Microwave 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:

• Contributing to the design, development and performance evaluation of RF equipment, subsystems, components and technologies applicable to space and ground segments
• Providing expert technical support and consultancy to ESA projects, programmes and general studies in the field of RF equipment and technologies throughout all project phases
• Participating in feasibility studies, project reviews and the evaluation of procurement proposals
• Contributing to the definition of technology development roadmaps and work plans for the Agency's technology programmes
• Defining, initiating and managing R&D activities, from early conceptual studies to full hardware development
• Fostering new application areas for multidisciplinary activities, placing emphasis on innovative concepts, cutting-edge technologies and system architectures
• End-to-end laboratory activities as required in support of industry, as well as ESA projects and programmes
• Monitoring applicable scientific and technological trends, liaising with universities and research institutes

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: Master's degree in telecommunication, electronic, microwave engineering or physics
• Experience: Five years of relevant professional experience; more than five years' experience in design and development of RF equipment and technologies for space and ground applications (High-Power Amplifiers or Time and Frequency generation and distribution equipment); project activities throughout all project phases; definition of R&D roadmaps in the field of RF equipment and technologies for space applica…
• Key skills: General background and specific experience in RF technical domains, Hands-on laboratory and hardware experience, Design, development and application of relevant tools and methods, Understanding of related technologies, R&D trends and the industrial landscape, Project support experience in relevant domain, Preparation of procurement activities for technology development and innovation, Management and monitoring of industrial activities, including participation in reviews

Contract and working arrangements

Hiring unit: Radio Frequency Equipment and Technology Section, Radio Frequency Payloads and Technology Division, Electrical Departme….

Position details

Reference

1413942533

Last Verified

23 July 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Microwave Engineer at ESA based in Noordwijk (Other). The vacancy reference is 1413942533.

Job Requisition ID:20762

Date Posted:10 July 2026

Closing Date:31 July 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication:Internal & External

Directorate:Technology, Engineering and Quality

Location

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

## Description

Microwave Engineer in the Radio Frequency (RF) Equipment and Technology Section, Radio Frequency Payloads and Technology Division, Electrical Department, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality.

The RF Equipment and Technology Section provides engineering support to ESA projects and carries out technological research (R&D) in the fields of ground and space-borne RF equipment and its building blocks, RF active and RF passive technologies, time and frequency generation and distribution, RF testing, instrumentation and related design and characterisation tools.

## Duties

Reporting to the Head of Section and within the technical fields described above, your main tasks and responsibilities will include:

* contributing to the design, development and performance evaluation of RF equipment, subsystems, components and technologies applicable to space and ground segments; * providing expert technical support and consultancy to ESA projects, programmes and general studies in the field of RF equipment and technologies throughout all project phases; * participating in feasibility studies, project reviews and the evaluation of procurement proposals; * contributing to the definition of technology development roadmaps and work plans for the Agency’s technology programmes; * defining, initiating and managing R&D activities, from early conceptual studies to full hardware development; * fostering new application areas for multidisciplinary activities, placing emphasis on innovative concepts, cutting-edge technologies and system architectures; * end-to-end laboratory activities as required in support of industry, as well as ESA projects and programmes; * monitoring applicable scientific and technological trends, liaising with universities and research institutes in order to maintain state-of-the-art engineering expertise in the Section’s technical domains; * supervising students and trainees for analysis, simulation and development of advanced concepts in the Section’s technical domains; * 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 field of competence.

## Technical competencies

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

Hands-on laboratory and hardware experience

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

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

Project support experience in a relevant domain

Experience in the preparation of procurement activities for technology development and innovation, such as technology roadmap definition, statements of work and proposal evaluation

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

## Behavioural competencies

## Education and professional experience

A master's degree in in telecommunication, electronic, microwave engineering or physics is required for this post together with five years of relevant professional experience.

## Additional requirements

More than five years’ experience in:

* the design and development of RF equipment and technologies for space and ground applications from low to high TRL levels, in either of these two fields * High-Power Amplifiers (Vacuum-tubes amplifiers, solid-state power amplifiers or integrated RF output sections) * Time and Frequency generation and distribution equipment

* project activities throughout all project phases * the definition of R&D roadmaps in the field of RF equipment and technologies for space applications.

A PhD in a relevant domain is an asset.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 10 July 2026, 12 days ago.

The application deadline is 31 July 2026, 7 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 23 July 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.