Senior Research Engineer – Digital Signal Processing

We seek a permanent Senior Research Engineer position in the field of real-time hardware embedded Digital Signal Processing (DSP). You will fulfill a key role in the delivery of digital receiver systems to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), to radio telescopes at Onsala Space Observatory, Sweden and potentially to other radio astronomy projects around the world. The SKA is a project to build the world’s largest radio telescope with elements in South Africa and Australia and is one of the most challenging scientific projects of the early 21st century. The SKA telescope being built in South Africa consists of sensors that collectively sample 2 Tbit/s of raw data. The Digital systems that capture this data have extreme specifications on timing accuracy and robustness in the face of human generated interfering signals; specifications which are necessary to detect extremely weak signals from the edge of the observable universe. Delivering on these specifications is expected to provide an exciting state-of-the-art challenge for you as an expert in Digital Signal processing/Digital Electronics.

About the Position
You will initially work on two core tasks, each taking approximately half of your time. First you will provide expert technical support to the ongoing project for Sweden to deliver Digital Samplers to the SKA telescope currently being built in South Africa. The final production design and delivery of these samplers is being led by Swedish industry delivering to the SKA Observatory; with local in-country support being given by Chalmers University of Technology/ Chalmers Industriteknik. You will be required to rapidly develop a complete understanding of the current digitizer design and act as technical contact between the industry partner and the SKA project, potentially also contributing solutions to any technical problems that arise. Aiding the Swedish industrial delivery oversight team in project management is also an aspect of this support function. Secondly you will act as the Swedish lead in an international project to design the next generation even more interference robust Digital Receiver system for the SKA. In addition to the above two main initial tasks you are expected to be increasingly involved in other DSP projects supporting the radio telescopes at Onsala Space observatory, and around the world; for instance in the areas of radio interference mitigation and digital sideband rejection. This final aspect of the work is expected to increase as the SKA digitizer delivery project progresses. You are expected to be proactive in keeping abreast with technical developments in DSP within radio astronomy, develop a local and international network of contacts, and work with astronomers in generating DSP solutions to radio astronomy requirements.

Information about the Department
The Space, Earth and Environment (SEE) department at Chalmers hosts 80 staff members involved in astrophysics research, the development of instrumentation and data processing techniques to support radio and millimetre astronomy, and the operation of radio telescopes at Onsala Space Observatory. SEE's astronomy related activities are carried out in two of its Divisions; namely the Onsala Space Observatory (OSO) Division hosting Sweden's national infrastructure for radio astronomy and the Astronomy and Plasma Physics (AOP) Division. Research and infrastructure activities related to the establishment of Sweden's technical contributions to the SKA are led from within the OSO Division/Infrastructure.

Your qualifications
The position requires as a minimum an Engineering or other Degree at Swedish Master's level incorporating education in Digital Signal Processing/Digital Electronics. A PhD or other advanced degree involving development in the above areas is a strong merit. Several years (i.e. of order >5 years) practical experience in applying Digital Signal Processing solutions to the real-time processing of wide bandwidth sensor data is a requirement. Experience implementing FPGA firmware within real-time data processing systems is essential. Merits for the position include experience with Digital Signal processing as specifically applied to Radio Astronomy and project management experience in delivering robust state-of-the-art real-time data processing systems to customers. A requirement for the position is to work independently for periods but also to work effectively within local and international project groups. A strong merit of the position is the ability to foster new relationships with Digital Signal Processing experts locally at Chalmers, within Sweden and internationally and work with astronomers in developing new projects incorporating DSP solutions. High proficiency in spoken and written English and willingness to travel internationally to meetings is a requirement. It is meritorious to have a record of working for equality and diversity within the workplace. 

Contract terms
Permanent employment

We offer
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg. 
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

For questions, please contact:
John Conway, Infrastructure Director, Onsala Space Observatory
E-mail: john.conway@chalmers.se