Vacancy notice: 2026-JRC.E.2-BRU-FGIV-003012

Type of contract: Member of the European Commission's contract staff, Function Group IV (article 3b of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants)

Duration of contract: 36 months (renewable up to maximum 6 years)

Area: EU satellite navigation Programmes Galileo/EGNOS

Place of employment: Brussels (BE)

Indicative basic salary: 4.449,31 - 6.444,59 € (applicable as of 1st of July 2025) For more detailed information please consult: Working Conditions

We are

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) provides independent, evidence-based knowledge and science, supporting EU policies to positively impact society.

The current vacancy is within the Unit Space, Connectivity and Economic Security, part of the Societal Resilience and Security Directorate.

The Unit's mission is to foster EU's resilience and economic security by enhancing the resilience of strategic space-based and terrestrial connectivity infrastructures, services and underlying critical technologies. The Unit does this through research leveraging world class experimental infrastructure, assessing current and emerging technological trends as well as anticipating the geopolitical security landscape including hybrid threats, analysing strategic dependencies and further developing the observatory of critical technologies.

Working within a team of other scientists to support EU policy making cycle of the European Commission and of the EU Agency for the Space Programme, the candidate will have to carry out technical studies based on modelling and simulation, also interfacing and collaborating with colleagues performing laboratory-based tests. S/he will also support the preparation and follow-up of R&D actions related to the EU GNSS Programme.

We propose

The jobholder will join a team providing scientific/technical support to the European Commission Services in charge of the management of the EU satellite navigation Programmes Galileo/EGNOS and to the European Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) in the framework of the 'Scientific and Technical Support on EU GNSS Programmes (STiEG)' Administrative Arrangement.

The scientist/engineer should be able to produce high-quality technical/scientific work in a flexible, fast-evolving environment, and with a high degree of independence. The tasks will cover the following areas: Galileo 1st and 2nd Generation Signals design, optimisation and performance assessment, Radio Frequency Compatibility including international coordination, signal processing and GNSS receiver concepts of operation, GNSS codes, standardisation and international cooperation in the field of aviation. The jobholder will also support the technical iterations with DG DEFIS, with specific regard to Galileo signals and compatibility, as well as with EUSPA. The jobholder will also support the engineering of Galileo Open Service Signal In Space Interface Control Document (OS SIS ICD).

JRC has excellent simulation and laboratory facility for theoretical and practical R&D in this area, including a large anechoic chamber with CRPA testing capabilities, GNSS signal generators, a wide range of GNSS hardware and software receivers and a satellite tracking station. This facility is playing a key role in the development and validation of new signal concept as well as in the support to emerging GNSS standards. More information on the JRC Testing and Demonstration Hub for the GNSS Component of the EU Space Programme can be found here:

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC137126

We look for

We are looking for a dynamic, motivated colleague who is adaptable to the JRC's specific role in EU policy support with the following

Essential Qualifications:

PhD degree in signal processing, satellite navigation or other relevant areas for the job or,
Minimum of 15 years of full-time research/relevant professional experience after the first University degree giving access to doctoral (PhD) studies, in the field of Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) science and technology or electrical engineering
Expert knowledge of one or more topics in the satellite navigation field such as innovative GNSS technologies, applications and services, GNSS signal processing and receiver design, Galileo signals, navigation standards for civil aviation
Experience with international coordination and standardisation activities in the field of GNSS and civil aviation
Software development experience with MATLAB/C/C++ programming.
Fluent in oral and written English (C1), ability to produce professional research reports

Assets

Relevant experience in GNSS user segment industry and/or with international organisations dealing with Galileo is a strong asset
Relevant experience in the field of Galileo signals and signal processing (1st and 2nd Generation)
Experience in project management
Experience with R&D activities coordination
A good record of relevant publications in reputed journals

The post might involve access to and work with classified information. Therefore, the successful candidate will be subject to a security clearance procedure, unless he/she already has one at the level of SECRET UE/EU SECRET.

How to apply

If you are already on a valid CAST FG IV reserve list, or you have already applied to one of the calls below, you can directly submit your application at JRC Recruitment Portal.

If not, before applying to this position, you must register for one of the two following databases:

the Call for Expressions of Interest | EU Careers (europa.eu) (CAST Permanent FG IV), which is used by a wide range of organisations (institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the European Union), or
the call for researchers (JRC Call COM/1/2015/GFIV-Research), which is mainly used by the JRC.

Note that each of the calls above has different minimum eligibility requirements and different selection tests.