Researcher / Scientist - Hardware development for airborne sensors

Researcher / Scientist – Hardware development for airborne sensors

Wachtberg

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (www.fraunhofer.com) currently operates 76 institutes and research institutions throughout Germany and is the world’s leading applied research organization. Around 30 800 employees work with an annual research budget of 3.0 billion euros.

Fraunhofer FHR in Wachtberg near Bonn is part of the large Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and one of the leading and largest European research institutes in the field of high frequency physics and radar technology with one of the world’s most powerful space observation radars.

The Backend and Experimental Systems (BE) department designs and operates innovative millimeter-wave systems in the frequency range between 10 GHz and 300 GHz. The main research topics include the conceptualization and realization of high-performance experimental radars as well as the development of corresponding backends based on FPGA including hardware-related operating software.

For the publicly funded joint project "RadarRescue", we work together with interdisciplinary project partners on an airborne sensor unit for detecting people in dangerous situations for use in disaster control. Past natural disasters clearly showed the difficulties in the reconnaissance of large-scale emergencies. Airborne reconnaissance, in particular, can effectively observe large areas and provide seamless information that is quickly available to the emergency responders to aid in decision-making.

Our goal with this project is to provide an operational drone system for use by the civil defence organizations such as firefighters and police.

What you will do

• Realization of miniaturized radar systems including circuit development and PCB design
• Evaluation of imaging radar methods with respect to project requirements and general conditions
• Development of an adapted SAR processor
• Real-time implementation of this method on an FPGA-based hardware platform
• Laboratory and field tests and evaluation of measurement results
• Collaboration on the preparation of project reports and publications as well as presentations of research results at scientific conferences

What you bring to the table

• Successfully completed studies in electrical engineering, communications engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science or comparable fields of study
• Experience in circuit design (Altium Designer) and simulation of planar circuit structures (e.g. Keysight ADS, SystemVue, LTspice or similar tools)
• Ideally, first experience in the operation of FMCW radar systems and in the field of complex signal processing tasks such as imaging radar methods (SAR/MIMO)
• Good knowledge of hardware description for FPGAs on register transfer level (VHDL / Verilog) and the Xilinx development environment (Vivado, Petalinux tools etc.)
• Good knowledge of the programming languages C/C++, Python or Matlab
• Good knowledge of German or English, both written and spoken (at least B2 level)

What you can expect

• Open and cooperative working environment in a professional research institute equipped with state-of-the-art technology
• Challenging R&D projects of high practical relevance
• Regular exchange and cooperation with national and international partners from industry and the scientific community
• Outstanding, wide range training opportunities for personal development and to foster individual skills, e.g. participation in workshops, seminars, congresses or within the framework of our internal HR development programs as well as the opportunity to pursue a doctorate
• Scope for innovative ideas within the research area with the possibility to initiate own scientific projects as well as supporting of publications to build up reputation and visibility in science and industry
• Flexible working hours enabling a good work-life balance and compatibility between family and career (e.g. 39 hours per week, part-time contracts, flextime system, additional days off, home office up to 3 days per week depending on project and position)
• Additional performance-based salary components
• Company pension scheme (VBL) and public transportation ticket (Jobticket)
• Canteen and nearby shopping facilities
• Family-friendly culture, parent-child office, support from external service provider for emergency care for children and relatives

Appointment, remuneration and social security benefits based on the public-sector collective wage agreement (TVöD).
The position is initially limited for 3 years.
The weekly working time is 39 hours. If certain conditions are met, the position can also be filled on a part-time basis.
In case of identical qualifications preference will be given to severely disabled candidates.
We would like to point out that the chosen job title also includes the third gender.
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft emphasises gender-independent professional equality.

We value and promote the diversity of our employees‘ skills and therefore welcome all applications – regardless of age, gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, ideology, disability, sexual orientation and identity. Severely disabled persons are given preference in the event of equal suitability.

With its focus on developing key technologies that are vital for the future and enabling the commercial utilization of this work by business and industry, Fraunhofer plays a central role in the innovation process. As a pioneer and catalyst for groundbreaking developments and scientific excellence, Fraunhofer helps shape society now and in the future.

Interested? Apply online now. We look forward to getting to know you!

If you have any questions to the position, please contact:
Dr. Alexander Hommes
Phone: +49 (0)228 9435 877
E-Mail: alexander.hommes@fhr.fraunhofer.de

Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques FHR

Requisition Number: 69658 Application Deadline: