Aalto University is a community of bold thinkers where science and art meet technology and business. We are committed to identifying and solving grand societal challenges and building an innovative future. Aalto has six schools with nearly 11 000 students and a staff of more than 4000, of which 400 are professors. Our campuses are located in Espoo and Helsinki, Finland.

Aalto Small Satellite research group is looking for a

POSTDOC WITH SMALL SATELLITE AND CUBESAT TECHNOLOGY EXPERTISE

We invite you to join the top university team in Finland which has launched the first Finnish satellites and spun off new companies, including the world leading miniature SAR satellite technology company ICEYE. Currently, we build the first Finnish Foresail science missions in the framework of Finnish Centre of Excellence in Research of Sustainable Space. We operate in close collaboration with the fleet of partners in our dynamic innovation ecosystem and keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible with small satellites and microwave remote sensing. We develop and build entire CubeSat platforms for LEO and high radiation environment in GTO. We also work with ESA missions, such as Daedalus and Comet Interceptor.

Job description
You are going to participate in and lead space technology development projects related to CubeSat and small satellite platforms and payloads, mission feasibility studies as well as building and testing the actual flight hardware for space missions. The work is carried out in close collaboration with various companies and institutes in Finland and abroad. You will write scientific papers jointly with the other members in the group and publish actively in conferences and journals. In this position, you have excellent opportunities to extend your professional network and to improve your pedagogical skills by participating in teaching and by supervising of masters and doctoral students.

Research group
The work is carried out in the Small Satellite Group, lead by Professor Jaan Praks. The group has already launched two satellite missions and working currently on four new CubeSat missions. The group has strong heritage in CubeSat platform development, platform reliability and satellite mission operations. The active multinational team is composed of over 15 researchers. It is well connected and well secured with funding. The university provides well-equipped modern work environment at the heart of the most active technology campus area in Finland.

Your experience and ambitions
As a researcher, you have a strong motivation to actively participate in the research team's activities in space technology and remote sensing projects. In addition to a proven track record in scientific work and a relevant PhD degree, you have experience in working with CubeSat or small satellite technology. Beneficial is if you have some of the following: skills in electronics, experience in space hardware development, experience in reliability engineering, knowledge of radiation hardening, and/or experience in magnetometer payloads and magnetic cleanliness.

Salary and contract terms
The position will be initially filled for 2 years, with a possible extension up to 4 years. The expected starting salary for a Postdoctoral Researcher is 3600-3800€/month, depending on your experience and qualifications. As an employer, Aalto University provides excellent learning and development opportunities as well as occupational health care services, commuter ticket benefit and versatile exercise services by Unisport. We would prefer your start in early 2020, yet this can also be negotiated.

Ready to apply?
Please submit your application through our recruiting system by using the "Apply now!" link below. Include the following documents in English: 1) motivation letter, 2) CV indicating your skills and experience applicable to the position, including your teaching experience, 3) the list of publications (with the five most significant publications highlighted), 4) research statement, 5) references (names and contact information). The call is open until January 7, 2020, but we will start reviewing and interviewing candidates immediately. Applications will be considered until the position is filled.

More information
For additional information, please contact Professor Jaan Praks, jaan.praks(at)aalto.fi, or in recruitment process related questions HR Coordinator Annika Salmelin, annika.salmelin(at)aalto.fi.

About Finland
Aalto University is an international community: more than 30% of our academic personnel are non-Finns. Finland is a great place for living with or without family – it is a safe, politically stable and well organized Nordic society. Finland is consistently ranked high in quality of life and was just listed as the happiest country in the world: http://worldhappiness.report/news/finland-again-is-the-happiest-country-in-the-world/. For more information about living in Finland: https://www.aalto.fi/services/about-finland