RSO Characterisation Engineer

About Sybilla Technologies
At Sybilla Technologies, we develop advanced Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Space Situational Awareness (SSA) solutions that help governments, defense organizations, commercial operators and research institutions better understand, monitor and protect the space environment.
Our technologies support mission-critical operations where reliability, precision, and operational excellence are essential. We combine advanced optical observation systems, data analytics, and automation to deliver solutions that contribute to the safety, security, and sustainability of space activities.

Joining Sybilla Technologies means becoming part of a growing deep-tech company where engineering excellence, customer partnership and continuous innovation go hand in hand.

About the role We are looking for an RSO Characterisation Engineer to join our Data Analytics and R&D team and support the development of advanced methods for analysing and characterising Resident Space Objects. This is not a traditional data analysis role.
You will work with complex observational data from sources such as photometry, spectrophotometry, polarimetry and radio frequency systems. Your work will contribute to anomaly detection, pattern-of-life analysis, attitude and behaviour monitoring, and the development of a comprehensive RSO characterisation data catalogue.
You will combine scientific research with practical operational delivery. This means developing new algorithms and analytical tools, validating data quality, supporting observing campaigns and translating research findings into capabilities that can be used in operational services for civilian and defence customers.

The role requires strong analytical thinking, scientific curiosity, technical execution and the ability to take ownership of complex analytical tasks.

What you'll do

• Analyse observational data from varied sources, including photometric, spectrophotometric, polarimetric and radio frequency data.

• Conduct anomaly detection, pattern-of-life fingerprinting and monitoring studies for Resident Space Objects.

• Support the development of a comprehensive RSO characterisation data catalogue.

• Research and develop innovative techniques for determining the characteristics, states and behaviours of RSOs.

• Develop and maintain analytical scripts and small software tools using Python, C, C++ or C#.

• Develop algorithms and analytical methods that improve operational characterisation activities.

• Support the development of machine-learning-enabled algorithms for space object data analysis.

• Take ownership of analytical tasks requiring scientific rigour, detailed investigation and research depth.

• Cross-check data quality, identify anomalies and investigate edge cases.

• Run, understand, validate and adapt existing analytical tools.

• Support the Data Delivery team by preparing analyses, intermediate results and technical inputs.

• Support the design of observing campaigns with a focus on RSO characterisation.

• Assist with instrument-related analytical tasks, including geometry, pointing, observational constraints and system performance.

• Contribute to the development of hardware and software solutions for civilian and defence customers, with a particular focus on SDA applications.

• Support analytical activities related to launches, payload separation, fragmentation events, station keeping, manoeuvres, attitude monitoring, collision avoidance and catalogue maintenance.

• Prepare technical notes, analytical summaries, reports, recommendations and internal documentation.

• Translate complex analytical findings into practical recommendations for operational teams and customers.

• Identify opportunities to improve analytical processes, operational workflows and service quality.

• Contribute to knowledge sharing across multidisciplinary teams and support the preparation of internal training materials.

• Work closely with engineers, data scientists, researchers, operational specialists, project managers and senior technical experts.

• Participate in communication with project partners, service providers, satellite operators, agencies and other connected networks.

• Support the investigation and resolution of customer and operational issues, including discussions concerning priorities, data needs and technical limitations.

• Participate in on-duty operations and incident-response activities after completing the required training.

What we're looking for
Required

• Master’s degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Astrodynamics, Physics, Astronomy or another closely related STEM discipline, or equivalent professional experience in SST, SSA or SDA.

• Solid foundations in photometric analysis and the characterisation of Resident Space Objects.

• Experience using programming or scripting for scientific or technical data analysis.

• Knowledge of Python or C# is preferred, although experience with other programming languages may be transferable.

• Ability to run, understand, validate and adapt existing analytical tools and algorithms.

• Experience with computational techniques used for shape or attitude estimation.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to investigate complex datasets, identify patterns and detect inconsistencies or anomalies.

• High attention to detail and a strong focus on the quality and correctness of analytical outputs.

• Ability to document technical work clearly and prepare structured analytical notes and reports.

• Good written and spoken English, including the ability to work with technical documentation.

• Ability to work independently and take ownership of technically complex analytical tasks.

• Ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary and international teams.

• Ability to balance scientific research and experimentation with operational deadlines and practical service-delivery requirements.

Nice to have

• Experience processing polarimetric data related to Resident Space Objects.

• Experience analysing active or passive radio frequency data.

• Basic knowledge of artificial intelligence or machine learning applied to data analysis.

• Experience working in international technical teams or operational environments.

• Experience with telescope operations or telescope system design for RSO characterisation.

• Experience with optical observation systems or robotic observatories.

• Knowledge of Space Situational Awareness, Space Surveillance and Tracking or Space Domain Awareness services.

• Experience supporting mission-critical civilian, institutional or defence projects.

• Experience working with satellite operators, space agencies, service providers or research organisations.

What we offer

• Remote-first work model, with occasional in-person meetings at our headquarters in Bydgoszcz.

• Full-time employment under an employment contract or B2B agreement.

• Flexible working hours.

• Dedicated onboarding and mentorship.

• Opportunity to work with domain experts and international partners.

• Access to conferences and professional development opportunities.

• Company library.

• Competitive compensation based on your experience and skills.

Anticipated compensation

• The compensation package will reflect your professional experience, qualifications and the anticipated seniority of the role.

• European Union: EUR 4,000 – 5,000 gross per month (employment contract) or EUR 32 – 36 net per hour (B2B), with the employment model determined on a case-by-case basis depending on local regulations and feasibility.

• Poland: 17,000– 19,000 PLN gross per month (employment contract) or 124 – 155 PLN net per hour (B2B).

• Please note that the final compensation package will depend on your professional experience, qualifications and overall fit for the role, and may be adjusted based on local market conditions and cost-of-living factors in each country.

Additional benefits

• Flexible working hours.

• Medica