the IRIS2 multi-orbit constellation.

In this pivotal role, you will guide technology selection, architecture definition, and system integration across the entire terminal—covering electronically steerable antennas, modem subsystems, and mechanical / thermal design.

In addition, you will also be responsible for defining all User Terminal requirements and producing the associated documentation.

As a member of an agile project organization, you will be expected to bring a flexible way of working and an adaptive mindset to a dynamic development environment.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end architecture of NGSO user terminals with flat panel (beamforming) antennas, including phased-array or metamaterial technologies.
• Define and drive system requirements across RF front-end, beamforming / control electronics, modem, and analog / digital interfaces.
• Evaluate and select optimal antenna technologies (analog / hybrid / digital beamforming) for NGSO use cases (LEO / MEO).
• Architect and guide development of modem subsystems, including baseband processing, waveform support, link adaptation, and software-defined modem components.
• Guide mechanical and thermal architecture to ensure reliable packaging, heat dissipation, environmental resilience, and manufacturability of the full unit.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with e2e system engineering, product management, subcontractors and industrial partners to bring the terminal from concept to field deployment.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership, including lab testing, prototype bring-up, integration, and de-bugging.
• Perform architectural trade studies through literature review and in-depth analysis of alternatives, identifying key trade-offs.
• Evaluate architectural options based on key performance metrics linked to signal quality, power / cost metrics and overall system limitations.
• Define technical specifications for user terminal sub-blocks in coordination with internal stakeholders and / or external partners.
• Support system-level design and analysis by providing performance metrics and input related to the user terminal.
• Stay up to date with relevant industry standards (e.g., 3GPP NTN, DVB-S2X) and emerging technol-ogies in the NGSO terminal ecosystem.
• Produce and maintain technical documentation, including design specifications, analysis, test plans, and verification reports.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external partners throughout the entire user terminal development lifecycle.

Competencies

Flexibility and adaptability in response to evolving project requirements and dynamic environments

Qualifications & Experience

Other Key Requirements / Comments

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SES and its Affiliated Companies are committed to providing fair and equal employment opportunities to all. We are an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law.

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