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About this position
We have become increasingly accustomed to having information available anytime and anywhere. This applies both to our personal lives and to businesses and government organizations. On the one hand, the widespread availability of information and communication capabilities makes life easier, but at the same time it creates a strong dependence on the underlying systems. Without reliable communication infrastructures, processes are disrupted, and there is a risk that vital parts of society could come to a standstill.
Recent conflicts have demonstrated how these vulnerabilities can be exploited to create chaos or gain operational advantage. In military operations, information superiority is crucial to success, which is why there is a strong dependence on C2ISR (Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and the supporting systems that enable these capabilities. Because military operations rely heavily on wireless communications and radio systems, the importance of Electronic Warfare continues to increase. Achieving dominance within the electromagnetic spectrum is therefore an ongoing objective.
Within a team of electrical engineers, physicists, and mathematicians, we work on innovations aimed at building Situational Awareness by observing activities in the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum, identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities in friendly systems, and developing measures to influence adversary systems through the EM spectrum. We primarily carry out this work for clients within Defence, the police, and the justice domain. We collaborate with national and international partners in multidisciplinary projects, scientific panels, and NATO working groups.
You will join TNO Defence, Safety & Security, within the Electromagnetics & Military Operations (E&MO) division. Here, researchers, software engineers, systems engineers, and analysts work daily on innovative technologies for Defence and security. Our expertise ranges from radar and sensor technology to electronic warfare, simulation, data analytics, and operational decision-making. We work closely with Defence organizations, research institutions, and international partners on solutions that contribute to a safer world.
Within E&MO, you will be given considerable freedom to take initiative, develop new ideas, and grow professionally. You will work alongside colleagues who are equally driven to translate technological innovation into practical solutions.
What will be your role?
As an Expert Wireless Communications, you will work on innovative and challenging projects, particularly for Defence and the public safety and security domain. Your role will be to contribute, together with a project team, to research and innovation efforts that help customers solve their operational challenges. These challenges relate to the electromagnetic spectrum and, in particular, the signals generated by communication systems and wireless connections. This may involve intercepting signals from the electromagnetic spectrum and analysing them in order to map adversary communications and derive information about an opponent and their intentions.
In addition to this electronic surveillance of the spectrum, active capabilities also play an important role. Research and development activities focus on techniques that can disrupt, manipulate, or spoof signals in the spectrum. These capabilities are employed to protect against threats, for example improvised explosive devices triggered remotely or drones that pose security risks. Based on knowledge of signals within the electromagnetic spectrum and techniques for manipulating them, cyber operations conducted through wireless connections are developed. You will contribute your expertise to this field of Cyber Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA).
You will also conduct research into analytical methodologies for understanding wireless communication protocols, both civilian and military, intercepting information, manipulating signals, exploiting vulnerabilities, and locating transmitters. You will achieve this by making intelligent use of modern methods and techniques in signal and protocol analysis, machine learning, digital signal processing, simulation, system implementation using Software Defined Radio, and software tooling. Using these approaches, you will evaluate new methods and techniques and implement them in prototypes.
Working through UMBRA
You will start within UMBRA, an innovative environment where new colleagues collaborate on the technological challenges of tomorrow. You will become part of a multidisciplinary team of software engineers, systems engineers, project managers, researchers, and analysts who contribute to a wide variety of research and development projects.
From your first day, you will contribute to active projects and have the opportunity to explore different technologies, research groups, and application domains within the E&MO division. This enables you to discover where your knowledge, experience, and ambitions can have the greatest impact. Depending on the challenges at hand and your expertise, you will collaborate with various research groups and disciplines. This diversity allows you to gain experience across multiple technologies and application areas while making a valuable contribution to ongoing Defence projects and building a broad network within the division.
The strength of UMBRA lies in the combination of societal impact, technical challenge, and personal development. You will contribute to innovative solutions for current Defence challenges while simultaneously having the opportunity to further develop your expertise in new technologies and domains. Whether you are at the beginning of your career or already bring extensive experience, UMBRA provides the level of responsibility and support that matches your knowledge and experience. Junior colleagues are guided by experienced professionals, while mid-level and senior engineers are given the opportunity to shape technical solutions, coach colleagues, and play an important role in developing new areas of expertise.
What we expect from you
You are able to work within a team, applying your expertise to develop solutions and innovations and translating them into tangible prototypes. You possess strong analytical capabilities and excellent communication skills, enabling effective collaboration with fellow experts and the successful presentation of results to clients. In addition, you are flexible, pragmatic when necessary, curious, and able to switch effectively between priorities. You will be working on multiple topics and projects simultaneously, always keeping the operational application in mind.
What else do you bring?
What you'll get in return
Challenging and varied work with a real impact. And plenty of opportunities as, at TNO, you are in charge of shaping your career. We offer a gross monthly salary between € 3, and € 8, (based on your knowledge and experience), 8% holiday pay, a 13th month bonus of 8.33% and a flex budget (5.58% + € ). In addition, you will be given every opportunity to develop yourself.
Perhaps you would like to grow your career in the direction of commerce or consultancy? Or would you like to become a project manager? Immerse yourself in sustainable innovations? Or carve out a career as a technical expert?
TNO offers optional employee benefits, enabling you to tailor your benefits package to match your personal situation. You may also expect:
Read about tailoring your benefits package.