Lead Real-Time Digital Systems & Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Testbed Engineer (HIL)

TL;DR

Lead Real-Time Digital Systems & Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Testbed Engineer (HIL/Satellite Communications): Developing an advanced End-to-End Verification and Validation environment for next-generation Earth Observation and Satellite Communication systems with an accent on real-time digital processing and HIL infrastructure. Focus on designing high-performance digital architectures, implementing satellite channel emulation, and integrating RF/optical technologies.

Location: Gilching, Germany. Hybrid working model. Relocation package available.

Company

hirify.global is a global technology company specializing in advanced solutions for the space sector, satellite communications, and Earth Observation systems.

What you will do

• Lead the design, development, and integration of real-time digital processing capabilities within an End-to-End V&V environment.
• Design and implement HIL infrastructures to validate EO and SatCom subsystems under operational conditions.
• Develop high-performance digital processing architectures and hardware acceleration using FPGAs.
• Implement real-time satellite channel emulation, including propagation effects, Doppler, and fading.
• Optimize high-throughput data transport architectures using PCIe, Ethernet, and JESD204.
• Develop automated test frameworks, analysis tools, and continuous integration workflows for repeatable testing.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, Computer Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• Strong experience in FPGA development (VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog) with AMD/Xilinx or Intel devices.
• Solid knowledge of digital communications, signal processing, and satellite communication systems.
• Proficiency in Python and/or MATLAB for test automation and data analysis.
• Experience with high-speed digital interfaces and laboratory test and measurement equipment.
• Must be based in or able to relocate to Germany.

Nice to have

• Experience with digital twins or real-time simulation environments.
• Knowledge of CCSDS standards and Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN).
• Familiarity with GPU/DPU acceleration, SmartNICs, and heterogeneous computing.
• Experience with embedded Linux and ARM-based processing systems.
• Background in ESA, Horizon Europe, or other institutional space R&D projects.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid working model with 4 weeks of teleworking from outside your usual geographical area per year.
• Flexible start and finish times, with intensive working hours on Fridays and during summer.
• Personalized career plan development and language learning support.
• Competitive compensation with regular reviews and brand discounts.
• Comprehensive wellbeing program including health, dental, and accident insurance.
• International mobility opportunities and a relocation package for new hires.