R&D Communications Engineer

Team: Advanced R&D

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Commitment: Full-time (Regular)

Workplace Type: hybrid

Key responsibilities

•  Define, analyze, and evaluate RF and Optical Communications subsystem architectures for future ispace missions, including equipment selection, on‑board and ground‑segment trade studies, and full RF link‑budget evaluations for space‑to‑ground, ground‑to‑space, and space‑to‑space links.
•  Develop and maintain Python‑based analytical models for tradespace exploration, subsystem sizing, and architecture evaluation.
•  Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams across global ispace offices to support conceptual system design and early mission architecture development.
•  Take proactive technical leadership in communications-focused R&D tasks and maintain clear, traceable code and documentation of assumptions, models, and results.
•  Support and contribute to communications-related R&D projects, including technology demonstrations and customer-focused development activities.

Basic Qualifications

• Bsc. or Masters degree / experience in the RF/optical communications fields in the context of spacecraft design
•  Five or more years of relevant experience with RF and/or Optical communications system analysis, link‑budget creation, tradeoff between bands, modulations, coding, impact on BER, etc.
•  3 years of relevant modelling programming languages (Python: NumPy, SciPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, or alternatively strong experience in matlab).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience on interoperable nodes constellation design (intersatellite link, PNT, communication coverage)
• Experience with modelling and optmization tools (GMAT, STK, link budget simulation libs, etc)
• Experience as systems engineering applying the Model Based Systems Engineering approach
• Understanding of communications regulations (ITU, SFCG, etc.).
• Ability to work in fast‑paced, ambiguous conceptual environments and take proactive technical ownership.