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Master Thesis: Adaptive 3GPP Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) Access and Transmission (m/f/d)
Job Description
Req ID:  6659
Place of work:  Oberpfaffenhofen
Starting date:  01.01.2027
Career level:  Student research project and final thesis
Type of employment:  Full-time, Part time
Duration of contract:  6 months

Remuneration: Remuneration is in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector - Federal Government (TVöD-Bund).

Enter the fascinating world of the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V.; DLR) and help shape the future through research and innovation! We offer an exciting and inspiring working environment driven by the expertise and curiosity of our 12,000 employees from 100 nations and our unique infrastructure. Together, we develop sustainable technologies and thus contribute to finding solutions to global challenges. Would you like to join us in addressing this major future challenge? Then this is your place!

The DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation is dedicated to mission-oriented research in selected areas of communications and navigation. Its work ranges from the theoretical foundations to the demonstration of new procedures and systems in a real environment and is embedded in DLR's Space, Aeronautics, Transport, Security and Digitalization programmes.

What to expect

In the Satellite Network department, the Information Technology and Theory group drives research, design, and development of protocols for non-terrestrial networks, including next-generation satellite communications and drone-based systems. Leveraging expertise in 3GPP RAN solutions, semantic communications and Age of Information, and machine learning, the group is pushing the boundaries of current technologies and expanding their reach. The group's innovative contributions aim to establish reliable, future-proof communication capabilities across the entire spectrum of non-terrestrial systems.

Your tasks

  • Investigate narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) radio access network (RAN) access and transmission procedures compatible with 3GPP standards, operating within the context of moderate LEO satellite constellations. 
  • The central objective is to design and evaluate 3GPP protocol adaptations that achieve high energy efficiency in the satellite access.
  • Develop a solid theoretical foundation covering LEO satellite systems and constellation design, as well as the fundamental principles of 3GPP access procedures.
  • Study of NB-IoT transmission under moderate LEO constellations, where the constellation geometry imposes specific constraints on the PHY and MAC layers that 3GPP procedures.
  • The practical work will be carried out in simulation environments, where NB-IoT transmission scenarios under moderate LEO constellations will be modeled and analyzed. The resulting protocol solutions will be evaluated against key performance metrics.

Your profile

  • Completed university-level courses in telecommunication engineering
  • Knowledge on satellite communications systems
  • Good programming skills are beneficial
  • Excellent academic records

We offer

DLR stands for diversity, appreciation and equality for all people. We promote independent work and the individual development of our employees both personally and professionally. To this end, we offer numerous training and development opportunities. Equal opportunities are of particular importance to us, which is why we want to increase the proportion of women in science and management in particular. Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are qualified.

We look forward to getting to know you!

 

If you have any questions about this position (Vacancy-ID 6659) please contact:

 

Dr. Andrea Munari

Tel.: +49 (0) 8153 283639
Apply now