SATCOM Design Engineer

Novap HR · Gurugram, India

Position Title: SatCom Design Engineer - IoT Payload Design & Integration

Location: Gurgaon

Experience Required: 4-6 Years Experience

Education: Bachelor's/Master's in Aerospace Engineering, Electronics, Telecommunications, or related field.

Industry: R&D and Manufacturing of state-of-the-art avionics-grade, defense-grade, and railway-grade equipment.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

• Design and develop end-to-end satellite IoT communication systems, including space, ground, and user segments for LEO constellation
• Compliance with 3GPP standards and emerging trends in satellite IoT, NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks), and 5G/6G integration
• Define system architecture for SatCom IoT solutions, including payload interfaces, network topology, and device connectivity
• Perform link budget analysis and optimize communication performance for low-power, low-data-rate IoT devices
• Evaluate and select suitable communication protocols (e.g., LoRa, NB-IoT, proprietary waveforms) for satellite integration
• Liaise with frequency licensing and coordination bodies (e.g., ITU, IN-SPACe, WPC) for spectrum allocation, interference mitigation, and regulatory approvals.
• Actively support base terminal design and engineering teams by providing payload specs, simulation models (e.g., STK), and integration guidance.
• Analyse performance metrics like BER, throughput, and latency; optimize for operational resilience.
• Design and optimize waveforms, modulation schemes, and coding techniques for satellite IoT applications
• Collaborate with RF teams on frequency planning, antenna design, and spectrum utilization
• Work with hardware and embedded teams to define IoT terminal/device requirements and interfaces
• Develop and validate network architecture, including gateways, ground stations, and cloud integration
• Conduct trade studies for system performance, scalability, latency, and cost optimization
• Define and manage system-level budgets (link, power, data throughput, latency)
• Support development of protocols for reliable communication, including error correction and retransmission strategies
• Ensure interoperability between satellite systems and terrestrial IoT networks
• Develop concepts of operations (ConOps) for IoT services, including deployment and scaling strategies
• Perform simulations and modeling using tools such as MATLAB/Python and network simulators
• Support system integration, testing, and validation across hardware, RF, and software domains
• Analyze system performance and troubleshoot communication issues during development and testing
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements for spectrum, licensing, and satellite communications
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including systems, RF, software, and mission design
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation, including architecture definitions, design reports, and test results
• Support proposal development, customer interactions, and technical presentations
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to technical leadership within the team

Preferred Skills

• Strong understanding of satellite communication systems and IoT architectures (space, ground, and user segments)
• In-depth knowledge of 3GPP standards for Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), including NB-IoT, LTE-M, and 5G NR NTN
• Experience with IoT communication protocols such as LoRa, NB-IoT, MQTT, CoAP, and TCP/IP stacks
• Proficiency in link budget analysis, waveform design, and modulation/coding techniques for low-power IoT devices
• Familiarity with RF system concepts including frequency planning, interference analysis, and antenna fundamentals
• Strong programming skills in Python and/or MATLAB for simulation, modeling, and data analysis
• Experience with network simulation tools (e.g., ns-3, OPNET, or equivalent)
• Understanding of embedded systems and firmware design for IoT devices
• Knowledge of cloud platforms and IoT backends (AWS IoT, Azure IoT, or similar) for data handling and integration
• Familiarity with Linux-based development environments and networking tools
• Understanding of protocols for reliable communication (error correction, ARQ/HARQ mechanisms)
• Knowledge of satellite link impairments (Doppler, latency, fading) and mitigation techniques
• Strong debugging, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills
• Effective communication and technical documentation skills
• Ability to work in cross-functional teams across RF, hardware, software, and mission domains
• Certification or training in 3GPP technologies (LTE, NB-IoT, 5G NR/NTN)
• Certification in cloud platforms such as AWS Certified IoT, Azure IoT, or equivalent
• Certification in programming/data analysis (Python, MATLAB)
• Certification in cybersecurity or secure communications (desirable for IoT systems)