Dreamers & Makers

What inspired you to pursue a career in aerospace?

Ever since I was a child, I have been curious about everything related to astronomy, satellites and the exploration of outer space, although I thought it was not very accessible. When I entered the university, I decided to study Telecommunications Engineering, which had always attracted my attention. Later I had the opportunity to bring both worlds together when I joined Sener.

How did you join Sener?

I joined as an intern in 2012. I was looking for my final year project, and a professor with whom I have a good relationship and whom I contacted to carry out the project told me that a former student of his was looking for people to do an internship at Sener in the space sector, as radio frequency engineers for satellite antenna projects for the ESA. Being able to work on such cutting-edge and complex projects immediately caught my attention.

What business area do you belong to and what do you do? What is your day-to-day work like?

I work as a systems engineer in the Communications Systems Area, part of the Avionics and Advanced Systems Division at Sener Aerospace. In my day-to-day work I perform technical coordination of the different subsystems that make up a communications system (modems, radio frequency electronics, antennas…), aligning teams in charge of developing each subsystem. This allows me to deal on a daily basis with very heterogeneous engineering profiles and disciplines, and colleagues from different sites and areas.

What has been your progression since you joined Sener? What are the most important projects you are currently working on?

When I joined Sener as an intern I was in charge of supporting the design and analysis of the antenna subsystem of the ESA Solar Orbiter mission. Soon after, once hired, I also started working as an integration and test engineer for the antennas of BepiColombo (another ESA mission). Over the years I have been responsible for RF subsystems RF and antennas of other ESA missions, such as Euclid or Juice (recently launched). Since 2018 I have been leading some R&D projects for ESA and I have been acquiring a profile of systems engineer specialized in communication systems. Currently, the most prominent projects in which I am involved are EODDL (Earth Observation Data Down Link), a high-speed data download system for Earth observation satellites in low orbit, developed entirely at Sener and in which I work as systems engineer; and the Eurodrone datalinks (data links), a project that represents a milestone in Sener Aerospace due to its size and complexity.

How do you think the projects you work on influence the current/future world or society?

I believe that these projects push society to expand the boundaries of knowledge, helping to better understand the origin and functioning of the world (and space) around us. I also believe that the work, not only mine, but of all our colleagues in the sector, contributes to strengthen the Spanish industry and its image in Europe and the rest of the world.

How do you keep up to date with general knowledge and trends in your sector?

I try to read specialized magazine articles on a regular basis, as well as regularly access specialized news portals. In addition, we always try to attend congresses that are held in Europe on the topics that we consider to be of most interest.

In your opinion, what distinguishes Sener from its competitors?

Sener is what we could call a company of engineers for engineers who enjoy being engineers. All projects have a component of innovation or technical complexity that is challenging and stimulating. Engineers feel valued and have total freedom to solve challenges in their own creative and responsible way.

What new challenges do you see yourself working on in the medium term?

In new communications systems, adopting new technologies, or carrying out the technical coordination of even more complex systems.