Satellite Payload Engineer

SWISSto12 is one of the world’s fastest-growing aerospace companies,  evolving from its pioneering use of 3D printing technologies for  high-performance Radio Frequency (RF) products and applications to  recently announcing the manufacture of entire geostationary telecom  satellites, called HummingSat, that define a new category in space.

HummingSat is the world’s first commercial telecom GEO SmallSat developed in  collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA). Its uniquely compact size combined with highly capable telecom payloads allows  telecommunications operators to deploy a cost-efficient, compact, and  agile asset without sacrificing performance or security. HummingSat has  been selected by Intelsat to build the I-45 satellite, by Inmarsat to  build three I-8 satellites, and recently by Astrum Mobile to build the  NEASTAR-1 satellite.

SWISSto12 is also a leading provider of  Radio-Frequency (RF) products and sub-systems for satellite  communication and remote sensing applications. The company’s patented 3D printing technologies and associated product designs are unique to  deliver lightweight, compact, highly performing, and competitive RF  products.
This position is a unique opportunity to lead the development of a new class of telecommunication satellites. If you are looking for position where you can play an active role in contributing to an innovative and fast growing company, this role is for you.

• Perform the telecom satellite payload and TCR engineering activities, working in the HummingSat program team with our payload experts and with external partners and suppliers.
• Ensure the system is fit for its intended purpose and contribute to analyze technical trade-offs. 
• Perform payload and TCR system analyses, trades, design, budgets and development tasks. 
• Prepare Payload and TCR unit specifications such as digital processor, amplifiers and filters. Perform requirement flow-down and release, update of compliance matrices, PDR package write up etc. 
• Manage payload and TCR interfaces to spacecraft platform (RF, power, command and telemetry). 
• Develop relationships with payload and TCR suppliers and partners. Work with them to Design, Manufacture, Assemble, Integrate and Test such subsystems.  
• Contribute to the definition and prepare SoWs and specifications. 
• Lead the preparation, definition, and execution of digital and analogue payload and TCR test campaigns. 
• Develop  and maintain comprehensive test documentation, including test  specifications, test plans, procedures, and performance predictions. 
• Conduct and support test reviews, ensuring technical consistency, traceability, and compliance with program requirements. 
• Collaborate  closely with RF payload test engineers and AIT team to ensure efficient  test execution and alignment with overall program milestones. 
• Ensure all payload testing activities meet system-level performance requirements, quality standards, and schedule constraints.
• Work  alongside the program management team to monitor the execution of  activities and contribute to problem solving, ensuring successful  delivery of these activities. 
• Occasionally, you will be asked to participate in overall tasks and services inherent to a dynamic fast-growing company.

• Minimum 5 years’ experience as a GEO Telecom Payload Engineer. 
• Customer focused, must be able to work on a self-initiated basis and in a team environment.
• Must  have been exposed to trade-off and optimize performances, resolving  complex technical problems, managing technical work with partners, conducting technical development projects.
• Real-world  experience with system architecture, requirements definition, flow  down, tracking and performing system-level analyses in support of trade  studies.
• Experience with various relevant system modelling and analysis tools is a must. 
• Demonstrated ability to write clear technical documentation of high quality.
• Ability to “think outside of the box” and thrive in an often-ambiguous trade-space.
• Autonomous and proactive working style with excellent working organization and ethics.
• Communicating  effectively, excellent relational skills and ability to work in a team  with different professional and cultural backgrounds.
• Master or PhD degree in a relevant technical field.
• Understanding of principles for spacecraft design, manufacture, assembly, integration, test and operation is a plus.
• Language: Fluent English is a prerequisite, skills in French are a plus.

Further details to be shared by our recruitment team.

More about SWISSto12:

SWISSto12 has successfully established contracts with Intelsat, Inmarsat, Astrum  Mobile and ESA for HummingSat as well as contracts for their RF product  line in Europe, and the US with prominent partners and customers such as Thales, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, SES and the ESA. SWISSto12  is a spin off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), is privately owned and backed by prominent Swiss and European  Investors. SWISSto12 is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and  operates a US and European-subsidiariesy in Foster City California. The  company is well funded for its near and mid-term developments and backed by a solid customer revenue stream.