A bit about the program

You will be based at Optus’s Belrose Space Operations Centre (Sydney) and will be tasked with working with Optus and your academic team to develop a technical approach for integrating laser optical communications into Optus’s existing network. You will also be part of a team developing a commercialisation pathway, informed by your technical research.

In your first year, you will undertake an immersive industry experience, undertaking short placements in:

• Satellite Engineering Support
• Operations Facilities & Transmission
• Satellite Network Engineering
• Satellite Regulatory and Radiofrequency Engineering.

You will also spend your first year learning about laser optical communications, guided by your academic supervisory team. By the end of your first year, you should have a thorough understanding of the Optus Satellite network and laser optical communications. You will travel to Canberra regularly to meet with your supervisory team.

In your second year, you will lead on site testing activities, using the knowledge gained in your first year to conduct practical, hands-on experimentation, collect data, collate results, and formulate recommendations. You will also work with operational facilities to conduct practical networking experiments.

In your third year, you will write up your results and produce a thesis alongside practical recommendations for next steps.

Skills and background required

Required:

• Bachelors with Honours and / or Masters
• Basic programming skills
• Experience in physics, engineering, astronomical instrumentation, or related fields

Preferred:

• Experience with signal processing, telecoms, IP networking, RF engineering and / or software defined radios.
• Experience in optical design, optical instrumentation, telescope and observatory operations

Additional:

• Optus’s offices are all fully accessible.

Special requirements

The following attributes are required for the PhD candidate:

• Full time only
• Willing to move to Sydney and work at Belrose
• Will be required to attend ANU for a minimum 4 weeks a year to meet program requirements
• An Australian citizen
• Willing to go through a security clearance process
• An ability and willingness to contribute to the education activities in the ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics and day-to-day activities at Optus Satellite.
• Excellent communication skills and a demonstrated ability to interact effectively and foster respectful and productive working relationships with colleagues, team/group members, and collaborators.
• A demonstrated good level of understanding of the diversity, belonging, inclusiveness, and equity principles and a commitment to apply these principles in a university context.

Additional support

• Opportunity to rotate through ground and space engineering teams and be involved in the day-to-day operation of the groups/ departments/ areas with which they are working, in addition to conducting high quality research.
• Financial support to travel to Optus’ annual conference/ meeting in Sydney and present research.
• Mentorship from area leads/ technical experts.
• Opportunity to participate in Optus Satellite enterprise training on satellite networks, operations, and RF engineering.
• Opportunity to participate in STEM outreach activities through Optus Satellite’s ‘Space Ambassador’ program.
• Find support with Optus’s Networks for LGBTQIA+, Women, Young Professionals, Wellbeing and our Space Ambassadors.