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Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Performance Engineer

Airbus

Job Location:

Getafe - Spain

Monthly Salary: Not provided by the employer

Posted: 28 October 2026 (Yesterday)

Application Deadline: 25 January 2027

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

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 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: Masters 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 knowledge of passive microwave instruments or radiometer in international space projects or customer-facing 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 Companys success reputation and sustainable growth.

Company:

Airbus Defence and Space SAU

Employment Type:

Permanent

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Experience Level:

Professional

Job Family:

.&ElectromagOptics&Optron.

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Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background age gender disability sexual orientation or religious belief.

Airbus is and always has been committed to equal opportunities for all. As such we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to.

At Airbus we support you to work connect and collaborate more easily and flexibly. Wherever possible we foster flexible working arrangements to stimulate innovative thinking.

Required Experience:

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