RF Waveform and Modulation Expert (all genders)

Job description

About Us STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionizing the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop and manufacture high performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost effective. This provides our operators with a decisive edge in highly contested environments. We’re focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems—not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe—today. About the team Minerva is STARK's command and control software — the brain that connects operators to autonomous systems across multiple domains in real time. The Minerva team is a small, senior software group based in Berlin and Munich, working directly with our systems and hardware teams to build mission-critical C2 capabilities deployed in active operational environments. We move fast, ship real software, and operate under constraints most engineers never encounter — low-bandwidth networks, air-gapped devices, high-stakes decision loops. There is no room for abstraction for its own sake. Everything we build ends up in the hands of real operators in the field . Your mission Support the development, selection, integration, testing, and optimization of RF waveform and modem solutions for STARK’s unmanned systems, Ground Control Stations, and tactical communication setups. You will help ensure that our communication links are reliable, robust, efficient, and suitable for demanding operational environments. A key part of the role is to understand waveform behavior, modulation schemes, modem performance, link reliability, latency, bandwidth, interference resilience, and practical integration constraints across air, ground, maritime, and mobile system configurations. Responsibilities Waveform & Modem Evaluation: Evaluate, compare, and recommend waveform and modem technologies for different operational ranges, data rates, latency requirements, and mission profiles. RF Link Optimization: Optimize waveform parameters, modulation settings, coding, bandwidth, throughput, latency, robustness, and link stability in close coordination with RF, antenna, network, and GCS teams. System Integration: Support the integration of modems, radios, antennas, networking equipment, Ground Control Stations, and unmanned platforms into coherent and deployable communication setups. Performance Testing: Plan and conduct lab, field, and range tests to validate modem performance, waveform behavior, data throughput, packet loss, latency, link margins, and reliability under realistic conditions. Interference & Resilience: Analyze communication behavior in challenging RF environments and support improvements related to interference resistance, spectrum use, robustness, and operational reliability. Troubleshooting: Diagnose communication issues across radios, modems, antennas, networks, software interfaces, and platform integrations using appropriate measurement and analysis tools. Supplier & Technology Assessment: Work with suppliers, partners, and internal teams to assess modem and radio capabilities, waveform options, technical limitations, integration risks, and future development paths. Documentation: Document waveform assumptions, modem configurations, test setups, performance results, lessons learned, and recommended operational settings in a clear and maintainable way. Qualifications Experience: Around 5 years of professional experience in RF communications, waveform engineering, modem development, communication systems engineering, wireless systems, or a related technical field. RF Communication Knowledge: Strong understanding of modulation, coding, bandwidth, signal quality, link budgets, latency, throughput, interference, spectrum behavior, and practical RF performance constraints. Testing & Measurement: Experience planning and conducting communication tests using tools such as spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, signal generators, SDR tools, logging systems, iperf, Wireshark, or comparable test equipment. System-Level Thinking: Ability to understand how waveform and modem behavior interacts with antennas, radios, networks, software, platforms, Ground Control Stations, and operational requirements. Hands-On Mentality: Comfortable working directly with hardware, radios, antennas, test equipment, field setups, and experimental configurations. Problem-Solving Ability: Strong analytical mindset with the ability to identify root causes of communication issues and turn findings into practical improvements. Communication: Solid English skills are required. German skills for technical communication, stakeholder alignment, and documentation are a plus. Clearance: Ability to obtain appropriate security clearance required for the position. Nice to have · Experience in defence, aerospace, UAVs, robotics, tactical communications, SATCOM, MANET, or other mission-critical communication environments. · Experience with OFDM / COFDM, QAM, FEC, MIMO, adaptive modulation, frequency planning, or spectrum management. · Experience with SDR platforms, modem development, embedded communication systems, or low-latency data links. · Experience with Silvus, Radionor, or comparable professional radio and modem systems.