Pre-doc on SDN over satellite constellations & operative systems

The Space Communications Research Group is investigating different research lines related to the deployment of satellite networks. In particular, the development of new communication protocols to integrate the concept of Software Defined Networks (SDN) in satellite constellations becomes one of the main research topics of the group.

Satellites are constrained systems regarding their resources (i.e. memory, power, etc.) The usage of these resources becomes thus important for the survival of the satellite itself and to achieve the goals of the mission. In the case of telecommunications satellites, these resources are directly associated with the capability to serve end-users. For all of this, it becomes important to properly and optimally manage these resources. The application of SDN in this new environment provides this capability by autonomously and easily configuring virtual networks over satellite constellations. In particular, this configuration shall allocate satellite resources for each incoming data flow. 

Previous research has proposed an architecture in which network controllers are located on ground, and they constantly manage the network. Nevertheless, this approach is limited by the long-configuration time and satellite dynamics. Interconnected satellite constellations, also known as satellite networks, are characterized by having an intermittent connectivity among the satellites and the ground stations. Is this intermittent interaction that cannot ensure that ground stations may have constant visibility of the satellites. A novel trend has centered on deploying these network controllers in the satellites. This new approach reduces considerably the configuration time of the network, but it must still face all the challenges associated with the intermittent connectivity. 

The candidate will investigate in this novel trend of deploying SDN over satellite constellations locating the network controllers in the space. For this reason, the candidate shall review and understand current technologies that address this challenge, and extend it with novel approaches. The developed solutions will constitute an embedded framework or operative system to achieve this deployment.

As a summary, the tasks associated to this job are the following ones:

• Review the state of the art related to SDN over satellites and satellite networks
• Investigate in novel technologies to deploy SDN-satellites from ground segment
• Investigate in novel technologies to deploy SDN-satellites from space segment
• Design and implement a software framework for those novel concepts
• Publish the research results in conferences and Q1/Q2 journals 

Who we are:

The i2CAT Foundation is a CERCA centre with the vision of leading the challenge of designing and building the digital society of the future based on research and innovation in advanced digital technologies. Highlighting the generation of talent and in order to generate economic and social impact, i2CAT wants to turn Catalonia into a creative, empowered and innovative society, where knowledge and digital technology are at the service of people, promoting:

- The generation of excellence knowledge aimed at solving the challenges of companies, citizens and public administration (mission-driven research).
- The collaboration and establishment of synergies with other agents of the local ecosystem of research and digital innovation to co-develop solutions and products that generate a transformative impact.
- The digital empowerment of citizens through digital, open, participatory social innovation with territorial capillarity.
- The leadership of pioneering initiatives and tractors that increase the international projection and visibility of Catalonia as a digital and innovative country.

i2CAT is a constantly growing organization that has extensive experience in the leadership and development of research and innovation projects at national and international level in the technological fields of 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), virtual and immersive technologies, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Space Communications and digital society technologies.

Want to know more? Visit our webpage!  (http://www.i2cat.net/)

 What do we offer:

• You will be part of a multicultural team. We have a fun loving and friendly international work environment.
• Be in contact and work with cutting-edge technology
• Work in challenging R&D projects
• Fix + variable salary
• Option of flexible retribution (restaurant card, transport card, medical insurance, kindergarten)
• Flexible working schedule - We know you have a life outside of work and we will work with you to make sure it's kept that way
• Fridays afternoon off
• Intensive work schedule in July & August
• Home-office option
• Open space office in Barcelona
• Free fruit every week
• Discounted Gym-access
• 25 vacation days per year
• Casual dress code
• Let us know which trainings you need
• You will have the opportunity to attend tech conferences and events.

The i2CAT Foundation seeks to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and, therefore explicitly, encourages women to apply.

The i2CAT Foundation seeks to increase the number of persons with disabilities among its workforce, and therefore explicitly encourages this collective to apply.