Who are we looking for ?
Accurate and resilient positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capabilities are becoming a critical infrastructure for modern society, underpinning applications ranging from autonomous systems and critical transportation to telecommunications and scientific services. However, current Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) face increasing challenges due to interference, spoofing threats, and limited performance in complex environments such as urban canyons or indoors. At the same time, emerging technologies, including multi-frequency multi-constellation GNSS, software-defined radio (SDR) receivers, 5G positioning, and the exploitation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite signals, are opening new opportunities to enhance robustness, availability, and accuracy. Advancing the state of the art in this context requires novel signal processing techniques, innovative receiver architectures, and the integration of heterogeneous sources of navigation information.
The Navigation & Positioning (N&P) and the Space and Resilient Communications and Systems (SRCOM) research units are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to conduct research in the field of satellite-based Navigation and 5G positioning techniques, with emphasis on one or more of these topics: Robust and Secure GNSS Receivers, Advanced SDR Architectures for Multi-Frequency Navigation, and Opportunistic Navigation Using LEO Satellite Signals.
What do we offer? :
- We offer a 4 year predoctoral contract
- Annual gross salary according to the EPIF (RD 103/2019) and CTTC salary tables applicable to predoctoral researchers R1.
- Full-time contract: 7,5 h/day. Flexibility
- Expected professional category: R1
The professional category will be based on the qualifications and experience of the applicant according with CTTC professional categories procedure (https://www.cttc.cat/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/CTTC-Professional-categories.pdf).
- Prospect start date: June 2026.
- Continuous training, access to lab facilities, state of the art infrastructure and polyvalent working spaces, participation in scientific events and R&D projects, complementary skills development.
- Enrolment in a Phd Program (Phd fees paid by CTTC)
- We have great benefits for employees:
- Paid time off: vacation (33 working days per year), holidays, sick and parental leave and more
- Up to 3 days of Telework per week (2 fixed + 1 upon request).
- Flexible working hours for work-life balance
Qualifications and Experience
- We are looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic, energetic person, aiming at significantly improving his or her career perspectives in both public and private sectors. The successful applicant should have the competencies of the R1 category and will be considered as predoctoral research staff in training.
- Required qualification/skills/experience:
- Candidates must have a Master degree in an official Telecom/Electrical Engineering/Computer Science or related program that provides subsequent access to a PhD program according to the Spanish legal regulations.
- Candidates must not hold a PhD title.
Applications will be evaluated according to the academic and/or scientific and technical career of the candidate (up to 50 points) and the candidate’s suitability for the program, project, or research activities to be carried out, assessed based on prior training and experience (20 points).
- Other skills that are valuable, but not mandatory are:
- Good competencies associated with their university degrees, especially in the field of signal processing, communications and/or Global Navigation Satellite Systems, and good competence in mathematics.
- Knowledge of cellular mobile communications and 3GPP technologies
- Experience using lab equipment for testing and validation.
- Experience in programming: Matlab, Python, C++.
- Experience in SDR frameworks such as GNU Radio or GNSS-SDR.
- Experience in System-on-chip FPGA platforms.
- Backgroud on signal detection and tracking.
- Background on antenna array processing.
- Strong oral and written English communication skills.
Even if you do not meet all the technical requirements, we encourage you to apply
The candidates’ past performance but also future potential will be considered as criteria for selecting researchers.
How to apply?
All applications must include:
- A complete CV, including a list of publications, if available.
- Transcripts of the BSc and MSc degrees.
- Cover letter stating the motivation and suitability of the candidate.
The application documents must be submitted in pdf format through this online application.
*ONLY APPLICATIONS VIA WEB WILL BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.*
CVs and any other information gathered during this process will be handled confidentially.
Who are we?
- The Center Tecnològic de Telecomunicaciones de Catalunya (CTTC) is a non-profit public sector research institution dedicated to fundamental and applied research activities, focused mainly on technologies related to the physical, data link and network layers of communication systems and Geomatics.
- CTTC received the “HR Excellence in Research” award in 2015 from the European Commission and successfully passed into the Award Renewal phase in 2023. This is a recognition of the Institute’s commitment to develop a Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R), designed to bring the practices and procedures in line with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Open Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment of Researchers. Our institution’s comprehensive analysis and HRS4R action plan meet all the requirements of progress and quality of our HR policies. CTTC promotes itself as a provider of a stimulating and favourable work environment for researchers.
- The CTTC is located in the beautiful Mediterranean Technological Park of Castelldefels, a science park that houses the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, research institutions, innovative companies and startups. The PMT-UPC is located 10 minutes’ walk from the beach and the city center of Castelldefels, also close to childcare centers, public schools and the best international schools. It can be reached by car, train (RENFE) and various bus lines.
- We have 2 buildings on campus, with state-of-the-art facilities, comfortable work spaces, meeting rooms, and multipurpose spaces, as well as social spaces.
- The institute has a multicultural environment with more than 160 members (scientific, technical and administrative staff) from all over the world.
CTTC offers and promotes a diverse and inclusive environment and welcomes applicants regardless of age, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, or sexual orientation.
The CTTC seeks to increase the presence of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages them to stand as candidates.
It is also committed to increasing the number of people with disabilities in its workforce and therefore encourages their applications.