PhD Candidate in Space Systems Engineering

Luleå University of Technology is experiencing strong growth with world-leading expertise in several research areas. Our scientific and artistic research and education are conducted in close collaboration with international, national, and regional companies, public actors, and leading universities. Luleå University of Technology has an annual turnover of over 2.3 billion SEK. We have more than 1,800 employees and nearly 21,600 students.

Northern Sweden is a European space region with multiple stakeholders collaborating for the development of space technology and science in space. Luleå University of Technology (LTU) offers space research and education, the Institute of Space Physics (IRF) focuses on research related to space plasma and instrument development, and the EISCAT scientific organization conducts radar observations of the upper atmosphere and ionosphere. Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) with its facilities at Esrange provides services and infrastructure for access to space.

The Department of Systems and Space Engineering, where the university has consolidated research and education in space technology, control engineering, data and systems science, is now seeking assistant professors who can contribute to our growing activities. The job placement is at the Department of Space Engineering in Kiruna. The department offers several master's programs in space science and space engineering. We conduct research in the fields of atmospheric science and space systems engineering. The group for space systems engineering focuses on payloads, spacecraft, and launch vehicles for exploring the upper atmosphere, orbits, and planets. The research and education conducted are supported by high-quality infrastructure with state-of-the-art laboratories dedicated to propulsion systems for rockets, nanosatellites, asteroid technology, and space avionics.

Subject Description

Space systems engineering encompasses systems for control, guidance, instrumentation, and communication in the upper atmosphere and space. Of particular importance are reliable electronic systems with low power consumption, radiation resistance, and miniaturization of these.

Project Description

Luleå University of Technology started in 2025 a multidisciplinary competence center together with KTH and RISE within 6G and satellite communication, Sustainable Mobile Autonomous and Resilient 6G SatCom. Ericsson, Saab, Ovzon, Beyond Gravity, Forsway, Satcube, Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), NorthernWaves, Primekey, Airforestry, Post and Telecom Agency (PTS), European Incoherent SCATter Scientific Association (EISCAT), Swedish Transport Administration, Forest Industries, Region Norrbotten, Region Västerbotten, Region Stockholm, Eutelsat-OneWeb, Airbus, Viasat, and Thales Alenia Space also contribute to the work. The goal is to integrate traditional terrestrial mobile communication and space-based satellite communication in 6G, expected to be in use during the 2030s. The vision is that mobile communication services should be seamlessly available to everyone with a 6G device, anywhere and anytime. The focus will be on sustainability and energy efficiency, reliability and resilience, as well as systems integration and always-available artificial intelligence. To achieve the vision, the research will focus on improving the hardware for both 6G devices and space-based satellites, developing signal processing methods that handle large signal losses and are robust against space-based disturbances, developing network technology that integrates terrestrial and space systems, and creating new intelligent applications that combine communication, localization, and remote sensing.

Job Responsibilities

We welcome an enthusiastic and adaptable PhD candidate to our interdisciplinary research group focusing on innovative methods for rapid and cost-effective validation and testing of 6G satellite technology and improved service and maintenance capabilities in orbit for 6G satellite constellations to contribute to increased sustainability efforts in space. These research areas will be conducted in collaboration with institutional and industrial partners in the interdisciplinary competence center and will utilize simulations, test facilities, and nanosatellite platforms.

As a PhD candidate, you are expected to perform both experimental and theoretical work within your research studies and communicate your results at national and international conferences and in scientific journals. Most of your working time will be devoted to your own research and studies. Additionally, you may have the opportunity to contribute to teaching. As a researcher, you will be involved in challenging research projects.

Qualifications

You must have a master's degree or equivalent in aerospace engineering or a related field and prior experience in the area of small spacecraft (pico-, nano-, or microsatellites) such as design, development, or operation of hardware or software for small satellites. Applicants should also have good communication skills in written and spoken English.

For further information about specific PhD education, see the study plans for doctoral education within the Faculty of Technology.

Information

The fully funded PhD position is time-limited for 4 years, teaching and other departmental duties may be added up to 20% of full-time. Work location: Kiruna. Expected start date: by agreement.

For further information, please contact Department Head Victoria Barabash, 0980-675 32 [email protected] or Professor René Laufer, 0980-675 82 [email protected].

Union Representatives:

SACO-S Diana Chroneer, 0920-49 2037 [email protected]
OFR-S Marika Vesterberg, 0920-49 1721 [email protected]

Application

We prefer that you apply for the position via the application button below, attaching a personal letter and CV/resume and copies of verified degree certificates. Please mark your application with the reference number below. Both the application and degree certificates should be written in Swedish or English.

Application deadline: May 28, 2026
Reference number: 2263-2026