Software Engineer, Simulation And Modeling

Role highlights:Software Engineer, Simulation and ModelingLocation: ValenciaReports to: Reports to: Laboratory Lead & Test ArchitectEmployment type: PermanentWorkplace model: HybridEmployment is subject to applicable security screening (incl. SUPO, where required)Why this role matters:As a Software Engineer, Simulation and Modeling, you’ll build the software world the satellites live in (orbits, emitters, signals, truth and scoring) so the whole team can ask “what if” and get a number back. ICEYE is building a space-based RF constellation covering 100 MHz to 30 GHz alongside its SAR fleet, and the Experimentation Lab in Valencia is where we develop, simulate and validate that capability.
Customers and our own engineers ask questions we currently answer by hand‑waving: what revisit a cluster gives over an area, how many emitters we detect in a crowded scene, how geolocation accuracy moves with cluster spacing or timing error, and what a next‑generation architecture choice buys. The answers need a simulation framework that models the constellation and the emitters end to end, generates the signals each satellite would see, and scores what comes out against a known truth. It doesn’t exist yet. You’ll build it, and it will become a tool used by engineers, analysts and customer‑facing staff.
You’ll work daily with the lab, signal processing and ground segment teams, and you’ll have direct influence on how ICEYE builds and proves this capability.
Who We AreICEYE is the world leader in sovereign intelligence from space. We deliver persistent monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to changes in any location on Earth.
ICEYE owns the world's largest and most advanced SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellite constellation. To our customers we provide intelligence with unmatched quality, latency and revisit times, in any weather, day or night. To governments who choose to operate their own constellation we provide this proven capability as a sovereign system.
ICEYE-built constellations serve customers in defence and intelligence, environmental monitoring, insurance and emergency management. We enable fast decisions that contribute to a safer future.
Founded and headquartered in Finland, ICEYE operates globally with over 1000 employees across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia‑Pacific.
Your day-to-day responsibilitiesModel the constellation: orbit propagation, cluster geometry, attitude and pointing, antenna beams, access and contact windows, with spacing and timing as swept variables.
Model the emitters and the theatre: emitters as state machines with real antenna patterns, scan behaviour, modes and duty cycles, placed at order‑of‑battle density. Start from the lab’s real captures and extend synthetically.
Generate the signals: propagation and link modelling (path loss, delay, Doppler, ionosphere in the low band) and synthetic I/Q per satellite, at a fidelity the RF hardware and the processing chain can consume.
Own the truth together with the processing team: a truth ledger of every simulated emission, position and time, kept out of reach of the system under test, plus the association and scoring that turn a run into detection rate, false‑alarm rate, geolocation accuracy and latency.
Drive the hardware together with the RF team: provide the geometry and timing the channel simulator and playback hardware need, so a recorded radar can be heard by three simulated satellites with the right delays and Doppler.
Make it a platform: versioned scenarios, seeded and reproducible runs, provenance on every result, tests, CI, documentation and an interface that non‑authors can use.
Answer real questions: capacity, revisit and performance studies for the payload, product and sales teams, and architecture trades for future generations.
What we’re looking forMust haves:Strong software engineering in Python (and ideally a compiled language): clean architecture, version control, testing, code review, packagingExperience building a simulation or model of a physical system that others used, and validating it against measurement or real dataNumerical and scientific computing: NumPy/SciPy or equivalent, vectorisation, performance awarenessWorking knowledge of at least one of orbital mechanics and access computation, RF link budgets and propagation, or signal processingHabits that make results reproducible: seeds, configuration management, data provenanceClear written and spoken EnglishNice to haves:Constellation, mission or system‑level modeling and simulation (STK, Orekit, GMAT, Basilisk or in‑house)Radar, EW or emulator modelling; scenario or order‑of‑battle generationTDOA/FDOA/AoA geolocation or estimation theorySynthetic I/Q generation, GPU acceleration, or real‑time and hardware‑in‑the‑loop interfacesCloud‑native deployment, containers, workflow orchestration, and data stores for large runsA simulation framework of yours that outlived your involvement in itEligibility for national security clearance (an advantage)What success