Satellite Network Integration & Validation Engineer

In this role, you will plan, execute, and automate validation for routing, SDN control, and data-plane components within the IRIS2 and MEO network. You’ll build lab testbeds, run end-to-end validation campaigns, and generate actionable readiness assessments for programme decisions. You will collaborate across architecture, software, hardware, and operations to ensure functional, performance, and resilience targets are met. This is a hands-on position with a focus on cross-functional execution in a secure satellite network environment, contributing to Europe’s secure connectivity initiative.

• Define integration and validation plans for routing hardware, routing software, SDN control-plane functions, and data-plane capabilities
• Build and maintain lab environments, testbeds, and automated validation pipelines for network components and end-to-end scenarios
• Develop functional, performance, regression, resilience, failover, scalability, and interoperability test cases
• Execute validation campaigns using traffic generators, packet analysis, telemetry, logs, instrumentation, and fault-injection techniques
• Coordinate issue investigation and resolution across architecture, software, hardware, simulation, and operations stakeholders
• Establish traceability between requirements, specifications, test cases, results, defects, and acceptance evidence
• Support integration of vendor, partner, and internally developed network components into representative satellite network test environments
• Produce clear validation reports, readiness assessments, and technical recommendations for programme decision-making

• M.S. or B.S. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, or related field, or equivalent experience
• Strong hands-on experience with network integration, system validation, lab testing, or verification of telecom, IP, SDN, or mission-critical systems
• Solid understanding of routing, switching, traffic engineering, QoS, SDN control-plane, data-plane forwarding, and network resilience
• Experience with Linux networking, packet capture, traffic generation, automation, test frameworks, CI/CD, and performance instrumentation
• Familiarity with hardware/software integration, programmable networking, virtualized network functions, containers, and lab orchestration
• Programming or scripting in Python, Bash, PowerShell, Go, or similar for test automation and tooling
• Ability to write test plans, procedures, reports, defect descriptions, and acceptance evidence with clear technical reasoning
• Experience in satellite communications, aerospace, telecom, or regulated engineering environments is valuable
• Security clearance eligibility: SECRET; willingness to travel/onsite as required
• Willing to work 60% onsite from office

• rigorous attention to detail
• hands-on problem solving
• cross-functional collaboration
• Linux networking
• packet capture
• traffic generation