Who are we looking for ?
The selected candidate will join CTTC’s Space and Resilient Communications and Systems research unit to work on experimental 5G-NTN and GOVSATCOM systems. The candidate will take technical ownership of key project activities, including 5G-NTN terminal development and the leadership of integration, testing, validation, and field trials. The position requires a PhD-level researcher with strong autonomy, hands-on experimental capabilities, and the ability to coordinate technical work in a multi-partner European project.
What do we offer?
- We offer an indefinite contract of scientific technical activities. Once this project will finish, you will join other projects in the same research line, subject to budget availability.
- Annual gross salary according to the profile of the candidate
- Full-time contract: 7,5 h/day. Flexibility
- Expected professional category: R2.
Exceptional candidates may be considered even if they do not meet all the requirements. In this case 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)
- Tenure track: Career progression with possibility of stabilization trough a permanent structural contract
- Tenure track: Career progression
- Prospect start date: No later than September 1st 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.
- 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 subject to departmental approval). Other requests may be studied to accommodate special needs.
- Flexible working hours for work-life balance
- Career path promotion (either professional category and/or annual gross salary)
- Annual productivity upon performance
- Possibility to complement the salary with personal grants
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 R2 category.
- Required qualification/skills/experience:
- PhD in Telecommunications Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field — 10 points
- Publications in relevant journals and international conference proceedings, preferably including papers based on experimental validation, measurement campaigns, prototypes, or system-level demonstrations — 20 points
- Hands-on experience in experimental communication systems, including SDR platforms, RF testbeds, 5G/NTN integration, modem validation, or field trials — 10 points
- Ability to technically coordinate project activities, including WP leadership, deliverable preparation, partner interaction, planning and reporting — 10 points
- Experience with AI-assisted SDR development, including the use of LLM-based coding assistants, AI agents, reinforcement learning, or automated experimentation tools to support SDR implementation, waveform/protocol configuration, testbed validation, or wireless system optimization— 10 points
- Other skills that are valuable, but not mandatory are:
- Specific experience with 5G-NTN, TN/NTN integration, satellite terminals, Ku/Ka/X-band experimentation, or antenna tracking systems — 20 points
- Previous participation in Horizon Europe, ESA, EUSPA, or other international collaborative R&D projects — 20 points
Even if you do not meet all the technical skills, we encourage you to apply.
The candidates’ past performance but also future potential will be considered as criteria for selecting researchers.
The selection process is aligned to the Open, Transparent, and Merit-based Recruitment (OTM-R) principles and the CTTC HRS4R Action Plan.
How to apply?
All applications must include:
- A complete CV, including a list of publications and the contact details of two potential referees
- PhD degree
- 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 Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Charter and Code). 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.