Senior PNT Systems Engineer, Partner Solutions (Europe)

Company Overview

Iridium is an award-winning satellite communications company operating the world's only truly global voice and data network, delivering reliable connectivity anywhere on Earth. For more than 20 years, Iridium has powered mission-critical communications for governments, businesses, aviation, maritime, and the rapidly expanding Internet of Things.

Now part of Iridium, Aireon is the world’s only space-based air traffic surveillance system, providing real-time visibility of aircraft over oceans, the poles, and remote regions. Together, Iridium and Aireon are helping build a safer, more connected, and more efficient future for global aviation.

Join our team and help shape how the world stays connected. We foster a collaborative, inclusive culture where employees are empowered to innovate, grow professionally, and make a meaningful impact.

What We’re Looking For

Iridium seeks an experienced Senior Systems Engineer to serve as the primary technical interface for European partners adopting Iridium’s Satellite Time and Location (STL) PNT service. You will guide partner designs from concept through production, lead field test campaigns (including GNSS interference events such as JammerTest), and act as Iridium’s senior technical representative in-region. This role suits a hands-on engineer comfortable with partner design reviews, bench debugging, and demanding outdoor test environments.

Partner design-in support

• Serve as the lead technical interface for European PNT partners from architecture through sustainment.
• Guide integration of the Iridium PNT ASIC, including RF front-end, reference clocks, power sequencing, host interfaces, thermal/SWaP considerations, and provisioning flows.
• Review partner schematics, layouts, and BOMs; clearly communicate required design changes.
• Produce integration artifacts: design guides, application notes, reference designs, ICDs, and troubleshooting procedures.
• Lead partner bring-up and debugging (on-site and remote) to resolve RF, clock, boot, firmware, and host interface issues.
• Define and support acceptance/performance verification (sensitivity, TTFF, accuracy, holdover, interference resilience).
• Reproduce partner configurations in the lab and support evaluation hardware, firmware, and host tools.
• Convert recurring partner issues into requirements or feature requests and represent partner needs in internal reviews.

Field test campaigns

• Plan, lead, and execute field tests including international GNSS jamming/spoofing/meaconing events and partner site trials.
• Own full test campaign execution: objectives, matrices, instrumentation, RF safety, logistics, and reporting.
• Build and maintain autonomous portable test rigs with SDRs, reference receivers, monitoring displays, and robust logging.
• Develop field procedures that ensure reliable data capture in harsh conditions.
• Perform post-test analysis (C/N0, desense, AGC, detection margin, timing/position error) and publish results.
• Feed findings into product requirements, thresholds, firmware behavior, and improvements.

Cross-Functional Engineering

• Collaborate with internal/external stakeholders to solve complex system issues and translate partner needs into product requirements.
• Support the full product life cycle following established change control processes.
• Mentor junior engineers on partner support, test design, and analysis.
• Keep U.S.-based ASIC, firmware, software, and product teams aligned on partner progress, risks, and field results.
• Handle controlled technical data within ITAR/EAR and any applicable license/authorization constraints.

What You’ll Need to Succeed

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a related field
• 8+ years of relevant experience with digital radio systems such as GPS/GNSS receivers, satellite communications, or software defined radios
• Experience supporting external engineering teams integrating chipsets/modules/subsystems.
• Deep knowledge of GNSS receiver design and navigation algorithms.
• Hands-on embedded systems experience (ARM/DSP/FPGA; C/C++; Python; Linux; RTOS).
• Strong bench debug capability with RF and digital tools.
• Working knowledge of RF front-end design and PNT clocking (TCXO/OCXO, phase noise, holdover).
• Experience defining/executing test plans, including HIL and field testing.
• Proficiency with MATLAB/Octave or Python for simulation/analysis.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to build strong partner relationships.
• Analytical, independent, and comfortable working remotely across languages and time zones.
• Professional fluency in English.

Things That Would be Great if You Brought to the Table

• Master’s or PhD in Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a related field
• GNSS interference testing experience and knowledge of anti-jam/anti-spoof techniques.
• Experience with European aerospace/defense/precision timing customers; familiarity with Galileo, OSNMA, and EU PNT standards.
• Background on defense/government PNT programs.
• Experience optimizing signal-processing partitioning or fixed-point/floating-point trade-offs.
• SDR platform experience (USRP, Pluto, HackRF, GNU Radio).
• Embedded Linux/system build expertise.
• FPGA development (VHDL/Verilog).
• Knowledge of GNSS/timing interfaces (NMEA, UBX, PPS, NTP, IEEE 1588).
• Experience in manufacturing bring-up and DFT.
• Experience with ITAR/EAR/TAAs on international programs.
• Professional proficiency in another European language.
• Prior in-region technical representative experience for a non-European supplier.

We’ll also need you to

• Be legally authorized to work in the European country in which you are based, without sponsorship
• Have ability to obtain entry authorization for the United States, United Kingdom and Schengen Area countries is required.
• Ability to travel up to 25 - 40%, primarily within Europe to partner sites and test ranges, with periodic travel to Iridium’s headquarters in Virginia, United States; a valid passport and the ability to obtain entry authorization for the United States are required
• Maintain a working-day overlap with U.S. Eastern time to collaborate with the engineering organization, and be available outside normal hours during active test campaigns
• Comply with Iridium’s export control obligations, including any license or agreement conditions that apply to the technical data and hardware you work with
• Hold a valid driver’s license for field deployments

Work Environment

This position primarily works in an office setting and is largely sedentary with the majority of the position working with a computer. The role typically requires the use of basic office equipment such as a phone, video, computer, keyboard, mouse, and printer.

We believe in-person connection drives innovation, strengthens mentorship, and builds culture, while flexibility enables employees to do their best work. Under Iridium’s Hybrid Work Policy, employees are expected to work at least four days per week (approximately 80%) in an Iridium office to support collaboration, relationship-building, and professional growth.

Additional Information

This job description outlines the general nature and level of work for this role and is not a comprehensive list of duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Employees may be assigned additional responsibilities as needed.

Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors and this range represents an estimate of compensation at the time of posting. Base salary is only one part of our compensation package for this role. You may also be eligible for company stock and annual bonus. Employee benefits also include medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage; 401(k) retirement plan options; paid time off and paid holidays; paid parental leave; and other discounts and perks.