Pre-doc position to investigate in the future 6G Non-Terrestrial Network - Developments on SDN-enabled Satellite Networks

Starting 2022, i2CAT is launching a new 6G program to build the smart communication networks and digital services of the future. This 6G program includes an ambitious plan to expand the i2CAT’s research and innovation team. In the next months, the first wave of 17 R&D positions will be open to strengthen the current team capabilities and reach to the unknown: the design of Beyond 5G and 6G technologies.

Among other activities, the i2CAT’s 6G program will encompass a number of R&D projects focused on a variety of digital technologies and research fields such as disruptive wireless communications, intelligent open networks, space communications, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence to enable unprecedented digital experiences in the fields of Industry 4.0, e-Health, or connected and automated mobility (CAM), among others, making use of innovative concepts such as digital twinning or the exploitation of immersive technologies to realize a seamless integration of the digital and physical worlds.

The 6G program of i2CAT is being launched with the start of 19 R&D projects that will run in parallel covering different topics. These projects are partially funded by the Recovery and Resilience Funds (RRF) through the program UNICO-5G of the Ministerio de Asuntos Económicos y Transformación Digital. They will have a duration of 3 years and will help i2CAT maintain and strengthen its leadership position in the European R&D ecosystem for Beyond 5G and 6G.

If you’re interested in joining this ambitious 6G program of i2CAT and work on the edge of technology for the future of communication networks and services, have a look at the following open position. Specifically, one of the projects conducted in thi 6G program is the 6GSatNet which aims at contributing in the development of Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN). These NTNs are networks composed of aircraft and spacecraft systems that provides mobile coverage to different areas. The research conducted in this project is associated to the satellite systems.

The open position for this project is focused on the research to contribute in the integration Software Defined Network (SDN) mechanisms in satellite networks. Specifically, differents developments will be conducted for ground and space segments: (1) development of a unified orchestrator capable to manage services or network functions in non- and terrestrial networks following a satellite-agnostic operation; and (2) development of on-board modules capables to virtualize functions in satellite systems respecting their architectures and resource constraints. This research is related to a PhD student position, which the dissertation will be conducted in this topic.

As a summary, the tasks associated to this job are the following ones:
(1) Review the state-of-the-art of NTN, Satellite Networks, satellite communication standards, Software Defined Networks, SDN-enabled satellite networks, satellite systems and architectures.
(2) Contribute in the development of a unified service orchestrator for non- and terrestrial networks
(3) Contribute in the development of on-board software modules to manage virtualized functions in a satellite
(4) Disseminate the results by means of scientific publications

Funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU

Who we are:

The i2CAT Foundation is a non-profit research and innovation center that promotes mission-driven R&D activities on advanced Internet architectures, applications, and services. More than 15 years of international research define our expertise in the fields of 5G, IoT,  VR,  and  Immersive  Technologies,  Cybersecurity,  Blockchain,  AI,  and  Digital  Social Innovation. The  center  partners  with  companies,  public  administration,  academia,  and  end-users   to leverage   this   knowledge   in   order   to   meet   real   social   and   business   challenges.

The greatest value of i2CAT is the talent of the people who make up our human team. We enjoy a team of people from more than 13 different nationalities and work every day to create and foster a work environment where we all feel comfortable creating, innovating and growing.

Want to know more? Visit our webpage! www.i2cat.net

What do we offer?

• Work from our offices or from home, whichever works best for you. We ask for two days in person at the office to coordinate with the rest of the team.
• This is a full time vacancy
• You will have a flexible work schedule so that you can reconcile your personal life with the professional one.
• Intensive hours every Friday of the year and every day in July and August
• Fix + variable salary
• Possibility of receiving part of your remuneration in kind (restaurant, transport, nursery or medical insurance)
• 25 working days of annual leave (the common 22 + 3 additional ones)
• You can access the UPC gym at a reduced price
• We have fruit in the office to promote a healthy lifestyle
• If you are interested, you can participate in events of your sector.
• You will work with a laptop. You can choose your work environment, Mac, Linux or Windows.
• You can ask us for training of your interest.
• We will work so that you have a career plan to promote your growth and development.

Where will you do it?

At i2CAT we already have an established telework policy for some time. You can work from home or from the office, whichever suits you best. We ask that you attend the office two days per week, one to stay connected with the team and the other one to establish relations.

If you decide to come to the office, we are located in Zona Universitària, next to the Campus Nord of the UPC, within a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment. It is a very well connected area (metro, tram, bus) with bars and restaurants around.

Our offices are designed with an open-office concept where everything is light and transparency (we do not have opaque rooms). We have a variety of workspaces so that you don't have to be at the same table all day.

i2CAT is an organization committed to equal opportunities. That is why we seek to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented, and therefore explicitly encourage the female collective to apply.

i2CAT is an organization committed to diversity and we seek to increase the number of people with disabilities in our team.

If what you have read sounds good to you... let’s have a coffee and we will tell you more!

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