NTN Security Research and Development Engineer

NTN Security Research and Development Engineer Apply Sateliot is a Barcelona-based satellite company with one goal: connect everything, everywhere. Founded in 2018, we've built the first satellite constellation that lets standard commercial devices communicate directly from space. Our technology bridges the gaps that terrestrial networks will never reach, bringing affordable and secure connectivity to industries, governments, and communities across the planet. Learn more: https://sateliot.space/ About the team & this role Sateliot is seeking a talented NTN Security Research & Development Engineer to help design and build the next generation of secure communications for IoT, devices, and satellite networks. This role lies at the convergence of cybersecurity, cryptography, and 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), supporting the development of secure satellite, device and communication systems. You will contribute to the development of Sateliot’s cybersecurity capabilities for secure satellite systems and cryptographic frameworks, helping to protect end-to-end communications, roaming interfaces, and satellite-to-ground links. You will be involved across the full development lifecycle, from concept definition and simulation to prototype integration and laboratory validation within the Sateliot constellation and testbed environment. This is a hands-on engineering role for someone who enjoys turning advanced security concepts into working prototypes and validated solutions. A key part of your mission will involve the entire lifecycle of research and innovation projects, from the ideation and writing of competitive proposals, to technical leadership and execution of EU and nationally funded R&D initiatives, including ESA, SNS-JU, Horizon Europe, and National. What you'll do Research, evaluate, and prototype lightweight and cryptographic mechanisms for 5G NTN Mobile Network. Design and implement security components and for resource-constrained devices and higher-performance platforms Contribute to the integration of cryptographic solutions into Sateliot’s 5G NTN system and satellite platform for secure end-to-end communications and roaming security Support development of secure application-layer communications over Sateliot 5G/6G NTN, environment Implement, test, and validate secure communications across devices, application servers, and satellite infrastructure. Participate in prototype integration, system testing, and use-case validation in lab and representative environments. Work closely with R&D team to translate requirements into technical implementations. Produce technical documentation including architecture descriptions, algorithm specifications, performance reports, and research deliverables. Collaborate closely with internal teams including RAN, core network, payload, system engineering, and terminals, ensuring alignment with Sateliot’s NTN roadmap. Conduct research on emerging IoT, handheld devices and 5G/6G NTN (Non‑Terrestrial Network) technologies. Support the preparation of competitive research proposals and grant applications, particularly for EU and national funding programs (ESA, SNS-JU, Horizon Europe). Contribute to technical documentation, including project deliverables, reports, and scientific publications. Collaborate with internal teams and external partners across multidisciplinary domains. What you bring Ph.D./Master’s degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Engineering, Telecommunications, Computer Science, or related fields. Hands-on experience in security engineering or applied cryptography Strong programming skills in C/C++ and good practical experience with Python or scripting for testing and automation. Experience with Linux based development environment Knowledge of secure communication protocols, key management, digital signature, authentication, encryption, and integrity protection. Familiarity with TLS, DTLS, UDP/TCP-based secure transport, and application-layer protection mechanisms Experience integrating security into IoT devices, gateways, or edge systems. Ability to debug, test, and validate systems in lab environments with hardware and software Experience with laboratory environments, RF tools, simulations, or wireless-system testing. Demonstrated ability to work in fast-paced R&D environments, independently and as part of a team. Good communication skills in English, both written and verbal. Bonus if you have Understanding post-quantum cryptography, lightweight cryptography, cryptographic primitives, symmetric-key algorithms (AES), asymmetric-key algorithms (RSA, ECC), and cryptographic libraries such as OpenSSL. Familiarity with Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Certificate Authority (CA) design, deployment, and management. Familiarity with security concepts related to 5G, NB-IoT, CCSDS, and NIST, 3GPP standards. Experience in threat modeling, vulnerability assessment, formal security modeling, and secure-by-design engineering. Participation in competitive R&D projects, scientific research, or technical publications. Proven experience participating in or coordinating publicly funded R&D projects (SNS-JU, Horizon Europe, CDTI, etc.). Knowledge of innovation ecosystems and industry initiatives (ESA NAVISP and ARTES, Digital Europe, CELTIC-NEXT). How we work We lead with humility, move fast, and take ownership. We collaborate without ego and measure ourselves by real impact, not titles or hierarchy. We hire people who already live these values. What we offer Real impact on one of Europe’s most ambitious space projects. Growth: we cover 50% of courses or master’s degrees (up to 5% of your salary), plus Spanish and Catalan classes. Health & balance: 50% on private health insurance and Urban Sports Club, a flexible schedule, and hybrid work, we focus on results, not hours. Flexible Compensation: flexible compensation through Cobee (meal, transport, kindergarten). A truly global team: 20+ nationalities building something genuinely new - and genuinely nice to work with. Great vibes, real teamwork. A real welcome: a dedicated buddy from day one. Life outside work: we organize leisure and sports activities both during and outside working hours - because great teams connect beyond the screen. Catering: if you don't have time to cook, we partner with a catering company so a freshmeal is sorted, no need to think about it. Parking: on-site parking at the office, with Sateliot covering 50% of the cost - plus free bike parking if you prefer to pedal in. Sound like you? Apply now! Sateliot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs, without discrimination on the basis of any legally protected characteristic. Department R & D Role Specialist Locations Barcelona Remote status Hybrid