Navigation System Engineer

About Antwerp Space Antwerp Space is a leading Belgian space engineering company and an industrial player well-recognized by the European Space Agency and the European Commission. Antwerp Space has an established presence in the European space market and in several cases is taking the lead in technically complex space projects, supported by a consortium of partners from all over Europe. The company employs highly skilled engineers and technicians from all over the world, the majority of whom hold an engineering degree, with strong expertise in the areas of digital signal processing, hardware and software design, as well as in project management and technical leadership. OHB SE Group Antwerp Space is part of the OHB SE group, one of Europe’s success stories in the field of contemporary space. Today it can call itself the third largest space group in Europe. The OHB SE group has been growing at a steady pace over the last three decades and its footprint in Europe has continuously expanded. Nowadays, there are subsidiaries in Austria, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Luxembourg, Greece, the Czech Republic and Belgium. Despite its size, OHB SE is still a family business, run by the Fuchs family. Who are we looking for? We are searching for an innovative and highly experienced Navigation System Architect to drive the technical vision and end-to-end design of Galileo GNSS solutions. You will be the primary technical authority for our GNSS receiver architectures (both on ground and space-borne), responsible for translating mission parameters into viable, high-performance systems for Public Regulated Service (PRS) and Open Service applications. In this role, you will bridge the gap between RF engineering, digital signal processing, hardware integration (FPGA/ASIC), and system-level validation. You’ll be reporting to the System Engineering team lead, project teams, and collaborating with colleagues from the operational department. As a Navigation System Architect, your expected

key responsibilities
will be:
• System architecture and design: Support in the definition of the end-to-end system architecture for state-of-the-art GNSS receivers (ground and space-borne), ensuring optimal assessment and trade-offs of subsystem concepts across feasibility and pre-development studies.
• Requirements engineering and management: Lead the elicitation and flow-down of high-level mission and user requirements for Galileo GNSS (including PRS and Open Service) into detailed technical subsystem specifications.
• Digital Signal Processing (DSP) & hardware engineering: Architect and oversee the design of state-of-the-art DSP components (such as correlators and Kalman filtering), maintaining close alignment with FPGA and ASIC development workflows.
• Payload engineering: Lead the conceptualization and specification of ground-based and spaceborne GNSS payloads, including receiver electronics, antennas, and onboard digital signal processing (DSP) units.
• Test campaign execution: Develop comprehensive test concepts and lead extensive test campaigns to validate receiver performance, security, and integration.
• Pre-development phase support & proposal preparation: Provide support for navigation projects from the pre-development phase up to integration, working closely with project leaders and business development. Moreover, you will assist in the preparation of proposals and evaluate subcontractor proposals to ensure the feasibility and success of projects.
• Documentation: Generate and maintain documentation, including analyses, specifications, engineering and technical budgets, test procedures, reports, and design descriptions.
• Coordination and collaboration: Coordinate technical aspects with customers, vendors, subcontractors, project teams, system engineering, and other divisions. Moreover, you will provide technical directions to engineering teams throughout the entire product lifecycle, from concept design to integration and testing.
• Design reviews and technical presentations: Lead internal and external technical reviews (e.g., MRR, SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, TRB/DRB) with stakeholders, management, and customers. Mandatory Requirements
• Eligible for an EU security clearance (EU citizen, or eligible for citizenship and living in the EU for at least 10 years.
• Candidates currently living outside Belgium will only be considered if they are willing to relocate to Belgium before the start of their contract. Relocation is a prerequisite for employment.
• Fluency in spoken and written English. Knowledge of Dutch and French is an asset. Required technical competences and practical needs
• Master’s degree in electrical engineering, physics, space engineering, signal processing or a closely related field. A PhD in navigation topic is advantageous.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in systems engineering, with a specific focus on the end-to-end architecture of Galileo GNSS.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in leadership positions, such as team lead or technical lead in a relevant engineering field.
• Deep expertise in state-of-the-art GNSS receiver architectural design for both ground and space-borne receivers.
• Strong working knowledge of Galileo Public Regulated Service (PRS) and Open Service (OS) functionalities.
• Working knowledge of European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECSS) standards, alongside an understanding of commercial/NewSpace practices.
• Professional experience in phase B/C/D in Navigation projects is an asset.
• Advanced understanding and design capabilities in state-of-the-art DSP (e.g., correlators, Kalman filtering or equivalent).
• Familiarity with FPGA and ASIC development processes for high-performance navigation systems.
• Experience in defining, planning, and executing comprehensive test campaigns for complex navigation systems.
• Knowledge of advanced antenna designs (e.g., phased arrays, deployable reflectors) for space applications is an added value.
• Familiarity with implementing Machine Learning/AI algorithms in Navigation domain is a plus.
• Proficiency in mathematical modelling and simulation tools (e.g., MATLAB, Python) for navigation performance analysis.
• Experience with both (commercial) off-the-shelf navigational systems and transitioning navigation payloads from R&D into high-volume manufacturing or operational deployment.
• Willingness to travel. Expected soft skills
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams, resolve complex engineering conflicts, and make critical architectural decisions.
• Experience in dealing with customers and vendors is advantageous.
• Excellent communication skills with a high degree of flexibility.
• Team player who can work effectively both independently and in large projects. What we can offer you
• A multicultural environment. You’ll be working in an international environment with colleagues from all over the world.
• A strong corporate culture. Our company is based on strong values: respect, trust, personal development and well-being.
• Professional development. You’ll get the chance to learn, to share your expertise, to develop your skills and contribute to high-level, international projects in a high-tech environment.
• Salary package. A very attractive salary package including numerous fringe benefits. The main job location is Antwerpen (Hoboken)
- Belgium, though, short-term missions abroad are part of this challenging job environment. Come and explore Antwerp Space At Antwerp Space we treasure our human capital. From the moment you get on board until retirement, we will be at your side to make sure you feel at home and you get the chance to travel all the way through Antwerp Space, developing yourself and growing together. As a company with a passion for innovation, we want to create a dynamic, open and enriching environment for people, where people are passionate about their work and exchange ideas & expertise. Moreover, we understand the need for a healthy working environment and we focus on the employee’s well-being, offering amongst others fruit@work, yoga, ergonomic advice, and many other initiatives. We also focus on a good work-life balance, offering flexible

working hours
and additional holidays. Each year a number of events are organized to emphasize that it is important to have fun, relax and create a good team spirit.