Job description
Position: Antenna Software Engineer
Employment Type: Full-time
Location: Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxford, OX11 0QX
Satraka is on a mission to connect the unconnected and serve the underserved with its innovative, cutting-edge tracking- and multi-beam antenna technology, providing broadband internet connections via LEO/MEO satellites, HAPS and fixed wireless access networks.
Antenna is an exciting and challenging subject right at the core of all wireless telecommunication systems. This is particularly true in nascent, yet fast-growing high-data-rate broadband internet services provided by LEO/MEO satellites or HAPS, where both antenna performance, reliability and costs are put to the test.
Based at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus - the UK's Space Cluster, Satraka enjoys a highly dynamic and exciting environment and access to a range of world-class facilities & expertise such as RAL Space, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and Satellite Applications Catapult.
We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Embedded Software Engineer to join our dynamic engineering team. In this role, you will be responsible for designing, developing, testing, and maintaining embedded software solutions for a variety of innovative tracking antennas. You will work closely with hardware engineers and cross-functional teams to deliver optimized, reliable, and high-performance embedded systems.
Main duties
- Working alongside RF and mechanical engineering, providing embedded software solutions for satellite acquisition, tracking, antenna control and multiple network managements
- Responsible for full life cycle of product development—definition of software architecture and embedded systems, analysis, firmware and code development, system integration, test and verification, debug, optimisation and delivery
- Documentation writing for design, analysis, integration and test
- Provide expertise to Business Development team in preparing technical proposals
- Interpret and negotiate technical requirements, define solutions and trade-offs with customers
- Manage work schedule, resources and risks to ensure quality, on-time and on-cost delivery
- Work closely with the Project Manager(s) to ensure successful completion of overall project
Skills and Experience
Essential
- Strong bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
- Demonstrable embedded software development experience in a commercial or industrial environment, taking firmware from bring-up through to a deployable product
- Strong C/C++ for resource-constrained targets, including bare-metal drivers and an understanding of the compile/link pipeline (linker scripts, startup code, memory maps). Python or similar scripting for tooling and test is a plus
- Hands-on experience with ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers (e.g. STM32) and/or DSPs; comfortable with datasheets, reference manuals and register-level work
- Practical experience with serial communication protocols: UART, SPI and I²C, including DMA-driven transfers. CAN or Ethernet an advantage
- Proficient with embedded debugging and bring-up tools: JTAG/SWD debuggers, oscilloscopes and logic analysers
- Familiarity with real-time operating systems (e.g. FreeRTOS), multitasking and the basics of safe inter-task / shared-memory communication
- Comfortable designing electronics during board bring-up and debug
- Innovative thinking and able to translate technical requirements into robust design solutions on own initiative, and to critique own ideas
- Pragmatic, logical problem solver, finds simple solutions to complex problems and can explain them to a non-software audience
- Able to pick up new technical concepts quickly
- Excellent written and verbal technical English, including presentation skills
Desirable
- Knowledge of telecom, satcom and tracking-antenna systems
- Experience with GNSS receivers, RTK, IMUs and sensor-fusion techniques (e.g. Kalman / EKF)
- DSP fundamentals and fixed-point arithmetic (e.g. CMSIS-DSP)
- PCB design and layout experience (e.g. KiCad), including multi-layer and RF-aware layouts
- Familiarity with RF front-end components (LNAs, detectors, power measurement) and basic RF concepts
- Version control with Git (including submodules) and reproducible/containerised build toolchains
Personal
- Good interpersonal skills
- Self-motivated to meet objectives
- Good team player, ability to work both alone and in teams as required by projects
- Ability to work within defined timescales to meet programme milestones
- Ability to work on several projects at any one time
- Driven by technical challenges, problem solving and practical implementation of new ideas
- Willingness to learn and share knowledge with other members of the team, to go extra-mile
- Good team player with the ability to build effective relationships at all levels
- Ability to plan and organise workload across multiple projects ensuring deadlines are met
- Quality mindset with good attention to detail
Benefits
· Work with cutting-edge technology and innovation-driven projects
· Competitive salary, holiday and pension contribution
· Opportunities for fast career advancement
If you are interested in working with Satraka, then please email your CV and a covering letter to [email protected] with the job title you’re applying for in the Subject line of the email.
Pay: From £33,000.00 per year
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Harwell OX11 0QX: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Education:
Licence/Certification:
- 1st university degree education (preferred)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
