Postdoctoral Fellow / Research Associate or Engineer — Test and Measurement (OTA Testbed, Antenna Measurement, Instrumentation)

Company Description C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. is a global leader in the design, development, and manufacture of mobile satellite-based antenna systems. The Emerging Radio Systems Group (EmRG) and the Centre for Intelligent Antenna and Radio Systems (CIARS) at the University of Waterloo, in partnership with C-COM Satellite Systems Inc., are launching a one-year research and development project on adaptive anti-jamming beamforming for Ka-band Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communication (SATCOM) terminals operating in contested environments. Funded under Innovative Solutions Canada in support of DND/DRDC, the project will design, build, and operate an instrumented over-the-air (OTA) Ka-band testbed to evaluate three anti-jamming approaches — adaptive array processing (null steering, MVDR/LCMV), blind search-based nulling, and a CRPA-inspired digital sensing array (MUSIC/ESPRIT) — together with resilient air-interface techniques and Arctic deployment scenarios. The work advances the technology from TRL 5 to TRL 7 and delivers anti-jamming design guidelines, measurement datasets, and a commercialization pathway through C-COM. C-COM is publicly traded on both the Canadian Venture Exchange (CVE: CMI) and the US OTC Exchange (OTC: CYNSF), offering a dynamic environment for technical innovation and professional growth. Role Description This position leads the design, build, calibration, and commissioning of the over-the-air Ka-band testbed and the antenna and RF measurement methods used throughout the program. The role spans RF instrumentation and jammer emulation, near-field/far-field and OTA antenna measurement, array calibration, real-time interference detection, and automated, metric-driven measurement campaigns. Key Responsibilities • Build, calibrate, and commission the OTA testbed: signal generators emulating a LEO downlink and up to three jammers, up- and down-converters, high-power SSPAs, a channel emulator, 17–21 GHz horns, and antenna positioners. • Plan and execute near-field/far-field and OTA measurements of Ka-band phased-array panels in the anechoic chamber and on the testbed; perform element-level amplitude and phase calibration and bound achievable null depth. • Characterize beam patterns, null formation, beam-squint, antenna mutual coupling, and embedded element patterns. • Configure antenna positioners and the robot-arm jammer geometry to realize single- and multi-jammer OTA scenarios. • Develop automated measurement and data-acquisition pipelines (e.g., SCPI instrument control) and implement representative jamming scenarios. • Define and compute quantitative metrics, including bit-error rate, SNR, jammer-to-signal ratio, throughput degradation, probability of detection, and reaction/recovery latency. • Produce testbed documentation, schematics, datasets with uncertainty analysis, and training material, and contribute to anti-jamming design guidelines and milestone reports. Required Qualifications • PhD (for the Postdoctoral Fellow level), or an MASc/PhD or a B.Eng. with strong relevant experience (for the Research Associate / Engineer level), in RF/communications or antenna engineering or a related field. • Hands-on RF test and measurement experience: signal generators and analyzers, up/down-conversion, SSPAs, and mmWave/Ka-band RF chains, including calibration. • Antenna and phased-array measurement experience, including near-field/far-field scanners, anechoic-chamber testing, and vector network analyzers. • Laboratory automation with Python, MATLAB, or LabVIEW (e.g., SCPI instrument control) and strong systems-integration skills. Preferred / Asset Qualifications • Experience with SATCOM link testing, channel emulators, and OTA testbeds. • Software-defined radio (SDR) experience. • Familiarity with calibration of phased-array and beamforming hardware and with measurement-uncertainty analysis and calibration standards. Terms and Conditions Position type Full-time, one-year term (renewable, contingent on performance and continued funding) Anticipated start September/October 2026 Location University of Waterloo (Waterloo, ON); Level Postdoctoral Fellow, Research Associate, or Engineer (1.0 FTE) Compensation Commensurate with qualifications and experience Eligibility and Security This project supports a Government of Canada defence program. Depending on the role, the successful applicant may be required to be eligible for a Canadian security clearance and to comply with the Controlled Goods Program and applicable Canadian export-control regulations. Canadian citizenship or permanent residency may therefore be required for some positions. Please indicate your eligibility in your application. How To Apply Please submit (i) a cover letter describing your fit for the role, (ii) a detailed CV, (iii) the names and contact information of two to three references to sboumaiz@uwaterloo.ca. Please quote the position title in the subject line. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.